Argentina

It was not luck that the Argentinian football hardworking team qualified 13 times to the World Cup finals. They climbed the ladder of success and along the way became runners-up in 1930 and 1990. That on its own was encouraging and succeeded in lifting their spirit the following years as they carried the cup back home twice in 1978 and in 1986.

Argentina coach Jose Pekerman told AFP recently that he sprang no major surprises in his 23-man squad for the FIFA World Cup finals in Germany. The squad includes a number of players who starred for the Argentina U-20 team that won the FIFA World Youth Championship last year, including Barcelona’s Lionel Messi. However, there are also some more experienced hands on board, including Villarreal duo Juan Pablo Sorin and Juan Roman Riquelme, Javier Saviola of Sevilla and Manchester United’s Gabriel Heinze.

“There is a permanent evolution with footballers.

Several of the U-20 footballers have made themselves noticed,” said Pekerman. “Before it would have been impossible for players of this category to come into the A team.” Even though Argentina have been drawn in one of the trickiest groups for next month’s FIFA World Cup, striker Hernan Crespo is confident they will avoid a repeat of their first-round elimination four years ago.

“We’ve got another difficult group,” the Chelsea forward told Reuters in an interview held during a squad get-together in Madrid. “But we’ve got the necessary experience to deal with it.

“It is our desire to win the World Cup again but it is going to be difficult and we mustn’t forget that in the history of football, Argentina have only won the World Cup twice. That shows how difficult it will be to win it.” Argentina’s last FIFA World Cup triumph came 20 years ago when they were inspired by Diego Maradona.

Holland

With seven qualifications to the World Cup, Netherlands national team made remarkable record in 1974 and in 1978 when they reached the final though they were ruled out first by Germany 2-1 and afterwards by Argentina 3-1.

Dutch coach Marco van Basten opted for a youthful look when he announced his final squad for the FIFA World Cup finals in Germany on Sunday. As expected, veterans Edgar Davids, Clarence Seedorf and Roy Makaay, who had already been left out of a provisional squad of 28 a week ago, failed to make it into the final 23-man party.

But there was also disappointment for Middlesbrough midfielder George Boateng, Feyenoord striker Romeo Castelan, Hamburg midfielder Nigel de Jong, Ajax forward Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and AZ Alkmaar defender Barry Opdam who were all cut from the 28.

Despite the exodus of top Dutch stars to the big European leagues of England, Spain and Italy, Van Basten selected 14 Dutch-based players with Ajax and Alkmaar supplying five each, although only three came from champions PSV Eindhoven, and one from Feyenoord.

Marco van Basten dropped prolific Ajax Amsterdam striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar on Sunday from his final squad for the FIFA World Cup finals next month, sticking with Ruud van Nistelrooy, Dirk Kuyt and Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink.

The Netherlands coach had invited Huntelaar, scorer of 33 first division goals this season, for a four-day training session last week, but finally opted to take only three strikers. “Klaas-Jan had a good season at Ajax and Heerenveen with many goals but is unlucky that we won’t take four central strikers to the World Cup,” Van Basten told a news conference, adding Huntelaar would return to the U-21 squad.

Manchester United’s Van Nistelrooy will be first choice up front and Kuyt can fill in on the right wing. The 23-man squad contains only two players, midfielder Phillip Cocu and goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar, with FIFA World Cup experience.

Ivory Coast

The African newcomer, Côte d’Ivoire, according to FIFAworldcup.com, has achieved 6-0 victories no less than three times in their history, a record in world football statistics.

They completed the straight six against Mali (1985), Botswana (1992) and Niger (2000).

Ivory Coast’s French coach Henri Michel has unveiled his 23- man squad for this summer’s FIFA World Cup. Michel largely kept faith with the nucleus of the squad that took part in the CAF African Cup of Nations earlier this year, although Saint- Etienne’s Siaka Tiene ‘Chico’ has been replaced by Lille striker Abdoul Kader Keita.

Ivory Coast will prepare for the FIFA World Cup in Vittel, France from 19 May to 4 June, the Ivorian Football Federation said on Sunday.

During this period, the African side will play three friendly internationals against Switzerland in Basel on May 27 , Chile on May 31 in Vittel and Slovenia in Evry- Bondoufle, near Paris, on June 4.

The Ivory Coast, who are in Group C, make their World Cup debut against twice champions Argentina, then meet the Netherlands and Serbia and Montenegro.

Serbia & Montenegro

Serbia & Montenegro, also known as Yugoslavia up until 2003, reached the World Cup semifinals in 1930 for their first time but an unpleasant surprise happened next when Uruguay beat them 6-1. The team ,however, succeeded in qualifying to play at the World Cup six times afterwards in 1950, 1958, 1962, 1974, 1990 and 1998.

Serbia and Montenegro manager Ilija Petkovic has kept his promise to introduce a breath of youth into his FIFA World Cup squad. “This is the best we have got and I can vouch that each and every one of these lads deserves to be in the World Cup,” said 60-yearold Petkovic.

“The Ivorians have plenty of talent and could be a real threat as they will be under no pressure to get past the group stage,” Osim told Belgrade daily Blic in a Reuters report.

Osim led the former Yugoslavia to the quarterfinals in the 1990 finals in Italy and believes Petkovic can emulate his success.

“He has a strong and experienced group of players able to hold their own against the Argentines and the Netherlands,” he said. “I believe in Petkovic as he has mastered his trade over the years.” Osim, now coaching Jleague side Jeff United, believes a rock solid defense that let in only one goal on the road to Germany and tall striker Nikola Zigic could take the team through to the knockout stages.