After a qualifying campaign plagued by acrimony and embarrassment, Argentina can look to the 2010 World Cup with hope after being drawn in a group with South Korea, Nigeria and Greece on Friday.

The events of a turbulent 18 months have given Argentine fans little to cheer, but in newly crowned European Footballer of the Year Lionel Messi they boast the world's best player, while their squad is thick with guile and top-level experience.