Argentina desperate to end 14-year title drought

PUERTO LA CRUZ, Venezuela, June 27 (Reuters) Argentina's recent failures in major tournaments has turned winning the Copa America into something of an obsession.

Despite routinely arriving at tournaments as favourites, Argentina's recent routine has been of premature exits and dramatic defeats, several at the hands of eternal rivals Brazil.

Their last title was the Copa America in 1993 achieved under Alfio Basile, their current coach who was re-appointed last year following the World Cup.

''We haven't won anything since 1993 and the pressure is great,'' said forward Hernan Crespo, who will be taking part in the Copa America for the first time.

''I'm happy that everyone has taken to the cause and promised to give everything for the team. Nobody was forced to come. This is the Copa America and our big chance before the World Cup qualifiers.'' Argentina kick off with a Group C game against United States in Maracaibo on Thursday amid huge expectations. Back home in Buenos Aires, the tournament is being taken almost as seriously as the World Cup.

After using recent Copa America tournaments to test younger players, Argentina have brought a full-strength squad this time as they attempt to atone for their 2004 final defeat against arch-rivals Brazil.

Argentina admit they are still bitter about losing a game in which Brazil equalised with the last kick to force a 2-2 draw and then went onto to win the penalty shootout.

VERON RETURNS The desire to avenge that defeat is so great that playmaker Juan Roman Riquelme has back-tracked on his decision last September to quit international football.

The introverted player said at the time that criticism of his performances had affected his mother's health.

Another player back in favour is midfielder Juan Sebastian Veron.

After failing to be picked at all under Jose Pekerman, Veron has earned a recall after returning home to play for Estudiantes and inspiring them to their first title in more than 30 years.

Argentina's unhappy run began at the 1994 World Cup, when they fell in the second round to Romania shortly after Diego Maradona failed a doping test.

That was followed by quarter-final defeats against Brazil at the 1995 and 1999 Copa America tournaments and a quarter-final exit at the 1998 World Cup against Netherlands.

At the 2002 World Cup, Argentina amazingly fell at the first hurdle, losing to England -- another of their bitterest rivals -- on the way.

That was followed by successive final defeats to Brazil at the 2004 Copa America final and the 2005 Confederations Cup.

To cap it all, Argentina went out of last year's World Cup at the quarter-final stage after losing to hosts Germany on penalties -- having dominated much of the game and scoring first in a 1-1 draw.

REUTERS BJR KP2040