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Maradona hits out at critics as Argentina qualify
The Argentinian manager has taken his team through to the World Cup despite being derided by his critics
Diego Maradona has hit back at his critics after Argentina qualified for the World Cup with a nervy 1-0 win over old rivals Uruguay yesterday. Only minutes after coming on, substitute Mario Bolatti turned in a loose ball in the six-yard box, assuring that Argentina will join the other South American qualifiers – Brazil, Paraguay and Chile – in South Africa next year.
Maradona, who has been constantly derided for his tactical ineptitude and scattergun selection policy since taking over as manager a year ago, felt vindicated. "For those who didn't believe in this national team,” he said, “for those who treated me like garbage, I say today we are in the World Cup with all the honours, beating a team like Uruguay."
He immediately announced the first four players he would be taking on the plane to Johannesburg next year: Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano; Newcastle’s Jonas Gutierrez; Martin Palermo, the veteran Boca Juniors striker who spent a decade in the international wilderness after missing three penalties in one game, but returned to score a dramatic winner against Peru at the weekend, and Bolatti.
Once again, Maradona’s decision - seemingly based on these player’s attitude and his gratitude - will leave many Argentineans exasperated, especially as he omitted Barcelona’s Lionel Messi, considered by many to be the world’s best player, from the list. But then, Maradona has never bowed to convention.
Meanwhile, several of the remaining qualifying spots were resolved last night. After Ecuador lost to Chile, Uruguay will go into a play-off against Costa Rica as South America’s fifth team. Leading 2-0 against the United States, Costa Rica were set to qualify automatically, but an injury-time equaliser meant that Honduras took their place.
In Europe, Switzerland held on to a draw with Israel which saw them through, while Slovakia qualified for their first ever World Cup with a brave 1-0 win against Poland. However, these countries’ neighbours, the Czech Republic, will be one of the most notable absentees.
The teams who have made it to the play-off matches for the final spots, to be staged next month, are Portugal, France, Russia, Republic of Ireland, Ukraine, Slovenia, Greece and Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Last night England, already safely through, had a pedestrian but professional 3-0 win over Belarus. Peter Crouch scored twice to further polish his astonishing international scoring statistics of 18 goals after only 17 starts. Shaun Wright-Phillips also scored. ·
