Argentine heroes about chances of national team (27 Feb 2006 04:14 GMT)
June 29, 2006 promises to be a very special day for Argentine football. The date will mark the 20th anniversary of Argentina's glorious triumph on Mexican soil. Twenty years after Diego Maradona and his men overcame West Germany on a magical evening at the Azteca Stadium, FIFAworldcup.com website spoke exclusively to the heroes of Mexico 86 about the form and potential of Jose Pekerman's side and their chances of leaving Germany with the famous Trophy.
Hector Enrique : "If people over here were worried on hearing the names of the other teams (in the group), can you imagine what they must have been thinking in Ivory Coast and Serbia? If we want to be champions we're going to have to beat everybody. It's vital that we go to Germany without feeling inferior or superior to anybody. Just like we did 20 years ago."
Sergio Batista : "We Argentines are worried because of what happened to us in 2002, when we arrived as one of the favourites only to crash out early. No disrespect to Ivory Coast or Serbia and Montenegro, but even if this is the 'Group of Death'... Argentina are a class above both those teams."
Ricardo Giusti : "It would be foolish to claim that the team aren't good enough to achieve their goal. They've got some excellent players and an excellent coach."
Carlos Tapia : "We're going to need our big players to be in top form coming into June. There aren?t many teams that have players of the calibre and experience of Riquelme, Messi, Aimar..."
Julio Olarticoechea : "We've been drawn against teams who all have very good centre-forwards, number nines in the traditional mould, which could work in our favour. It's easier to prepare to mark these players than if you don't know who's playing where. However, all three group rivals deserve the greatest respect. (...) We can't do without Ayala. We also need Crespo playing centre-forward and, depending on tactics, possibly Messi in there to provide the inspiration. The big names aside, they need to sit the younger players down and explain to them just what it means to wear the Albiceleste shirt in a World Cup. I'm not saying that they have to die for the cause, but they need to be ready to give absolutely everything they've got. They've got to fight for every ball as if it were their last."
source : FIFA