A look at the country’s demographics, football history and its squad status prior to the Qatar World Cup 2022.
Number of inhabitants: approx. 46 million.
Continent: South America
Confederation: CONMEBOL
National Football Association: AFA. (Asociación del Fútbol Argentino)
Number of members: around 900,000. (1.9% of total population)
International trophies won: 2x World Cup, 15x Copa America, 1x FIFA Confederations Cup, 2x Conmebol-Uefa Cup of Champions
Best World Cup result: Champions in 1978 and 1986
Key Players
In the past: Maradona, Aguero, Mascherano, Zanetti, Batistuta, Kempes.
Key current players: Lionel Messi, Lautaro Martinez, Rodrigo de Paul, Angel Di Maria, Giovani Lo Celso.
Coach, formation and possible lineup
Coach: Lionel Scaloni. (since 2018)
Typical formation: 4-2-3-1 or 4-4-2
Possible lineup:
- GK: Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa)
- LB: Nicolas Tagliafico (Lyon)
- RB: Nahuel Molina (Atletico Madrid)
- RCB: Cristian Romero (Tottenham)
- LCB: Lisandro Martinez (Man Utd)
- CM: Leandro Paredes (Juventus)
- CM: Rodrigo de Paul (Atletico Madrid)
- LW: Giovani Lo Celso (Villareal)
- RW: Angel Di Maria (Juventus)
- CF: Lionel Messi (PSG)
- ST: Lautaro Martinez (Inter)
Age Report
Players aged 25 or under in the current lineup: 4
Players aged 32 or over in the current lineup: 2
Only 2 players in this lineup will (most likely) be playing their last World Cup this year: Lionel Messi and Angel Di Maria.
Four players in this lineup can play (at least) two more: Cristian Romero, Nahuel Molina, Lisandro Martinez, and Lautaro Martinez.
The remaining 5 players could play in one or two more World Cups.
Youngest player: Cristian Romero, born 27 April 1998 (24)
Oldest player: Lionel Messi, born 24 June 1987 (35)
Average squad age: 28
World Cup Qatar – Group C
Fixtures:
Tuesday 22 November Argentina vs Saudi Arabia
Saturday 26 November Argentina vs Mexico
Wednesday 30 November Poland vs Argentina
Our view:
This Argentina squad has a lot going for it, possessing a powerful mix of strength, experience and technical ability. Driven by the fact that Qatar will most likely be the last World Cup for what many consider to be the greatest footballer of all time, I expect them to put up a quality performance. Their opponents for the group stage (Mexico, Poland, and Saudi Arabia) will definitely have their work cut out for them, as Argentina are the clear favorites. In the group for one, but they’re also one of the contenders to win it all.
