WORLD CUP FOCUS - ARGENTINA

How did they qualify - 2nd in group Argentina National Footbal Team came second in thier group, having the same amount of points as first place Brazil but missing out on that top spot due to goal difference. The Argentina squad won the most games from the 18 that every team had to play in the qualifiers round. Their 14th world cup entry was set after beating Brazil 3-1 in the qualifying rounds, the game was played in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Germany 2006 now beckonsSince the team formed and they first entered the world cup back in 1930 the team have only ever not qualified once in 1954. 1938 and 1950 saw the team withdraw from the competition due to confusion of where the tournament was to be held. Both Uruguay and Argentina pulled out of the 1938 world cup, both outraged.Argentina have always been a strong team in the world cup and so far have won the title twice however since their last win in 1986 the team are yet to make it past the quaterfinals.

The Argentina national football team is the national football team of Argentina and is controlled by the Argentine Football Association.
Argentina is one of the most successful national football teams, having won two World Cups and one Olympic Title. Argentina and Uruguay hold the record for the most international matches played against two countries, there have been 161 matches played against each other since 1901. The first match against Uruguay was the first official international match to be played outside Britain. (Although Canada and the United States played two internationals in 1885 and 1886, neither match is considered official; Canada did not play an official international until 1904 and the USA did not play one until 1916.)
Argentina has appeared in four World Cup finals, including the first final in 1930, which they lost 4-2 to Uruguay. They won the final at their next attempt in 1978, beating the Netherlands 3-1 and also won in 1986 (led by Diego Maradona), a 3-2 victory over West Germany. Their last final was in 1990, which they lost 1-0 to West Germany.
Argentina have been very successful in Copa América, winning it eleven times and also winning the 'extra' South American Championships in 1941, 1945 and 1946.
Besides the 2004 Gold Medal at the Olympic Games, Argentina won the Silver Medal in 1928 and 1996.
It also won the Confederations Cup and the Kirin Cup, both in 1992.
Since the competition's creation in 1977, Argentina have won five titles in the World Youth Championship :
Japan, 1979 with Diego Maradona and Ramón Díaz
Qatar, 1995 with Juan Pablo Sorín
Malaysia, 1997 with Juan Román Riquelme, Esteban Cambiasso, and Pablo Aimar
Argentina, 2001 with Javier Saviola, and Andrés D'Alessandro
Netherlands, 2005 with Lionel Messi, and Sergio Agüero
Three of these titles were won by the current national coach Jose Pekerman (1995,1997 and 2001).
A pre-tournament favourite again at Korea/Japan 2002 World Cup, they were eliminated earlier than expected to the surprise of many, losing in a memorable game against England in the most hotly anticipated match of the entire opening stage.
On June 8, 2005, they qualified for their 14th World Cup Finals appearance by beating arch rivals Brazil 3-1 in Buenos Aires.