Goal.com http://tinyurl.com/kkdvhk Argentina Team Of The Decade 2000-2010 As we approach 2010, Goal.com's Gregory Sica selects his Argentina best XI from the past decade... Well into the new millennium now and Argentina still have nothing to show. For years Argentina have produced some of the finest players in the game, and although at times they play some of the most attractive football in the world, they have failed to claim any silverware. For the amount of potential they possess Argentina are perhaps the most underachieving team in the world. In the 2002 World Cup they were booted out of the competition in the group stage, and four years later, in Germany, they were eliminated in the quarter-finals. Argentina came into both tournaments as one of the favourites, but couldn't deliver the goods. Despite having won a record 14 Copa America titles, Argentina lost out to Brazil in the final of the past two competitions. Whether it is a curse of some sort, or just a lack of fighting spirit, Argentina don't seem to be good enough to win a title of any value. But even if the national team have found little luck, several stars have managed to showcase their skill with the national team. Los Albicelestes continue to be loaded with an abundance of talent, and if they manage to gel in the future they could be unstoppable. Time will tell... Gregory Sica selects his best Argentina XI from the past decade. Formation: 3-4-1-2 Goalkeeper Roberto Abbondanzieri – (2004- ) A relatively late boomer after making his national debut at the age of 32 in 2004, Abbondanzieri has perhaps been Argentina's most consistent from a crop of rather disappointing goalkeepers. His good form meant he was Argentina's first choice in the 2006 World Cup in Germany, and he did well, until he was injured in the quarter-finals with the hosts and missed the proceeding penalty shoot-out, in which Argentina went on to lose. Injuries seem to be his problem, as he lost his place in the current World Cup qualifiers, after suffering a knock during the game with Paraguay. Since then he hasn't made another appearance. Defence Javier Zanetti – (1994- ) "El Pupi" is the most capped player in Argentine football history, and his track record speaks for itself. A veteran of two World Cups, Zanetti was rather surprisingly excluded from the 2006 World Cup by Jose Pekerman. However, he is an integral part of the current Argentine national team and has great possibilities of participating in his third World Cup next year. The Inter legend may be close to the end of his career at 35, but he continues to turn on the style for both club and country. Despite also competing in the Copa America four times, the most recent in 2007, Zanetti has never won a title of any significance with Argentina. With Inter, however, he has won nine titles, including four consecutive Scudettos. Roberto Ayala – (1994-2007) Ayala was without doubt Argentina's most reliable defender since the turn of the century. He made his debut way back in 1994 and announced his retirement in 2007, after Argentina were losing finalists of the 2007 Copa America in Venezuela. His 115 caps make him the second most capped player in the history of Argentine football. Having participated in four Copa America championships and three World Cups, Ayala has proved to be a hard-man in defence who occasionally found the back of the net with headers. Although 36 years of age, Diego Maradona still has him in mind for the Argentine national team, looking ahead to the World Cup of South Africa. Walter Samuel – (1999- ) Despite their embarrassment of riches in midfield and attack, heading into next summer's World Cup in South Africa, Walter Samuel is arguably the only top-class centre back that Argentina will be able to rely on. Aside from a short, difficult spell at Real Madrid, 'The Wall' has been one of the best stoppers in Europe this past decade, and while he has not always shown his best for his country, he still makes this team. Strangely left at home for the 2006 World Cup, Samuel has won 53 caps for Argentina, and was a runner-up at the 2005 Confederations Cup. Midfield Javier Mascherano – (2003-) The current captain of Los Albicelestes, Mascherano is a gifted player who has cemented his position in the national team after a number of impressive displays. The Liverpool midfielder participated in the 2006 World Cup in Germany, and helped Argentina claim the gold medal in both the Olympic Games of 2004 and 2008. Diego Maradona believes his influence on the side could improve their chances of winning their first World Cup since 1986. Linked with a high-profile move to Barcelona, a future transfer could consolidate his status as one of the best defensive midfielders in the world. Juan Sebastian Veron – (1996- ) Since making his Argentina debut back in 1996 Veron has been in and out of the national team scene. He took part in two World Cups, but was controversially excluded from the squad that reached the quarter-finals in Germany. After having found wide success during ten years in Europe, Veron returned to his beloved Estudiantes, and his outstanding form soon earned him another national team call-up after three years. He took part in the 2007 Copa America, and has featured in the 2010 World Cup qualifiers, although sparingly. Veron's radar-like passing and incredible deadball accuracy means he continues to be an important player for Argentina. Juan Roman Riquelme – (1999-2009) Riquelme is one of the most talented playmakers in the game, but also one of the most controversial. Argentina's game plan had been centred around him during the 2006 World Cup in Germany, but an early elimination led to heavy criticism. The player was recalled to the national side for the Copa America the following year and starred as his team reached the final. His exceptional form for Boca Juniors cemented his place in the national team for the following World Cup qualifiers, and he started off brilliantly. But as the campaign progressed, and with the appointment of Diego Maradona, Riquelme quit the national team for the second time last March. In recent weeks there had been talk that he could return to the side, but Riquelme reaffirmed that his days with the national team are well and truly over. Ariel Ortega – (1993-2003) Ortega is well known for being the replacement of Diego Maradona at the 1994 World Cup, and from then he became an integral part of the national team. "El Burrito" is blessed with incredible dribbling skills, and his tricky playing style led him to a number of Argentina call-ups. Having featured in three World Cups, the last being in Korea/Japan in 2002, Ortega was a key member of the side. However, unfortunately he is best known for headbutting Dutch goalkeeper Edwin Van Der Sar in the 1998 World Cup. Ortega was sent off and Argentina were eliminated from the tournament after a 2-1 defeat. Having recovered from a serious alcohol addiction, in recent months Maradona stated that if Ortega regains his form with River Plate he could reward him with another national team call-up. Lionel Messi – (2004-) Blessed with incredible talent, Messi is not only the greatest player to have emerged from the nation in the last decade, but one of the greatest in the history of the national team. "La Pulga" is renowned around the globe for his incredible skill, but although he made his senior national team debut in 2005 he has yet to reach his peak. In that match he was sent off within minutes of entering the field against Hungary. He was presented with limited opportunities in the 2006 World Cup, but still managed to find the back of the net against Serbia and Montenegro. The following year he was part of the Argentina side that ended as losing finalists of the Copa America to Brazil. But Messi was voted as the best young player of the tournament. Last year he played a key role as Argentina won the gold medal at the Summer Olympics in Beijing. Attack Gabriel Batistuta – (1991- 2003) Unfortunately for Argentina, they have suffered since the retirement of "Batigol". Batistuta was one of the greatest strikers in Argentine football history, and he won a number of titles with his country, but all before the turn of the century. The former Fiorentina legend participated in three World Cups, scoring a total of 10 goals in 12 games, a very impressive ratio. Often he was called upon for Argentina's inspiration, but this wasn't only for his goals but for his influence on the game and leadership skills. If Argentina could still count with his services with their current squad they would surely be serious contenders for the next World Cup. Hernan Crespo – (1995- ) Crespo had great consistency during his time with Argentina, but a lack of playing time with Inter and the emergence of younger stars has led to his exclusion. Since injuring himself while in the process of firing in a penalty kick against Colombia in the Copa America of 2007, Crespo has been overlooked. But he still hopes to return to the national team in the near future. With 35 goals for Los Albicelestes, Crespo is the second highest scorer in the history of the national team behind Batistuta, a player who he played second fiddle to in the early stages of his career. Despite his track record Crespo is unlikely to participate in what would be a fourth World Cup finals in South Africa. Abbondanzieri Zanetti Ayala Samuel Veron Mascherano Riquelme Ortega Messi Batistuta Crespo Do you agree with those who made it into the Argentina Team of the Decade 2000-2010? What would be your XI? Goal.com wants to know what YOU think... Gregory Sica, Goal.com -- ◣◣◣ █◤█ █◤█ █◤█ ███ ╭══════════╮ █◥█ █◢ █◢◣ █◢◣ █ ＡＲＧＥＮＴＩＮＡ　2010 █◥◥ █◤ ◥◤█ ◥◤█ █ ＦＷ ＮＯ．１０ FIFA █ █ █◢█ █◢█ █◢█ ███ ═══════ WORLD CUP --

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