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Argentina (Composition)
Recently becoming the first team from South America to reach the final tournament of the 2006 World Cup, coached by Jose Pekerman, Argentina can now focus on another goal - winning the first official national team tournament after a twelve-year break. The Argentine team consists of both young and experienced players, with most of them having won gold medals for their country at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games.
Interestingly, Argentina did not qualify for the tournament as a winner from any continent, but rather because its main rival, Brazil, who defeated the Argentine team in the America's Cup final, had already secured a spot in the Confederations Cup as the World Champion. However, Argentina is not a newcomer to the tournament - in 1992, under coach Alfio Basile and with players like G. Batistuta, D. Simeone, C. Caniggia, and F. Redondo, the team won the then-called Intercontinental Cup in Saudi Arabia.
After thirteen years, Argentine coach Jose Pekerman is under pressure to finally stop experimenting and adapt the tactical scheme to a specific group of players. Although Pekerman has not coached a professional club before and was even criticized by legendary Diego Maradona, the strategist has built a good reputation - from 1995 to 2001, he won the World Championship three times with the youth team and now, having secured a place in next year's tournament, he can start making his plans.
The Argentines hope that the Confederations Cup will show what to expect from the national team in 2006 in Germany, although the team will be missing some key players: Pekerman allowed experienced players like H. Crespo, R. Ayala, K. Gonzalez to rest, and due to their participation in the Libertadores Cup, R. Abbondanzieri, L. Gonzalez, and J. Mascherano were not called up to the national team.
Thus, the opportunity to show their skills and earn a place in the main lineup was given to reserve players - defenders G. Rodriguez, G. Milito, M. Demichelis, midfielder L. Bernardi, M. Santana, forwards C. Delgado, L. Galletti. For other players, such as W. Samuel and P. Aimar, it is a chance to regain their place in the national team after an unsuccessful break.
"This tournament gives us a chance to try out new players and help the team adjust before next year's World Cup. We don't often get the opportunity to work with players for 20 consecutive days," enthusiastically remarked Pekerman.
"Argentina always has to play for victory, we have no other way," said the coach when asked about the importance of the tournament. "These are very tough competitions in which teams can draw many conclusions, but we, players and the whole crowd, know that Argentina will try its best."
