Belo Horizonte (Brazil), June 21: Two-time champions Argentina couldn't score against lowly-placed Iran during the first half of their Group F match played at Estádio MineirÃo here on Saturday.

Argentina, who are seen as one of the favourites before every World Cup, haven't made the semifinals since 1990 when they lost to the then West Germans in the finals. This is quite unlikely of a team which has some of the best footballing names in its ranks.

Let's see Argentina's record in the World Cup since 1994.

1994 World Cup in USA:

beat Greece 4-0, beat Nigeria 2-1, lost to Bulgaria 0-2, lost to Romania 2-3 in the Round of 16.

1998 World Cup in France:

beat Japan 1-0, beat Jamaica 5-0, beat Croatia 1-0, beat England 4-3 in penalty shoot-out in Round of 16, lost to the Netherlands 1-2 in the quarter-final.

2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea:

Beat Nigeria 1-0, lost to England 0-1, drew with Sweden 1-1

2006 World Cup in Germany:

Beat Ivory Coast 2-11, beat Serbia and Montenegro 6-0, drew with the Netherlands 0-0, beat Mexico 2-1 in the Round of 16, lost to Germany 2-4 in penalty shoot-out in the quarter final.

2010 World Cup in South Africa:

Beat Nigeria 1-0, beat South Korea 4-1, beat Greece 2-0, beat Mexico 3-1 in Round of 16, lost to Germany 0-4 in the quarter final.

Barring England, Argentina haven't beaten any big team since 1994 WC

In the 2014 World Cup too, the Argentines were clubbed with Iran, debutant Bosnia and Herzegovina and Nigeria (they have been in the same group with Nigeria in four out of the last six World Cups).

From their performance in the last five World Cups, it is seen that the Argentines haven't beaten a major team except England in 2002 and a goalless draw with the Netherlands in 2006.
Apart from this, Argentina's last major victory came in 1990 when they beat Brazil 1-0 in the second round and Italy 4-3 in the penalty shoot-out in the semifinal.

Are Argentina the most over-rated team in the post-Maradona era?

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