Argentina World Cup Fixtures, Squad, Group, Guide

Argentina World Cup Fixtures, Squad, Group, Guide

It Leonel Messi's magic for Argentina to qualified for the 2018 World Cup. It started from opening 2-0 defeat at home to Ecuador, to the 3-1 away win against the same Ecuador in their final game, It seams that Argentina were about missing on this years world cup until the Lion of the tribe of Argentina rose to the big occasion with his hat-trick on the final game of the qualifiers to secure a place in the World Cup finals. it was drama all the way in a fraught qualifying campaign as Argentina flirted dangerously with missing out on a first World Cup since 1970. Three coaches were used, and just 19 goals scored in 18 rounds.

Argentina World Cup Group

Argentina is placed In Group D,  joined by Iceland, Nigeria, and a star studded  Croatia lead by Luka Modric and Ivan Rakitic at the helm.

Argentina World Cup Fixtures

Argentina will kick off their world cup campaign on 16th of June against Iceland. days later they take On  Croatian on 21st t and end their group stage on the 26th against Nigeria.

16th June – Iceland
21st June – Croatia
26th June – Nigeria

The Players

Stars
In the eight games he missed, Argentina accumulated just seven points. In the 10 in which he played, they managed 21. Seldom has a team been so dependent on one player as Argentina are on Lionel Messi.

Stalwarts
Angel Di Maria was one of only two players to start in all 18 South American rounds. Used in a variety of different positions, he had an uneven campaign, but free to float in the last round he combined well with Messi. Although not always convincing, Nicolas Otamendi will hope to take his improved club form with Manchester City into the national team.

Missing
Centre-back Martin Demichelis retired during the campaign and defensive resources were further depleted by the knee injury to Ramiro Funes Mori. Dario Benedetto is set to miss out after suffering knee ligament damage in November

Argentina World Cup Squad

Final World Cup Squad–

GOALKEEPERS: Willy Caballero (Chelsea), Franco Armani (River Plate), Nahuel Guzman (Tigres)

DEFENDERS: Gabriel Mercado (Sevilla), Federico Fazio (Roma), Nicolas Otamendi (Manchester City), Marcos Rojo (Manchester United), Nicolas Taglafico (Ajax), Javier Mascherano (Hebei Fortune), Marcos Acuna (Sporting Lisbon), Cristian Ansaldi (Torino).

MIDFIELDERS: Ever Banega (Sevilla), Lucas Biglia (AC Milan), Angel Di María, Giovani Lo Celso (both Paris St-Germain), Enzo Perez (River Plate), Cristian Pavon (Boca Juniors), Maximiliano Meza (Independiente), Eduardo Salvio (Benfica).

FORWARDS: Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Gonzalo Higuain, Paulo Dybala ( Juventus), Sergio Aguero (Manchester City).

Coach:
Jorge Sampoli

Probable Starting XI

GK: Willy Caballero,
DF: Nicolas Tagliafico, Nicolas Otamendi, Federico Fazio, Gabriel Mercado,
MF: Giovani Lo Celso, Lucas Biglia,  Angel Di Maria,
FW: Paulo Dybala, Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero.