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Journalism of Courage
Argentina is hoping teenage forward Lionel Messi can erase the memories of the team8217;s early exit from the last World Cup. Argentina is expected to have only six players return from the tournament in South Korea and Japan, with 18-year-old Messi the big name alongside Juan Roman Riquelme, Carlos Tevez and Hernan Crespo.
After being favoured to go far in 2002 and leaving after the first round, Argentina now feels no pressure. Or so coach Jose Pekerman says. 8220;We are heading into Germany without the baggage of being favourites. That8217;s going to let us start this tournament much more relaxed.8221;
Pekerman has never led a first-division team and only replaced Marcelo Bielsa as coach last year. He coached Argentina8217;s U-20 team to World Cup titles in 1995, 8217;97 and 2001. Many of those players he coached then are now based in Europe and expected to go to Germany. He will have Villarreal midfielders Riquelme and Juan Pablo Sorin, Valencia8217;s Pablo Aimar, Deportivo8217;s Fabricio Coloccini and Sevilla8217;s Javier Saviola to choose from.
Midfielder Esteban Cambiasso of Inter Milan, and Corinthians8217; Tevez and Javier Mascherano will also play prominent roles. Then, of course, there is Messi, who has been likened to Diego Maradona.
8220;I think Lionel has all the necessary qualities to be the best in the world,8221; Maradona has said. 8220;I hope it happens for him because he is a great kid and handles himself really well.8221;
Argentina opens Group C against Ivory Coast on June 10 in Hamburg. It plays Serbia-Montenegro in Gelsenkirchen on June 16, and the Netherlands in Frankfurt on June 21.
