Maradona has back to wall after Argentine fiasco
Saturday, 4 April 2009
BUENOS AIRES, Apr 3 (AFP): After leading his country to their worst defeat in six decades - a 6-1 World Cup qualifier pasting in Bolivia - Argentina coach Diego Maradona has his back to the wall.
Having only taken over last year, as a surprise successor to Alfio Basile, the 1986 World Cup winner started off with friendly wins in Scotland and France and then last week the two-times world champions hammered Venezuela 4-0 in his first competitive match in charge.
But Wednesday's humiliation in La Paz - to his credit Maradona did not blame the high altitude - ramped up the temperature of the hot seat, even if qualification for next year's finals in South Africa should still present a formality with the team still only two points behind second-placed Brazil.
Four sides go through to the finals automatically and there seems little chance of Argentina missing out, but Maradona candidly admitted his men's shortcomings.
"We just have to start again and hope that nothing like this ever happens again," said Maradona, who praised Bolivia as the better side.
"The altitude was not an issue. We came up against a team that gave very little away and basically they were the better team.
"Whoever played against that Bolivian team would have suffered the same fate as us. I suffered with them (the players). Every Bolivian goal was a dagger in my heart."
Having only taken over last year, as a surprise successor to Alfio Basile, the 1986 World Cup winner started off with friendly wins in Scotland and France and then last week the two-times world champions hammered Venezuela 4-0 in his first competitive match in charge.
But Wednesday's humiliation in La Paz - to his credit Maradona did not blame the high altitude - ramped up the temperature of the hot seat, even if qualification for next year's finals in South Africa should still present a formality with the team still only two points behind second-placed Brazil.
Four sides go through to the finals automatically and there seems little chance of Argentina missing out, but Maradona candidly admitted his men's shortcomings.
"We just have to start again and hope that nothing like this ever happens again," said Maradona, who praised Bolivia as the better side.
"The altitude was not an issue. We came up against a team that gave very little away and basically they were the better team.
"Whoever played against that Bolivian team would have suffered the same fate as us. I suffered with them (the players). Every Bolivian goal was a dagger in my heart."