BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) -- No one in Argentina wants to recall the nation's last journey to the World Cup. It was short and ugly.

Argentinians are hoping teenage forward Lionel Messi can erase the memories of the team's early exit in 2002.

Argentina has only four players returning from the tournament in South Korea and Japan, when the highly touted team couldn't get out of the first round. The 18-year-old Messi is the big name, along with Juan Roman Riquelme, Carlos Tevez and Hernan Crespo.

But, according to coach Jose Pekerman, Argentina feels no pressure, not even with the powerful Netherlands in its group.

"We are heading into Germany as just one more national team, without the baggage of being favorites. That's going to let us start this tournament much more relaxed," Pekerman said.

"I believe we are going to do very well in the World Cup. Now all the pressure is on them," he added, referring to defending champion and archrival Brazil.

But is it?

The 56-year-old Pekerman has never led a first-division team and only replaced Marcelo Bielsa as Argentina coach last year. He coached Argentina's under-20 team to world titles in 1995, '97 and '01. Many of those players he coached then are now based in Europe and headed to Germany for the June 9-July 9 event.

"We are going to go into this together, united, as an important group. We are very much focused on that," Pekerman said.

Argentina opens Group C against Ivory Coast on June 10 in Hamburg. It plays Serbia-Montenegro in Gelsenkirchen on June 16, and the Netherlands in Frankfurt on June 21.

Pekerman has Villarreal midfielders Riquelme and Juan Pablo Sorin, Valencia's Pablo Aimar, Deportivo La Coruna's Fabricio Coloccini and Sevilla's Javier Saviola. Midfielder Esteban Cambiasso of Inter Milan and Corinthians' Tevez will also play prominent roles.

Then, of course, there is Messi, who has been likened to Diego Maradona.

"I think Lionel has all the necessary qualities to be the best in the world," Maradona has said. "I hope it happens for him, because he is a great kid and handles himself really well."

Pekerman is wary of placing too much pressure on Messi, who should be fit from a thigh injury that forced him to miss FC Barcelona's Champions League final against Arsenal.

"World Cups of Pele, Maradona and (Franz) Beckenbauer don't exist anymore," Pekerman said.

Argentina will be missing the retired Gabriel Batistuta, Argentina's leading goal scorer with 56 goals in 78 matches, plus Diego Simeone and German Burgos.

Argentina lost 3-2 in friendlies against England and Croatia, while veteran goalkeeper Roberto Abbondanzieri's form wavered and backup keeper Leo Franco rarely played.

But Pekerman can call on tough defenders Roberto Ayala of Valencia and Manchester United's Gabriel Heinze to strengthen his defense.

"We have some problems, but we are going to resolve them," Ayala said. "I think things are going to go well for us."

With Cambiasso and Riquelme controlling the midfield, Messi, Tevez and Crespo might carry key roles in attack. Crespo, who was a backup behind Batistuta in 1998 and 2002, scored 16 goals in qualifiers.

Argentina has enough quality players to add a third title to its 1978 and 1986 wins, claims Julio Grondona, the Argentine soccer federation president.

"In 1986, we didn't have near the number of good players we have today," Grondona said. "What's more, there are more than enough good players."

Of course, they don't have a Maradona this time -- unless Messi becomes a superstar very quickly.

Updated on Wednesday, May 24, 2006 2:25 am EDT