FIFA World Cup Draw: Argentina Happy to Face Familiar Foes

Thanks to the recently announced World Cup draw, Argentina and coach Diego Maradona will face a group of teams they are more than familiar with.

In their opening match, Nigeria will be the opponent. The two countries have faced each other in numerous World Cups and other competitions of the years.

In 2008, Lionel Messi assisted Angel Di Maria to give Argentina a 1-0 win over Nigeria in the Olympic gold medal match. Three years earlier, in the FIFA Under 20 World Cup, Messi scored two penalties and Argentina topped Nigeria 2-1 in the final.

Back in 2002, Argentina entered the World Cup as favorites but were knocked out at the group stages. They were still able to get past Nigeria in the first game, with Gabriel Batistuta heading in Juan Sebastian Veron’s corner for the only goal.

In 1996, Nigeria topped Argentina in the Olympic gold medal match in the Super Eagles' only high-profile triumph over the Albiceleste. At USA 1994, Argentina beat Nigeria 2-1 in what was Diego Maradona’s last game before being kicked out of the World Cup for failing a doping test.

In the previous match, Maradona scored a brilliant goal from the top of the box, and Gabriel Batistuta hit a hat trick as Argentina destroyed Greece 4-0.

At that point, Argentina looked to be the favorites, but they could not cope with the loss of their captain, crashing out to Romania in the Round of 16.

Maradona will also be familiar with South Korea, having faced them in the opening match of Mexico 1986. That day, the Koreans hacked Maradona, but he managed three assists, one to Oscar Ruggeri and two to Jorge Valdano.

The Argentine players will not have too much knowledge of many of their opponents, but players such as Sergio Aguero, Angel Di Maria, Javier Mascherano, Fernando Gago, Sergio Romero, and of course Messi are veterans of the 2008 Olympic final against Nigeria.

Messi, Aguero, and Gago were all part of the 2005 U20 World Cup Final against Nigeria in the Netherlands.

The pressure will certainly be on Messi to perform like Maradona did, and he will like his chances, especially given his success against the Nigerians in the past. Nigeria’s front line could cause Argentina problems, so Maradona may want to consider more physical defenders, such as Walter Samuel.

South Korea look to be the pushover of the group, while Greece will certainly play defensively and Argentina could have trouble breaking them down.

All in all, Argentina will be somewhat pleased to have avoided Mexico and the USA, as well as Portugal or France.

Overall, it is a decent draw, and Maradona’s side on paper is the clear favorite. If that can translate to play on the field, Argentina should emerge as group winners.