World Cup Record: Won 1978 & 1986
Manager: Diego Maradona
Key Player: Lionel Messi
Qualified: 4th, South America
Odds: 9/1

There’s probably no player in history who’s had a greater impact on World Cup football than Diego Maradona, and if he’s still around to lead Argentina come June then it’ll be hard to take your eyes off the Albiceleste. Sent off in 1982, the Hand of God & the Goal of the Century in 1986, kicked out for drugs in 1994 and the manic celebrations of 2006 – it’s difficult to think of an ex-player less cut out for the demands of management than Maradona. His chaotic approach very nearly saw Argentina fail to qualify – scraping through on the last day, they lost six qualifying matches out of 18 including a 6-1 thrashing away to Bolivia. In Lionel Messi, they have one of the most gifted players of this or any other generation. Sergio Aguero, Carlos Tevez & Diego Milito provide enough creativity, work rate & goals to trouble the meanest defence and it’s all set up from the most streetwise midfield in the competition – Javier Mascherano, Juan Sebastian Veron & Esteban Cambiasso. Their trouble of course is in defence, but then again should it really be such a surprise that a team marshalled by Maradona doesn’t place too much emphasis on keeping things tight at the back?

Lionel Messi

Age: 22
Position: Winger
Club: Barcelona
Caps: 41 (13 goals)

The ‘new Maradona’ tag has proven too much of a burden to bear for such talented players as Ariel Ortega, Javier Saviola, Pablo Aimar & Juan Riquelme but the Barcelona superstar takes it all in his stride. Coming up against more organised defences than he finds on a weekly basis in La Liga, Messi hasn’t yet quite matched his club displays on the international scene. But if the unpredictable Maradona can get his most lethal weapon firing on all cylinders, 10/1 might look pretty generous as the tournament goes on.