The perennial participants of South America [Argentina] will be participating in the 2010 FIFA World Cup to be held in South Africa. The country was the host of the 1978 FIFA World Cup and was a champion at that time. The Argentine National Football/Soccer team at the time enjoyed a period of prestige and respect.

The coach and previous player of the team is a disgrace to the sport and to the team. Diego Armando Maradona started well but then turned to drugs and became arrogant. He also did not deserve to win the 1986 FIFA World Cup in Mexico because of his so called “Hand of God”. He even admitted that his hand was used in order to score a goal.

The use of a hand in order to score a goal in football/soccer is illegal and he should have been punished at the time. The tenure of Maradona as coach was controversial especially when he used derogatory terms against his critics when Argentina barely classified for the 2010 World Cup.

The outrageous antics earned Maradona a suspension and a ban from the practice games for the time being. The only positive light in the team is Lionel Messi who is seen as the heir to Maradona even though Maradona praises and then destroys him.

Lionel Messi is also an active member of FC Barcelona and has helped the team advance in La Liga in Spain. Lionel Messi is one of the top scorers of the Argentine National Football/Soccer team with 18 goals with 1606 minutes clocked.

Argentina is in Group B with the Republic of Korea [also known as South Korea], Nigeria, and Greece. While the South American nation has a big chance to advance in the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Nigeria and South Korea could surprise a team that has been overconfident in its abilities to win.

The recent victory of Argentina over Haiti has reinforced the excess confidence that the team that has become more like a superiority complex. While the underwriter is trying to maintain a sense of impartiality, the fact that Maradona has been allowed to coach a team [taking into account that he suffers from addiction to drugs and has not offered any apologies] is a slap in the face of soccer lovers everywhere.

It is the hope of the underwriter that Argentina loses the 2010 FIFA World Cup so that the team can find another coach who does not carry controversial baggage. Whether this will happen remains to be seen.

http://www.helium.com/items/1829108-2010-fifa-world-cup-argentina