Argentina seek to emulate Italy and Brazil as back-to-back champions

June 2 : Dripping talent and forged by success, Argentina aim to become the first men's team to retain the World Cup since Brazil in 1962 and the only nation to do so entirely outside their own region.

Lionel Scaloni's men have kept the core of the squad that won at Qatar 2022, went on to retain the Copa America in 2024 and then topped South America's qualifying group with ease.

Preparations have not been ideal, though.

Since Qatar, they have not faced European opponents. A planned "Finalissima" game against Spain was cancelled due to the Iran war with the gap filled by modest opponents Mauritania and Zambia.

Furthermore, captain Lionel Messi, who turns 39 this month, may retain match-turning capacity and elder-statesman influence but no longer has the stamina and speed that made him such a driving force.

And as illustrated in Qatar - including in the wildly brilliant 3-3 draw in the final with France before penalties - Argentina's defence can be vulnerable.

Other favourites such as Spain, France and Brazil may relish testing a rearguard with a few more years in their collective legs.

Should Argentina triumph again, they would be only the third country to win back-to-back World Cups after Italy (1934 and 1938) and Brazil (1958 and 1962). Doing so outside their own South American region would be unprecedented.

Argentina kick off against Algeria in Kansas City on June 16 before facing Austria and Jordan in what looks, on paper, a relatively comfortable Group J for them.

QATAR 'IN THE PAST'

Scaloni will again have at his disposal the flair and clinical finishing of Lautaro Martinez and Julian Alvarez in attack.

In midfield, Messi will again be the conductor of the orchestra if fit enough to start, a potential impact substitute if