World Cup Draw Outlook: Argentina

Despite struggling through CONMEBOL's marathon of a World Cup Qualifying Campaign, Argentina was named as one of the eight top seeds for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. 

After getting off to a strong start under Alfio Basile, Argentina hit a few speed bumps, and Basile, now the coach at struggling Boca Juniors, resigned. The Asociación del Fútbol Argentino had a number of high caliber candidates, including former Velez Sarsfield and Boca Juniors boss Carlos Bianchi. Bianchi turned the post down under speculation that he would not tolerate the restrictions the AFA would put on him.

The next main candidate was Sergio Batista. A World Cup winner in 1986 and finalist in 1990, Batista had just finished leading Argentina's U23 Side to the Olympic Gold Medal in Beijing. Although other names such as Jose Pekerman, who led Argentina's Under 20 squad to FIFA Youth World Championship crowns in 1995, 1997, and 2001, were thrown around, Batista looked like a logical choice.

As it turned out, Batista was beaten out by his international teammate Diego Armando Maradona in a surprising move by AFA president Julio Grondona. 

Since taking over as coach, Maradona has been as controversial as ever: he fought with the AFA over his coaching staff, he was linked with a move to Portsmouth, he was in charge for Argentina's worst loss ever in a World Cup Qualifying Match in La Paz to Bolivia (6-1), and then saw he team lose just its second home qualifier ever, going down 3-1 to Brazil after demanding the game be moved from the traditional home at El Monumental in Buenos Aires (home of River Plate) to the city of Rosario and El Gigante Arroyito. 

Maradona was also involved in an ongoing battle with Carlos Bilardo, the General Manager of all Argentine National Teams, which reached its climax when Maradona left Argentina to go to a Spa in Italy where he saw tens of thousands of dollars worth of jewelry confiscated. 

Upon returning from Italy, Maradona and his team finally achieved qualification, including a last grasp win over Peru and an historic victory in Montevideo against Uruguay. After the match, Maradona went on a now infamous tirade against the media. His disgraceful remarks saw him suspended by FIFA for two months. Due to his suspension, Maradona will not be in Cape Town on Friday for the draw. 

Despite the circus that has become the Argentine National Team over the last year, it would be insane to count Argentina out of the running. Maradona has not been able to establish a concrete starting 11, but Diego will have the likes of Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero, Gonzalo Higuain, Angel Di Maria, Pablo Aimar, Javier Zanetti, Javier Mascherano, Maxi Rodriguez, Esteban Cambiasso, and Juan Sebastian Veron at his disposal. 

Here is a look at analysis of the pots and whom Argentina will want to face and avoid:

GROUP 2:

TEAM TO AVOID: USA

Almost every top seed will feel the same way. The US proved in last summer's Confederation's Cup that they have the players to make a run in the tournament. Argentina also failed to beat the US at Giants Stadium in the summer of 2008. Although Argentina was unlucky not to have won (Julio Cruz missed four one-on-one chances with Tim Howard that day), a team like the Americans, with a great goalkeeper and speeder attackers like Landon Donavan, have proven they can play the perfect counter attack against the world's biggest teams.

TEAM TO DRAW: New Zealand

Obviously, any team will want to face New Zealand or North Korea, and although Argentina will have no real gripe getting any over the other teams, they will want to get off to a good start so Maradona can solidify his starting group. Mexico always offers a tough test, but Argentina thumped Mexico 4-1 in summer 2008 in San Diego, with both Messi and Aguero running rampant. In the 2007 Copa America, the two sides also met, with Argentina prevailing 3-0 and Lionel Messi doing a fantastic lob.

GROUP 3:

TEAM TO AVOID: Ivory Coast

Argentina jumped out to a commanding 2-0 lead when the two teams met at the 2006 World Cup and Roberto Ayala had a clear goal disallowed, but Ivory Coast dominated the second half and Didier Drogba pulled a goal back making for a nervous final 10 minutes. Although Drogba grabs most of the headlines, the physicality of Ivory Coast's midfield and defenders, especially Didier Zokora, Yaya, and Kolo Toure, is what will really bother Argentina, a team that lacks a lot of height and power, especially when defending set pieces. 

TEAM TO DRAW: Algeria

Algeria is definitely not a push over, but Argentina will want to avoid Nigeria just as much as Ivory Coast. A Maradona-inspired Argentina beat Nigeria in the 1994 World Cup in the USA, only for Nigeria to knock off Argentina in the Gold Medal Match of the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. In 2002, Argentina faced Nigeria in the group stage and knocked them off with a goal from Gabriel Batistuta. Since then, Argentina edged the Nigerians in the Final of the 2005 U20 World Cup thanks to two goals from Lionel Messi and then again in the 2008 Olympic Gold Medal Match thanks to a lone goal from Angel Di Maria, who was assisted by Messi. With so many players for those two intense finals now playing at the senior level, a game with Nigeria would be as heated as any. 

GROUP 4:

TEAM TO AVOID: France

Like Argentina, France barely snuck into the World Cup, although France did so under contentious circumstances. If France can some how start playing well in spite of their clueless coach, they will be a force to be reckoned with. Should Argentina face the French, Maradona will feel confident as his side won in Paris in February 2009. Messi was the star that day, scoring Argentina's second goal and terrorizing the French all game.

TEAM TO FACE: Slovakia

Argentina has a history of taking care of business against first timers. All the way back in 1994, Argentina dismantled Greece with a goal from Maradona and a hat trick from Batistuta. In 1998, Croatia, Japan, and Jamaica were all swept aside in the group stage. In 2006, Argentina beat Ivory Coast and Serbia and Montenegro. A team without World Cup pedigree will be the ideal opponents for the Argentines.