Barça's World Cup: Argentina (II)

After a difficult qualification stage Diego Maradona's Argentina head to the World Cup Finals with doubts surrounding them, but they will have the best player in the world in Lionel Messi to drive them on.

"I see Argentina as one of the candidates to win the cup despiet nobody having us down as favourites," Messi told reporters as the build-up to the tournament continued.

Messi ready to shine

The Albiceleste side revolves around the FC Barcelona star and there has been clear proof of how important he is in the fact that Maradona changed his tactics in training recently to a classic 4-4-2 to allow Messi to play in a free role.

Expectations are high that the Blaugrana forward will shine on the biggest stage of all and he believes that playing for Barça will help him wirthstand the pressure that will be placed on him in South Africa. "I will try to do for Argentina what I do for Barcelona," he stated. Alongside Messi are a littany of outstanding stars with Gonzalo Higuaín, Diego Milito, Carlos Tévez, Martin Palermo and Sergio Agüero.

Group B

After winning the World Cup in 1978 Argentina regained the trophy in 1986 when Maradona was the star and they will be looking to end a run of 24 years without being crowned as the best. Before they can think about that though they must edge out Nigeria, South Korea and Greece in the group stage.

If Argentina fulfill their billing as favourites to win the group then they are likely to meet either Thierry Henry's France or a Mexico team containing rafael Márquez and Jonathan Dos Santos.

Preparation in Buenos Aires

Argentina travelled to South Africa on Friday after spending a few days preparing in Buenos Aires, where they also defeated Canada 5-0 in a friendly. Messi did not play due to a muscle strain as Maradona was keen to rest him.

Barça’s World Cup: Spain (I)

The eight FC Barcelona players in the Spanish national side will start their campaign on June 16 in Durban against Switzerland. Spain are the top seeds in Group H, and will also face Chile and Honduras.

Though they have never won the trophy before, Spain are one of the hot favourites for glory in South Africa. They were outstanding at Euro 2008 and Del Bosque’s side also powered their way though the qualifying stages for this tournament. The squad of 23 includes no fewer than eight members of the all-conquering Barça team.

Group stages

Neither Valdés nor Pedro have ever made an official appearance for the national team, and will get their first chance against the Swiss in the first match in the group. Spain then switch to Johannesburg, where Honduras await on June 21, and they close the group against another Latin American nation, Chile, in Pretoria on June 25.

FCB’s Sergio Busquets and Gerard Piqué have played for Spain before, but never in a major tournament.

History

Spain have played all three of its group rivals in previous World Cups. They met the Alpine nation in 1968 and 1994, and won both times.

Spain faced Honduras on the only previous occasion that the Central American nation has made it to the final stages. That was in 1982, in Valencia, when despite home advantage, Spain were held to a shock 1-1 draw in their opening match.

It is some time since Spain and Chile last met at a World Cup. That was way back in 1950, when Spain won 2-0.

Possible future rivals
If Spain qualify, they are unlikely to get an easy match in the next round, Some are calling Group G the Group of Death, for it includes Brazil, Portugal, the Ivory Coast and North Korea. Spain will be playing one of the qualifiers from that group in the last sixteen, which looks like being a tough test.

Laporta keen to keep squad together

Joan Laporta has stated that FC Barcelona will only listen to offer for players who have told the club that they want to leave and explained that Touré Yaya's agent has told him that the midfielder is keen to play more.

The Blaugrana president laid out the board's plans to build on the current squad, having already added David Villa, but did say that if any player makes a request to leave then any offers would be considered.

Touré
On Touré's situation at Camp Nou, Laporta commented: "He is a great player who has shone at Barça and, therefore, we would like him to stay here for many years to come, but his agent has talked to us about the possibility of him leaving because he is slightly unhappy about certain sporting aspects," he explained. "The player is unsettled because he wants to play more and for that reason we will listen to any offers that other clubs may make." Laporta then revealed that while offers for Touré had been made, it was down to Txiki Begiristain to deal with them.

Fàbregas

Reflecting on Cesc Fàbregas' situation Laporta continued: "We will not sign any player for moer than their market value. We are interested in signing Cesc and Arsenal know that, but we will not pay exorbitant prices for any player. If his asking price comes down to a true amount then we will do all we can to sign him, but it has to be a realistic price."

While talks have taken place with Arsenal the Barça president believes that "it is very important that Cesc declares openly his desire to come to Barça". Talks have also been held between manager Arsène Wenger and the midfielder and Laporta thinks that "it is always good that a trainer reaches an agreement with a player".

Ibrahimovic
Zlatan Ibrahimovic has also been the subject of media speculation, but Laporta is not aware of anything official. "I have not heard any of the news that he is thinking about leaving Barça," the supremo stated. "We are not disappointed with Ibra, he has had a good season and we are very proud of the job he has done and, above all, his attitude within the squad. We are pleased that player of his level has adapted so well to the squad and has been so humble. We are very pleased with him."