On November 21st, soccer fans will be glued to their TVs to witness the start of The 2022 FIFA World Cup. Till that date, globitopia is going to cover all teams in the big tournament. Let’s start with Argentina in world cup.
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Pin on the Map
Argentina is in the southern half of South America. Argentina is a HUGE country. It’s the second largest country in its continent and the 8th largest country in the whole world. Buenos Aires is the biggest city in Argentina and its capital.
Sing along
The “Argentine National Anthem” was written by Vicente López y Planes and composed by Blas Parera. It was adopted as the only national anthem of the nation in 1813.
Listen to the anthem
Wave the Flag
The Argentinean flag has three horizontal stripes. The top and bottom bands are in blue and the middle band is in white. The flag also features “the sun of May” on the white band.
The blue and white represent the skies and snow of the Andes Mountains in Argentina. “The sun of May” is a symbol of The May Revolution. This event led to the country’s independence.
Fandom
Argentina’s most popular sport is soccer, with some of the most aggressive fans in the world. It can be enough to watch the derby between Boca Juniors and River Plate to see how crazy the Argentineans can be during soccer matches.
World Cup History
Argentina holds a magnificent history in the world cup with unforgettable memories. Argentina missed only four world cups since it started in 1930. Argentina WON the tournament twice in 1978 and 1986 and came as runner-up three times (1930 – 1990 -2014). Argentina had great generations and legends and probably their best ones were in 1978 and 1986.
In 1978, Argentina hosted the competition. The team had a rough start and came second behind Italy in the Group stage after losing to the Italian team, 0-1. But in the second round, they topped the Group over Brazil and went to a tough clash with the Netherlands that went to the extra time before Kempes and Bertoni bring the cup to Buenos Aires.
Argentina’s second triumph was distinctive. In 1986, the legend Maradona led Argentina to an astonishing cup, and, strangely, they were put again in the group with Italy but this time they topped the group above the Italians and beat Uruguay in the Final 16 before going to one of the most famous matches versus England.
Maradona wrote history just in four minutes when the short genius jumped to touch the ball with the (HAND OF GOD) to go into the English net. Four minutes after that, the crazy Argentinean took the ball and dribbled past 6 English players including the goalkeeper to score one of the most beautiful goals in history.
The thrilling Final against West Germany only ended seven minutes before the final whistle with Burruchaga’s goal. After this tournament, it looked like “God” didn’t use his hand with Argentina again as they haven’t been able to win their third title.
Argentinean Stars
Messi
For sure, all eyes will be on Lionel Messi on what could be his last dance at the World Cup. Messi is considered by many to be the best footballer of all time and he is one of the most successful athletes in history. Messi will go to the world cup after leading his team to an epic victory at The 2021 Copa América. In that tournament, Messi and his teammates managed to beat the host country, and its historic rival, Brazil.
Lautaro Martinez
While Messi is about to hang up his boots, Martinez is, without a doubt, at his prime. The 24-year-old striker achieved success with his Italian team, Inter Milan, leading them to the Seria A title in 2021 and the Italian cup in 2022. Martinez’s energy and poaching skills make him lethal in front of the nets.
Emiliano Martínez
It’s rare to include a goalkeeper as a star of his national team. However, Emiliano Martínez isn’t an ordinary goalkeeper. Martínez’s crazy saves and character played a crucial role in Argentina’s victory at Copa América. Argentina will certainly depend on the special goalie to lead its defense.
Di Maria
In many countries, there’s a statue of the “Unknown soldier”. This statue usually represents unnamed soldiers who gave it all for their countries. And Di Maria should have this statue in marble if he leads his country one more time to international success. In 2008, the talented player scored his country’s only goal in the final to get a precious gold medal. 13 years later, the veteran scored his country’s only goal again, this time against Brazil to bring Copa América to his country. Will he do it again in Qatar?
Fun fact
The land of extremes
Argentina doesn’t know middle ground. The country is home to the highest point in the southern hemisphere (Mount Aconcagua) and the lowest point (Laguna del Carbón). Besides, Argentina recorded the hottest and the coldest temperatures in South America.
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