Argentina

< CONMEBOL Group 1

Preview 

The 1986 World Cup champions Argentina were automatically qualified for Italia’90, and could prepare for the tournament in Italy with a team largely unchanged since the triumph in Mexico: Most importantly, still graced by the world’s best footballer in Maradona, and coached by the tactical nous of Carlos Bilardo 

Since the triumph in 1986, Argentina had however also experienced heartbreak as they finished the Copa América in 1987 on home soil in a highly disappointing fashion, crashing out 1-0 to Uruguay in the semi-finals. (Bilardo’s team eventually finished 4th in that competition.) The friendly against Spain in October would be their final match before the build-up to the 1989 edition of the Copa America.

Friendly results

Friendly: Spain 1-1 Argentina
12.10.1988, Estadio Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán (Seville)
Goal: Caniggia.
Line-up (4-3-1-2): Pumpido – Cuciuffo, Brown, Ruggeri, Fabbri (Olarticoechea 55′) – Troglio, Batista, Giusti – Maradona (Tapia 75′) – Caniggia (Dezotti 76′), Calderón.
Argentina concede an early goal, but equalise through Caniggia after a free kick. The two wide forwards Caniggia and Calderón create all sorts of problem for Spain before the break, while the 2nd half is more pedestrian. Positive showing against a Spanish team trying to to find their shape.

Friendly
09.03.1989: Colombia 1-0 Argentina
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Friendly
13.04.1989: Ecuador 2-2 Argentina
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Friendly
20.04.1989: Chile 1-1 Argentina
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Copa América

02.07.1989: Argentina 1-0 Chile (played in Goiânia, Brazil)
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04.07.1989: Argentina 0-0 Ecuador (played in Goiânia, Brazil)
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08.07.1989: Argentina 1-0 Uruguay (played in Goiânia, Brazil)
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10.07.1989: Argentina 0-0 Bolivia (played in Goiânia, Brazil)
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12.07.1989: Brazil 2-0 Argentina (played in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)
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14.07.1989: Argentina 0-2 Uruguay (played in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)
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16.07.1989: Argentina 0-0 Paraguay (played in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)
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