Argentina
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.
Argentina World Cup appearances:
1930, 1934, 1958, 1962, 1966, 1974, 1978, 1982, 1986.
Results
Int. friendly
12.10.1988
Estadio Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán, Seville
Spain
Butragueño (7′)
1–1
(Report)
Argentina
Caniggia (44′)
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.
Line-up (4-3-1-2): Pumpido – Cuciuffo, Brown, Ruggeri, Fabbri (Olarticoechea 55′) – Troglio, Batista, Giusti – Maradona (Tapia 75′) – Caniggia (Dezotti 76′), Calderón.
Int. friendly
09.03.1989
Colombia
1–0
Argentina
TBC
Int. friendly
13.04.1989
Ecuador
2–2
Argentina
TBC
Int. friendly
20.04.1989
Chile
1–1
Argentina
TBC
Argentina back to winning ways, in what was a dominant display in their opening match of the 1989 Copa. The 4-1-3-2 formation with Maradona as a central forward and Caniggia in a wide position, proved very efficient for overloading the midfield, without always finding a way through the Chile defence. The goal came in the 2nd half after Caniggia was asked to play more in the middle. Maradona not at his best – was he tired, suffering in this formation, or saving it for later?
Line-up (4-1-3-2): Islas – Clausen (Basualdo 72′), Brown, Ruggeri, Sensini – Batista – Troglio, Burruchaga, Calderón – Caniggia (Alfaro Moreno 68′), Maradona (c). Unused subs: Falcioni, Cuciuffo, Gorosito.
Copa América
04.07.1989
Argentina
0–0
Ecuador
TBC
Copa América
08.07.1989
Argentina
1–0
Uruguay
TBC
Copa América
10.07.1989
Argentina
0–0
Bolivia
TBC
Copa América
12.07.1989
Brazil
2–0
Argentina
TBC
Copa América
14.07.1989
Argentina
0–2
Uruguay
TBC
Copa América
16.07.1989
Argentina
0–0
Paraguay
TBC