Argentina’s ‘Fab Four’ key to team’s WC success

Update: 2014-04-30 00:22 GMT
If the ‘Fantastic Quartet’ of Messi, Gonzalo Higuain, Sergio Aguero and Angel Di Maria are on song, Argentina can emerge victorious in Brazil to claim a third World Cup victory. Despite boasting a wealth of riches in attack, however, Argentina are playing down their chances of overall victory and setting their sights primarily on ending a quarterfinal jinx.

‘It’s very difficult to become world champions. We mustn’t believe we’re the best. In fact, we know we’re not the best, but we are a (world) power,’coach Alejandro Sabella told reporters recently. ‘We can’t get involved in triumphalism... We must remain emotionally balanced and the more so when we go out onto the pitch,’ he warned. Balance is a key word for Sabella, who has built a harmonious squad, who get on well both on and off the pitch.

This might explain the absence of striker Carlos Tevez despite his Juventus form, an individualist that Sabella feels he cannot seamlessly introduce to the team. Argentina have reached the last eight at three of the last four tournaments, going out to Germany in 2006 and 2010, and have not reached the semifinals since Italy 1990 when they reached the final and were beaten by the Germans.

They were handed a good draw that should see them win Group F ahead of debutants Bosnia, Iran and African champions Nigeria and advance to a last-16 meeting with the second-placed team in Group E, made up of France, Switzerland, Ecuador and Honduras.

Diego Maradona took a squad of similar strength to South Africa four years ago and a fourth successive win in the second round over Mexico set up a showdown with Germany, but the former captain’s coaching abilities were found wanting at that stage and Argentina were thumped 4-0.
Sabella has the tactical know-how to weather the mounting difficulties as the tournament progresses and breaking the quarterfinal barrier could see his team go all the way to the final again.

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