Argentina will kick off their much hyped FIFA World Cup 2014 campaign with a match against Bosnia and Herzegovina, who have qualified for the finals for the very first time. The match will be played at the famous Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday, June 15.
Lionel Messi will be leading the charge for the Argentines as they look to win their third World Cup and the first since that famous 1986 triumph inspired by the brilliant Diego Maradona. Argentina had finished on top of their qualification group and were one of the first teams to book their spot in the finals.
Alejandro Sabella is under pressure from fans to win the world cup for Argentina in enemy territory. His decision to overlook Carlos Tevez did not go down well with the fans and now the pressure lies squarely on the shoulders of Messi, who has a chance to endear himself to the fans of the nation of his birth. As he left his nation of birth at the tender age of 13 to join FC Barcelona in Spain, Argentines are not as fond of Messi as they are of Tevez, who is considered the local hero.
Messi is not the only jewel in Argentina’s attack which boasts the likes of Sergio Aguero, Angel di Maria, Ezequiel Lavezzi, and Gonzalo Higuain. Argentina also have an able midfield with Javier Mascherano and Enzo Perez filling the defensive midfield roles. Defense will be an issue for the Argentines although with the likes of Ezequiel Garay, Martin Demichelis, and Pablo Zabaleta around, they should be able to cope.
Bosnia and Herzegovina finished ahead of everyone else in their qualifying group which included Euro 2004 champions Greece. They finished ahead on goal difference as their strikers plundered a total of 30 goals in 10 matches for the side. They conceded a meagre 6 goals to finish with eight victories, a draw, and a loss in their qualification campaign for the finals.
The likes of Edin Dzeko and Vedad Ibisevic are proven strikers who are in great form currently. Dzeko helped his club team claim the Premier League in England this season with some crucial goals. The pair scored 18 goals between them in qualifying.
Asmir Begovic has made his name as a goalkeeper in England while Emir Saphic, Senad Lulic, and Avdija Vrsajevic have proven to be extremely effective as a defensive unit. There are goals in midfield as well with the likes of Zvjezdan Misimovic and Miralem Pjanic among the shining lights for Bosnia Herzegovina, who will be making their debut in the FIFA World Cup on Sunday.