World Cup 2014 Team Guide: Argentina

Argentina boast an array of attacking talent, including Aguero and Di Maria

Plenty is expected of Lionel Messi and co in Brazil, with the Betfair market rating them as second favourites behind the hosts, at 6.05/1. Regular Argentinian football columnist Ed Malyon assesses their chances and picks out his best bets...

Road to Brazil

Erm, well it was all a rather simple road really. With no Brazil in the CONMEBOL group it would have had to be the most disastrous campaign of all time for Argentina not to qualify for the World Cup but after the strife encountered on the way to South Africa in 2010 there were no chances taken.

A sub-standard Copa America at home in 2011 saw a very premature end to Sergio Batista's Argentina World Cup project but Alejandro Sabella hasn't put a foot wrong since taking over and guided them to top of the qualification group, confirming their passage to Brazil with time to spare.

He began on a very cautious footing, sticking with players he knew from his club success with Estudiantes but over time his squad has become very defined and also boasts the ability to play in a variety of systems - something that could prove vital in the a tournament environment.

The Manager

A very loyal and naturally cautious manager, Sabella's selections and decisions have all been made on the basis of succeeding doing what he knows best - organising teams. 

At the beginning of his tenure it meant finding a defensive base on which he could rely, and once he had decided on Ezequiel Garay and Federico Fernandez as his central partnership he gave them a sustained and unbroken run of games to establish themselves.

From there forward his team has largely picked itself, the only major drama for Sabella being the nation-dividing choice to leave Carlos Tevez out of the set-up. In truth it appears a decision was made, assisted from above, from the outset of his tenure to exclude the forward on the basis of troublesome behaviour and intra-squad rifts. Sabella's strength has been going in the face of a nation and continuing to shut out their idol. Ultimately it will be the most-remembered facet of his reign if they don't impress this summer. 

Key men

Lionel Messi is far too obvious, and besides, the answer is probably Angel Di Maria. 

The Real Madrid man has adapated his role from tricky winger to shuttling central midfielder to much acclaim during Real Madrid's decima-winning season and he is arguably as irreplaceable as Messi in Argentina's lop-sided 4-4-2/4-3-3 system.

Possessing seemingly three lungs, Di Maria is both the third central midfielder shielding Argentina's greatest weakness - its defence - but also their left winger. The primary link between attack and the centre of the park, his ability to get up and down is the only thing that will stop Sabella's men getting overloaded at the back with Messi, Sergio Aguero and Gonzalo Higuain unlikely to be overly burdened with defensive tasks.

Talking Point

The weaknesses. Marcos Rojo is trusted by his manager from their time together at Estudiantes but isn't a top-class left-back by any stretch. Attacking Argentina down their right could prove fruitful, especially with the unspectacular Fernandez playing inside him. 

In goal, Sergio Romero is very short of match practice and the worries at the back are the major concern, possibly the only concern, over whether Argentina can make it all the way. 

Best Bet

Argentina are understandably one of the favourites, but in a tournament environment there's not much temptation in their price of 6.05/1. Perhaps a more interesting proposition is taking them to be the tournament's top scorers at 4.3100/30.

Of course they have a lethal attack and one of the easiest groups in the entire draw, but in the early knockout ties they are similarly fortunate and they could have a market like this sewn up by the quarter-finals.  

Value Bet

If you're desperate to get on them, rather than backing Argentina to win the thing at 6.05/1, strong fanciers of the Albiceleste would be better off backing Lionel Messi for the World Cup Golden Ball at around 8.07/1 given that any victory is extremely likely to be laid at the feet of their captain and talisman.

Other than gleaning a slither of extra value for that, Argentina seem pretty well covered on the markets. Those strong fanciers may also see the upside in backing the Argentina/Higuain double on the Winner/Golden Boot market at 48.047/1 which is a whole lot chunkier than the Messi equivalent at 17.016/1

Did You Know?

Argentina scored more goals than any other South American side in qualification for the World Cup Finals (35) with five of the best nine minutes-per-goal ratios for all the competing nations coming from Argentina players.