WORLD CUP 2022 NATION PRESENTATION: ARGENTINA

NICKNAME: La Albiceleste / The White and Sky Blue

MANAGER: Lionel Scaloni

MOST CAPPED PLAYER / TOP SCORER: Lionel Messi- 164 caps / 90 goals from 2005

HOST NATION: Yes. In 1978.

WORLD CUP RECORD: 18th WC for Argentina. They competed on every world cup since 1974.

BEST RESULT: Argentina played in five WC finals, winning two of them in 1978 and 1986. Here is their team from 1986. It's Diego Maradona by whom we remember this tournament. Argentina was in group A with South Korea, Italy and Bulgaria. Two wins and one draw against Italy for first place. First knock-out stage match was played against another South American team, Uruguay. It was a 1-0 win by a late, Pedro Pasculli, first half goal. Next match was versus England. This game is remembered by two Maradona goals. One was a "Hand of God" goal just a few minutes into the second half and the other one was a solo goal having passed half of the field known as "The goal of the century". Lineker scored for 2-1 in the late part of the game. Argentina progressed into the semi-finals. Belgium was there. Maradona scored the only two goals of the match. West Germany beat France in the other match and faced Argentina in the final. Everything started great for Argentina with a first half lead. Brown was the goalscorer. Valdano scored their second, 10 minutes into the second half. The South Americans had a lead till last quarter when Germany scored two goals in only several minutes. German happiness for being alive lasted for only three minutes. Burruchaga scored Argentina's third and last goal of the match. La Albiceleste won the WC in Mexico, their second title.