The Argentina national football team is one of the most successful national teams in the world. The team has been in existence since 1901 and it has won two World championships since its inception. In addition to the World Cup victories, the team has also won the Copa America, which is the premiere South American football competition, 14 times. Also the Argentina team won the Confederations Cup in 1992 and two Olympic titles in 2004 and 2008. Argentina and France are the only two teams to win a World Cup title, a Confederations Cup title and an Olympic championship.
Argentina’s national football team played its first match against Uruguay in May of 1901. The two teams met again in 1930 for the very first final match of the inaugural World Cup. Unfortunately, Argentina lost 4-2. Argentina did not make it to the finals again until 1978. That year, the team was able to defeat the Netherlands 3-1 to earn its first World Cup title.
The 1986 national team from Argentina was led by one of football’s most famous superstars – Diego Maradona. The team went through the entire competition undefeated, though there were some very close matches. For instance, in the quarterfinal match against England, the game was played quite evenly until Maradona scored a controversial goal using his hand. The goal was allowed by the referees, and Maradona scored another goal just four minutes later in the match. Argentina eventually won the game against England 2-1, and went on to capture the title with a 3-2 victory over Germany in the final.
Years later, Diego Maradona was hired to be the team’s head coach for the 2010 World Cup. Although the team was able to play well enough to reach the quarterfinals, they were beaten soundly by Germany, 4-0. Since then, the team appointed Sergio Batista as its head coach. The team competed in the 2011 Copa America, but performed poorly. As a result, Batista was relieved of his duties as coach, and Alejandro Sabella was hired to take his place. The team is currently looking ahead with a goal to recapture its former glory in international competition.
