As part of the 50 days, 50 Argentina World Cup moments, we will be counting down the top 50 Argentina moments at a World Cup using the daily number.
We are just 30 days until the start of the FIFA World Cup and in 28th place we have Claudio CANIGGIA scoring in the 28th minute against Nigeria at the 1994 FIFA World Cup.
A memorable match for a few reasons, it was a familiar face which scored both times for Argentina in their 2-1 win versus Nigeria. One of the main figures of the 1990 FIFA World Cup, Claudio CANIGGIA netted in the 21st and 28th minute for Argentina.
Following a bad pass by Fernando REDONDO, the Nigerians quickly hit Argentina on the counter and scored early to give them a 1-0 lead. Alfio BASILE’s team were awarded a free kick and a powerful shot by Gabriel BATISTUTA reached the goalkeeper who spilled the ball and Claudio CANIGGIA latched onto it to draw level.
The second goal was more came off a set piece play, this time involving two great friends. Diego MARADONA and Claudio CANIGGIA. BATISTUTA was fouled and with MARADONA setting up to take the free kick, Claudio had his arms extended, yelling “DIEGO, DIEGO” and MARADONA slid the ball in to him and a gorgeous right footed finish into the top corner saw CANIGGIA scoring his second of the match.
It was also Diego MARADONA’s last match for his country as it was announced after the game following the infamous drug test.
Here was Argentina’s starting XI for the match:
12. Luis ISLAS
3. Jose CHAMOT
4. Roberto SENSINI
5. Fernando REDONDO
6. Oscar RUGGERI
7. Claudio CANIGGIA
9. Gabriel BATISTUTA
10. Diego MARADONA
13. Fernando CACERES
14. Diego SIMEONE
19. Abel BALBO
If you missed it, here are our 50 World Cup moments:
50: Sergio ROMERO gets 50th cap vs. Switzerland at 2014 FIFA World Cup.
49: Roberto AYALA scores in the 49th minute vs. Germany at 2006 FIFA World Cup.
48: Angel DI MARIA’s 48th cap for Argentina vs. Bosnia-Herzegovina at 2014 FIFA World Cup.
47: Mario KEMPES scores Argentina’s 47th goal all time at the 1978 FIFA World Cup vs. Peru.
46: Jorge VALDANO scores in the 46th minute at the 1986 FIFA World Cup.
45: Javier ZANETTI scores in the 45th minute vs. England at the 1998 FIFA World Cup.
44: Gabriel BATISTUTA scores goal number 44 in his Argentina career at the 1998 FIFA World Cup.
43: Gonzalo HIGUAIN receives cap number 43 for Argentina vs. Germany in the final of the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
42: Pedro PASCULLI scores in the 42nd minute for Argentina vs. Uruguay at the 1986 FIFA World Cup.
41: Maxi RODRÍGUEZ scores in the 41st minute for Argentina vs. Serbia & Montenegro at the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
40: Roberto AYALA plays in his 40th match for Argentina vs. Jamaica at the 1998 FIFA World Cup.
39: Pablo ZABALETA plays in his 39th match for Argentina vs. Nigeria at the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
38: Javier SAVIOLA scores in the 38th minute for Argentina vs. Ivory Coast at the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
37: Maxi RODRIGUEZ plays in his 37th match for Argentina vs. South Korea at the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
36: Mauricio PINEDA scores in the 36th minute for Argentina vs. Croatia at the 1998 FIFA World Cup.
35: Ezequiel LAVEZZI plays in his 35th match for Argentina vs. Netherlands at the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
3up4: Diego MARADONA scores his 34th goal for Argentina vs. Greece at the 1994 FIFA World Cup.
33: Gonzalo HIGUAIN scores in the 33rd minute for Argentina vs. Mexico at the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
32: Hernan CRESPO scores his 32nd goal for Argentina vs. Mexico at the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
31: Diego MARADONA scoring in Argentina’s 31st FIFA World Cup match vs. Hungary.
30: Argentina loses opening match of 1982 FIFA World Cup vs. Belgium.
29: Argentina are knocked out of the 1982 FIFA World Cup after playing their 29th ever group stage match.
