ARGENTINA PROFILE: Despite being drawn in the ‘Group of Death’, a breathtaking Argentina side should live up to their favourites tag, writes Paul Doyle

Most people expect Argentina to be crowned world champions this summer, and if they do lift the trophy no one will contest their worthiness, since the draw ensures their route to the final will be a hellish one.

Pitted into the obligatory Group of Death, Marcello Bielsa’s boys will have to battle their way past Sweden, Nigeria, and England in order to set up a possible second round clash with holders France and a quarter-final against arch-rivals Brazil.

It may not pan out quite like that, of course, but the possibility of such a trial will surely mean the Argentines will roar into the tournament from the off. And that’s bad news for the rest of the world, because when on form, Argentina are breathtaking.

With the exceptions of the exquisitely-talented Ariel Ortega and Claudio Huain of River Plate, all of Bielsa’s band are strutting their stunning stuff abroad. Juan Pablo Sorin, who had a glum spell at Juventus, is now excelling at Brazilian club Cruzeiro, while the rest of them are shining with Europe’s elite.

Their strikeforce is particularly frightening. Gabriel Batistuta has been Earth’s most consistent striker for the last decade, and Hernan Crespo (above) has been doing his best to emulate him. Claudio Lopez may not yet have begun to thrill Lazio fans as much as he did Valencia ones, but he still has the potential to tear any defence to shreds. And then, of course, 35 year-old Claudio Canniggia, who will no doubt be hellbent on justifying Biels'a decision to include him at the expense of little Javier Saviola, the boy Barcelona fans are branding the new Maradona.

Examine Argentina’s midfield and you see at least 10 players who would start for any country in the world: from the flair of Juan Sebastian Veron and Marcelo Gallardo, to the steel of Diego Simeone, Javier Zanetti, Mattias Almeyda, and Sorin, to the sheer explosiveness of Kily Gonzalez, Argetina have every option covered. Which is handy, because coach Bielsa is adept at tailoring his team to cut up the given opposition - his side can switch from 4-3-3 to 4-4-2 with seamless swagger.

In goal, Barcelona’s Roberto Bonano is totally trustworthy, and the defence in front of him is equally faithful. Roberto Ayala and Walter Samuel are pure class, and Mauricio Pochettino (PSG), Jose Chamot (Celta Vigo), and Diego Placente (Parma) are almost equally fearsome.

Argentina are awesome.

Squad:

Goalkeepers
1-German Burgos (Atletico Madrid/Spa), 11-Pablo Cavallero (Celta Vigo/Spa), 24-Roberto Bonano (Barcelona/Spa)

Defenders
2-Roberto Ayala (Valencia/Spa), 4-Mauricio Pochettino (Paris Saint Germain/Fra), 6-Walter Samuel (AS Roma/Ita), 21-Jose Chamot (AC Milan/Ita), 12-Diego Placente (Bayer Leverkusen/Ger)

Midfielders
8-Javier Zanetti (Inter Milan/Ita), 13-Diego Simeone (Lazio/Ita), 10-Juan Sebastian Veron (Manchester United/Eng), 14-Claudio Husain (Napoli/Ita), 5-Matias Almeyda (Parma/Ita), 15-Pablo Aimar (Valencia/Spa), 19-Marcelo Gallardo (Monaco/Fra), 3-Juan Sorin (Cruzeiro/Bra), 22-Ariel Ortega (River Plate)

Forwards
9-Gabriel Batistuta (AS Roma/Ita), 17-Kily Gonzalez (Valencia/Spa), 20-Claudio Caniggia (Rangers/Sco), 18-Hernan Crespo (Lazio/Ita), 7-Claudio Lopez (Lazio/Ita), 16-Gustavo Lopez (Celta Vigo/Spa)