Football Daily | From a ban on long hair to fever threat: Argentina never ease into a World Cup

"Despite captaining an Argentina side that looked more like a Black Sabbath tribute band than an international football team capable of roaring to 1978 World Cup glory, Daniel Passarella as La Albicelestes manager in the late-1990s banned his players from having long hair in the buildup to the 1998 World Cup (also banned: homosexuality and earrings). Despite his excellent form for Fiorentina, Gabriel Batistuta was remarkably left out for much of Argentina's qualifying campaign, only rejoining his teammates when he agreed to a mild trim."

"Fernando Redondo, fresh from anchoring Real Madrid's midfield in their victorious Big Cup triumph, and Claudio Caniggia refused to cut their lovely locks and were subsequently omitted from Passarella's squad at France 98. He had particular ideas about discipline and wanted me to have my hair cut, Redondo later explained. I didn't see what that had to do with playing football so I said no."

"The sole fixture currently scheduled before the defence of Argentina's title is this Friday's friendly against Angola, in Angola. The hosts are much improved, soaring into the top 100 Fifa rankings, but still seem an odd choice for Lionel Scaloni to test and hone his squad, particularly as Angola has a problem with yellow fever, a viral infection spread by mosquitoes that typically causes flu-like symptoms but can, in severe cases, lead to jaundice, bleeding and organ failure."

Wolves have appointed Middlesbrough's Rob Edwards as their new head coach. Daniel Passarella, as Argentina manager in the late 1990s, banned players from having long hair in the buildup to the 1998 World Cup and also banned homosexuality and earrings. Gabriel Batistuta was left out for much of Argentina's qualifying campaign and only rejoined after agreeing to a mild trim. Fernando Redondo and Claudio Caniggia refused to cut their hair and were omitted from Passarella's France 98 squad; Redondo said he did not see what cutting his hair had to do with playing football. Argentina's only scheduled pre-defence fixture is a friendly in Angola. Angola has risen into the top 100 Fifa rankings, but yellow fever risk and vaccine requirements led Julian Alvarez, Giuliano Simeone and Nahuel Molina to withdraw because they had not received the required vaccine and had not arrived in time.

Read at www.theguardian.com