Although they have yet to emerge from the shadow cast by the legendary figure of Diego Armando Maradona, Argentina invariably figure among the select band of favourites for the FIFA World Cup™, a status unaltered by their poor showing at Korea/Japan 2002. With a little more experience now under their belt, the two-time world champions are back for another tilt at the title after becoming the first South American side to qualify for Germany 2006.

The qualifying campaign proved something of a roller-coaster ride for the Argentines. After an uncertain beginning they found some much-needed solidity and consistency before Marcelo Bielsa’s unexpected resignation threatened to blow them off course. Jose Pekerman’s appointment steadied the ship, however, and the Albiceleste sealed qualification in the best possible fashion, defeating old foes Brazil in front of a packed house in Buenos Aires. Nonetheless, serious doubts remain about the team’s mind-set and tactics ahead of next year’s finals, sparked mainly by their up-and-down form, a surfeit of players competing for the same places and some worryingly indifferent performances away from home.

Qualification proved comfortable enough with 34 points, nine fewer than in the previous campaign, meaning they had to settle for second place in the table behind Brazil – the first time Argentina had failed to top the group since the qualifiers for USA 94. In notching up ten wins, four draws and four defeats, Argentina scored 29 goals and conceded a mere 17, a goal difference second only to Brazil in the group.

In what was a mixed bag of a campaign, Argentina kept intact their 12-year unbeaten run at home, defeated Bolivia in La Paz for the first time in 32 years, and booked their place in Germany by emphatically beating Brazil. On the downside, however, the Albiceleste slumped to their first ever defeat against Paraguay in a FIFA World Cup qualifier and saw a 16-year unbeaten run against neighbours Uruguay come to an end.

By the time Germany 2006 comes around, two whole decades will have passed since a Maradona-inspired Argentina tasted glory at Mexico 1986. At that time, with two world titles in the last three tournaments, the South American giants had every reason to believe they could become kings of world football by equalling Brazil’s FIFA World Cup haul. At Italia 90, they came tantalisingly close to matching their arch-rivals’ feat of three world titles in four attempts, only to lose the Final to West Germany.

Four years later, Maradona led his side to USA 94 where they were, once again, widely tipped for success. The footballing legend was ejected from the tournament after failing a drugs test, however, heralding the end of an era. Alfio Basile’s side never recovered from the shock and crashed out in the next round. The highlight of a satisfactory performance at France 98 was a second-round victory over England. But joy soon turned to despair when the Albiceleste fell to a superb Dennis Bergkamp strike in the final minutes of the quarter-final against the Netherlands. Competent as that side were, they lacked the spirit and flair of the team that qualified in style for Korea/Japan 2002, only to be unceremoniously and surprisingly dumped out of the competition in the first round.

Despite the fiasco in Asia, the country’s football chiefs refused to push the panic button and Bielsa remained in charge as Germany 2006 qualifying got under way. Their confidence in the coach was repaid when he led Argentina to the runners-up spot at the Copa America and to a first football gold medal at the Olympic Football Tournament in summer 2004. But in September that year, Bielsa surprisingly tendered his resignation. Pekerman then took the reins with the national side comfortably placed in the qualification group. Although his career as a footballer passed largely unnoticed, Pekerman had impressed the Argentine Football Association with his record as national youth team coach, overseeing three FIFA World Youth Championship triumphs and coaching several youngsters who would later break into the full squad.

Although many of these players do not play for the world’s leading club sides, their undoubted talent has Argentina fans purring with delight. Not content with having the likes of Juan Roman Riquelme, Javier Mascherano and Javier Saviola in their ranks, as well as the experienced Roberto Ayala, Juan Pablo Sorin, Pablo Aimar and Hernan Crespo, the Argentinians have just unearthed another rough diamond ready to make his mark: Lionel Messi. Now with FC Barcelona, Messi helped his country win the FIFA World Youth Championship in June 2005, becoming the tournament’s top scorer and star player in the process.

The young wizard did not feature in the side that finished runners-up in the FIFA Confederations Cup in Germany this year, but Pekerman will surely be looking to the gifted starlet and a strong showing from the rest of the squad to avenge that painful exit of four years ago.