Diego Maradona – Not the coach of Argentina anymore!
We all remember how the Argentineans barely managed to qualify for the FIFA World Cup 2010. During the South American qualifiers, Argentina barely managed to make it to the FIFA World Cup 2010 qualifiers. The team then had to face Uruguay in their last match which they won with a final score of 2-1 in the final minute of the match when Uruguayan left-back managed to take a red card which awarded Argentina with a free kick from right outside the box. Argentina was able to clinch the lead which allowed them to qualify for South Africa 2010. Diego Maradona was the coach of Argentina during the qualifiers, who had taken the responsibility to train and recruit his squad for the FIFA World Cup 2010.
Diego Maradona was heavily criticized for not selecting “good” defenders for the world cup bound squad. Players like Gabriel Milito, Javier Zanetti and Esteban Cambiasso were left behind as the Argentinean coach decided to ignore them and go ahead with an attacking strategy. The Argentineans started their World Cup campaign quite impressively as they won a practice match against the Canadians with ease. The South African safari started on a winning note for Argentina who defeated Nigeria with the help of a Gabriel Heinze header. Their second match was against a spirited Korean side which Argentina won with a 4-1score as Lionel Messi impressed the fans with his powerful dribbling, helping Gonzalo Higuain score a hat-trick. Two of Higuain’s goals came about with the help of Lionel Messi which proved why fans believe that Messi is the best football player in the world. Their last group match was against the Greeks which they won with a comfortable 2-0 margin which saw Argentina qualifying for the pre-quarterfinals. They faced Mexico in that match which Argentina won 3-1 to qualify for the quarterfinals. Diego Maradona’s side was undefeated throughout the tournament, until they met the Germans. However, Germany had other plans for them as they totally thrashed the Argentineans with a 4-0 drubbing. That match ended the journey for the Argentineans who had to pack their bags quite early in the tournament.
Too much had been expected from Diego Maradona as he had embarked on a journey with an amazing “striking force” to South Africa. Players like Angel Di Maria, Lionel Messi, Carlos Tevez, Gonzalo Higuain, Veron, Javier Mascherano and Maxi Rodriguez, were all part of the team and they still managed to record a defeat against the Germans. With the Argentineans coming through to the quarterfinals with an “all-win” record, fans had thought that they are going to win against the Germans. The Germans, however, brought a very young team to the FIFA World Cup 2010. The German youngsters impressed all and sundry who kept on attacking the Argentinean goal till the end of the match. They scored an early goal with the help of Thomas Muller and during the second half; Germany took Argentina by storm by scoring 3 more goals in order to end the Argentinean dream of becoming the World Champions for the 3rd time.
After the FIFA World Cup 2010, many coaches who failed to deliver had to leave their job - Dunga leading that department for Brazil. The Argentinean coach, Diego Maradona, however, was still in doubt whether he is going to stay as the coach of the Argentinean team. Till yesterday, Diego Maradona’s hopes were hanging by a thread but today, the final decision has come to the fore - Diego Maradona is not going to get an extension to his contract as the coach of Argentina. Diego Maradona has been stripped off his job and will not be performing his duties as an Argentinean coach anymore.
Diego Maradona was a “legend” who helped the Argentineans win the final of the FIFA World Cup in 1986. He is the reason why the Argentineans have 2 stars on their shirts. However, he was caught in a “dope test” when it turned out to be positive. Winning the FIFA World Cup 2010 was the only way he could get his dignity back but he totally failed to do so.
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