Argentina National Team Lineups through History (+ All-time XI)

Argentina National Team Lineups through History

Palmarès :
South American championship / Campeonato Sudamericano de Fútbol 1921, 1925, 1927, 1929, 1937, 1941, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1951, 1957, 1959.
Copa América 1991, 1993.

LINEUPS
1) The twelve South American championship winning XI.
2) The two Copa América winning XI.
3) World Cup lineups from 1930 until today, including the two World Champion XI of course.

4) All-time XI.

1) The twelve South American championship winning XI.

1921. As in the last match against Uruguay. 

In the second match against Paraguay, the right half was Presta (the only difference with the formation that is shown). It was already López the RH in the first match against Brazil where the Centre forward was Sosa and the Left winger was Chavin. 

ARGENTINA 1921

1925.  Sánchez was replaced only in the last match, against Brazil. The CF position was the one with much rotation : in order of appearance : Irurieta, Garassini, Irurieta, De Los Santos.  Basically, Irurieta did not play the two matches against Brazil or played the two against Paraguay.

ARGENTINA 1925

1927. Bossio played the last of the three games in the goals when the title was secured and the same goes for the left winger position with Orsi who replaced Luna only in this occasion. Fossa played the first game against Bolivia and was replaced for the rest of the competition by Zumelzú (Uruguay in the second match, for the title, then Peru). All the others played the three games.

ARGENTINA 1927

1929. Seoane and Orlandini played only in the first match against Peru (and did not play against Paraguay then Uruguay).

ARGENTINA 1929

1937. As in the "play-off", the decider or final of group with Brazil. Peucelle entered for the second half. Ferreyra entered at the 65th. De La Mata entered at the 84th minute and scored the two goals of the match at the 109th and at the 112th.

ARGENTINA 1937

1941. The team that beats Uruguay in the penultimate match, for the title. Also the typical first-11. Pedernera was not an usual winger.

ARGENTINA 1941

1945. Six matches this time. Bello was replaced by Ricardo after 2 matches. Palma replaced De Zorzi in the penultimate match after a half of an hour against Brazil and played the last match against Uruguay so he played the two decisive matches. The three halves were 6 times the same. Typical 5 in attack (+ Ferraro who replaced Pontoni twice during the games in the beginning of the tournament and played the 90 minutes in the last match against Uruguay, when it was all over and done). At the right winger position Munoz started and finished the tournament (match #1, 5 against Brazil and 6) when Boyé played the matches in between. They also replaced each other in some occasions during the matches. As for De la Mata, he was replaced during the matches in the beginning of the tournament then was a substitute who comes from the bench.

ARGENTINA 1945

1946. De La Mata played the two last and decisive games as the right winger (Uruguay and most of all Brazil) instead of Salvini who had played the games #2 and #3 (Boyé played the first match at this position with De La Mata inside right).

ARGENTINA 1946

1947. Colman and Palma played quite a good number of games respectivelly at the right back and at the  left back position but still, we have to consider them as reserve players. That being, Colman played the firsst game against the eventual runner-up Paraguay by entering for Marante just before the half-time (but none of them two played against Uruguay). As for Di Stéfano, he succeeded to Pontoni since the second match.

ARGENTINA 1947

1955. Labruna and Cucchiaroni appeared for the two last and decisive matches (Uruguay then Chile for the title) instead of Grillo and Cruz who played the three first matches. As well as Balay took over from Mouriño at the centre half position for these same matches.

ARGENTINA 1955

1957. Attention : it is not precised on the picture but Roma replaced Dominguez for the second half of the last and decisive match against Brazil (his only appearance in the tournament). 1-0 at half-time then 3-0.

ARGENTINA 1957

1959. Corbatta was replaced at the half-time of the penultimate match by Nardiello who also played the last and decisive match against Brazil (draw game). Sosa replaced Manfredini in the third game and for the rest of the competition.

ARGENTINA 1959

2) The two Copa América winning XI.

1991. As in the Final and typical 11 over the tournament.

ARGENTINA 1991

1993. As in the Final with substitutions. Same starting 11 as in the semi-finals. Acosta could be on the left or on the right as well, of course. He was the mobile striker alongside Batistuta.

ARGENTINA 1993

3) World Cup lineups from 1930 until today, including the two World Champion XI of course.

1930. As in the Final against Uruguay in Montevideo. 4-2 for the hosts (1-2 at half-time). Runner-up of the first World Cup ever.

ARGENTINA 1930

1966. The team that was eliminated by England at the 1966 World Cup, in England. In the quarter-finals, with the "Rattin incident".

ARGENTINA 1966

1978. Winner of the World Cup Final against Holland, 3-1 a.e.t. At Estadio Monumental, Buenos Aires.

ARGENTINA 1978

1982. The team is the same as in '78 in Argentina. Plus Maradona and Diaz, the winning attacking duo of the youth World Cup '79.
It can be added that great players are made to accomplish great things together on the pitch, and it was really the case at times, but not always with Kempes (now with the number 11 in the back) and Maradona and his legendary number 10. It also wedged at times (yes, often).
Eliminated by Brazil and Italy in the second phase (groups).
A last thing, Barbas and Calderon the complementary players of this squad who stands out. Not much used however. And it will be the same in the following years, mostly regarding Calderon, when Barbas could take the place of Ardilès at times. None of them two would be of the '86 winning team though.

ARGENTINA 1982

1986. As in the Final (and typical-11 over the tournament).  No more no less than a 4-4-2 with a defense and a midfield in cross but with that particularity that Olarticoechea was a very offensive left back in this team and that the initial formation can transform easily in a 3-5-2 with Ruggeri covering the left part of the defense in that case - otherwise he was the stopper placed before Brown, the libero (Ruggeri had to block the whole axis, with a preference for the left hand of it).
That could transform into a 3-5-2, or a 3-4-3, given the freedom allowed to Maradona (and how it could have been otherwise?) even though very often, Burruchaga compensated at midfield when Maradona played upfront so the idea of a 3-5-2 that dominates. But, once again, it was simply a 4-4-2 with that possible articulation into a 3-5-2. A block of 7 players behind the trio Burruchaga-Maradona-Valdano. That could even articulate in a 4-3-3 with two good ball-players at midfield in Giusti and Enrique who permuted as to know who played on the right and who played more on the left (that was turning). That doesn't necessarily mean the team was ultra-offensive because as already said there was 7 players dedicated to the defensive duties when not in the possession of the ball and most of all, that was a very-organized team plus the genius of his number 10. This should not minimize the genius of Burruchaga too, but here, Maradona reached a level of performance rarely seen before into a World Cup, maybe never. At last, a little word on Valdano who was a complete striker, a bit #11, a bit #9, both things at the same time and onto wich Maradona could build on his actions, or more or less, as for the famous goal against England for the 2-0 when Maradona (in spite of a call for the ball from Valdano) finally made it all alone for what is considered by manys as the "Goal of the Century".

ARGENTINA 1986

1990. As they lined in the Final. Calderon for Burruchaga at the 53rd minute and Monzon instead of Ruggeri for the second half (Monzon sent-off at the 65th minute, Dezotti too in the last minutes of the match).
Burruchaga was more at midfield and Maradona more upfront here contrarily to what happened in the 1986 Final. That being, after some minutes in the first half-time, Maradona stood at midfield in order to recovery his energy, try to avoid marking, and to eventually organize his team-play, so from a deeper position. At this moment, Burruchaga and Troglio were the ones who tried to go forward in support of Dezotti who was replacing here the young and very fast Caniggia absent for the ultimate game like other usual starters in this tournament knock-out phase in Olarticoechea (left back) and Giusti (right midfielder), through suspension. Another player of this squad who did not play in the Final was the defensive midfielder Batista who lost his spot at midfield after the group stage and made his last appearance in the overtime against Italy in the semi-finals.

ARGENTINA 1990

1994. As they lined against Romania. Ortega's first full-game. Maradona played in the two first matches then was suspended. His friend Caniggia missed the k-o games too. He was subbed out after 25 minutes of play in the last group match against Bulgaria. He had physical problems before the tournament started and it has reappareared after two first good games from him. At last, in the category of the players who are injury-prone, Sensini. He was however well here for the game against Romania (replaced by the usual substitute like at the Copa America '93 Medina Bello, striker, after 1 hour of play , in order to try to equalize).
Ortega was brilliant but the Hagi's team did not miss the opportunity to beat a ''seleccion'' in crisis since the suspension of his talismanic player. Romania reached the quarter-finals for the first time in its history with a interesting game in sight with Sweden to eventually go further.

ARGENTINA 1994

The 1998 team...as against The Netherlands in the quarter-finals. Substitutions not precised here. Vivas played in the precedent round against England when Sensini was suffering of a muscle spasm.
"El Piojo" Claudio Lopez, like an Acosta in 1993, was "turning around" Batistuta. With a clear preference for the left wing though (with the presence of Ortega and of Zanetti on the right at the same time).

ARGENTINA 1998

2006.  As against Germany in the semi-finals. Abbondanzierri left his place to Leo Franco at the 71th minute. In the following, Cambiasso (who was a starter in the quarter-finals against Mexico instead of Lucho) replaced Riquelme since the 72th minute. Julio Cruz replaced Crespo at the 79th minute. Saviola started against Mexico in the quarter-finals like Scaloni at the right back position. Tévez, Aimar then Messi entered against Mexico.

ARGENTINA 2006

2010. As against Germany in the Quarter-finals. Plus Pastore and Agüero for the last 15-20 minutes instead of Otamendi and Di Maria.
Maradona was the headcoach. He wanted Messi to play as a true n°10, at midfield, what Messi did.

ARGENTINA 2010

2014. Runner-up in Brazil (beaten by Germany). Typical formation and lineup through the tournament. With mentionned in brackets Enzo Pérez who played the Final instead of Di Maria, unfit to play. Gago can be mentionned as the "twelth man" of the team throughout the tournament.

ARGENTINA 2014

And now, and now...

4) Argentina all-time XI.

Selección Argentina de todos los tiempos

FYT's "Once de Argentina de todos los tiempos" : Fillol - Ayala, Passarella, Ruggeri - Zanetti, Monti, Redondo - Maradona - Messi, Sivori - Di Stéfano.
That's a choice. By the way, we take note that Monti and Sivori also played for Italy and Di Stéfano did for Spain. Also that Messi never played in Argentinian club's football.

Ruggeri was preferred to Perfumo in order to have 2 "stoppers" alongside Passarella (for sure Perfumo was a better player of the ball than Ruggeri though). Redondo is a bit out of position but say it's a tribute to his overwhelming against Manchester United in the Champions League (when playing one of rare matches for Milan).
Monti is the defensive caution of the team, placed in the axis. He missed his 1930 World Cup Final in the aspect of the combat against the Uruguayans but he has the advantage of being offensively more interesting than a Mascherano or even a Rossi, for the ancients, with an ability to shoot at the goals (by the way Cambiasso would be the sub' of Redondo).
The quator of attack is unarguable. Fantastic stuff. No Moreno or Pedernera of the great River though but...no Kempes too.
FYT really feels sorry to leave Ardilès aside. But doesn't really feel the same about a Batistuta. Another striker who is truely liked here is Crespo. Will not go further now and enumerate all the other legendary forwards (that appear for the most part in the teams that are presented...a Sanfilippo was not of these teams, for some reasons but was in '62, the offensive midfielder Bochini of Indepiendente was well part of the 1986 selection but did not play, or 5 minutes, and was not of the 1978 or 1982 teams, again for some reasons).
Just a last point, at the right back/ right half position, FYT likes well Carlos Sosa too, especially. On the opposite side was another class-act in Marzolini (also Sorin). As for the goalkeeping task, it was a no-brainer.

Some changes could be Marzolini instead of Ruggeri and assembling it in a more designed 4-2-3-1.