THE VITALS:

Team: Argentina

Brand: Adidas

Era: 2005-07 (Used for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, 2007 Copa America, 2007 Copa America Final and throughout the 2010 FIFA World Cup Qualifying Campaign)

Name/Number: Riquelme #8

CONDITION: EXCELLENT

This classic shirt comes to you in excellent condition; albeit with some wear and tear to the name and numbering on the back of the shirt. Barring that however, the shirt material, respective applications and all round maintenance of the shirt are outstanding!

DIMENSIONS:

Size: Medium

Pit to Pit Measurement: 20.5 inches

Shirt Length: 31.5 inches 

Made by Adidas in their ‘ClimaCool’ mould of shirts which they introduced in 2005; these shirts were notoriously baggy, and these dimensions suggest; this shirt may be better suited for someone who wears a size large shirt or even extra-large!

DESCRIPTION:

After the ghosting stripes that adorned the previous home shirt, Adidas would utilise the template for striped shirts as part of their now legendary set of templates which were introduced ahead of the 2006 FIFA World Cup for Argentina and the result was a very futuristic shirt for their foray in Germany! The base of the shirt features the classic ‘albi-celeste’ stripes, however, separating the base, side panels and epaulets is a white boarder with a gold trim! The sleeves are predominantly white, while blue hoops with a white trim adorn the ends of the sleeves and the collar. This shirt will be remembered for both of Argentina’s tournament challenges at the World Cup and then 12 months later at the Copa America in Venezuela where they reached the final, only to lose to Brazil once again after theif heartbreak in Peru in 2004. This home shirt would be the last to worn by national team legends such as: Hernan Crespo, Roberto Ayala, Javier Saviola, Juan Pablo Sorin!           

THE SEASON(S):

Smarting from their stunning late collapse against England in their glamour friendly on 12/11/05; Jose Pekerman’s side would take their anger out on Qatar in a 3-0 win 4 days later to end a disappointing 2005. The final preparation for the 2006 FIFA World Cup yielded a defeat and a win, as they took their place in a fearsome group that also contained: Ivory Coast, the Netherlands and Serbia and Montenegro. A 2-1 win over the African nation set the stage for a 6-0 demolition of Serbia and Montenegro; a result that ensured passage to the Last 16, and after a dead rubber 0-0 with Holland, Argentina would qualify as group leaders and meet Mexico in the Last 16.

The clash of South vs Central America would bleed into extra-time, where a Maxi Rodriguez wonder-goal saw Argetina win 2-1 down the stretch to set up a mouth-watering rematch of the 1986 and 1990 World Cup Finals. The decision to withdraw Juan Roman Riquelme would prove costly as Germany battled from a goal down, to eventually prevail 4-2 on penalties and send the ‘Albiceleste’ home. Alfio Basile replaced Jose Pekerman who resigned following the elimination in the quarter final versus Germany, and he would have to oversee a  poor end to 2006 would feature defeats to Brazil and Spain respectively; the former holding the distinction of being the first ever international game to be played at the Emirates Stadium.

2007 would begin with a 1-0 win over France with preparation shifting to the Copa America in Venezuela that summer. 2 draws (Chile and Switzerland) and a win over Algeria would make up their remaining 3 outings before kicking off their Copa journey against the United States on 28^th June 2007.

They began the Copa America in fine style; defeating the U.S 4-1, before putting another 4 goals past Colombia to seal passage to the quarter final. A perfect Group Stage would be completed as Argentina defeated Paraguay 1-0 on 5^th July. Their opponents in the ¼ Final would be Peru, and once again, Argentina would put 4 goals past their opposition, and where Roman Riquelme would again net a brace! Their semi-final clash with Mexico ended 3-0 in favour of the ‘Albiceleste’ as they set up a rematch of the 2004 finale versus Brazil! The 15^th July super-showdown in Maracaibo would be a disappointment as for the 3^rd straight final – they would lose to Brazil; falling 3-0!

In their next outing post the Copa America Final; Argentina would be stunned against Norway in a friendly, however, they would rebound with a win over Australia ahead of the 2010 FIFA World Cup Qualifying campaign. The road to South Africa began with a pair of 2-0 victories; overcoming Chile and Venezuela to begin with a 100% record!

The notable players that season(s) were:

Hernan Crespo, Diego Milito, Carlos Tevez, Lionel Messi, Javier Saviola, Julio Cruz, Rodrigo Palacio, Maxi Rodriguez, Pablo Aimar, Lucho Gonzales, Kily Gonzalez, Juan Roman Riquelme, Juan Sebastian Veron, Fernando Gago, Javier Mascherano, Esteban Cambiasso, Juan Pablo Sorin, Roberto Ayala, Gabriel Heinze, Lionel Scaloni, Leondro Cufre, Nicolas Burdisso, Gabriel Milito, Martin Demichelis, Fabricio Coloccini, Roberto Abbondanzieri, Leo Franco