Germany vs Argentina : Pele blames Dunga and Maradona makes fun of Schweinsteiger
The great Brazilian legend Pele has fought back with words against the Argentinean coach Diego Maradona again, to what has become a long verbal duel between them. The Brazilian maestro gave a disapproving analysis of the Argentinean side’s performance in the World Cup, and said that the Albicelestes coach had his tactics and strategies severely wrong, and if he ever wants to win the World Cup he should heed him.
He certainly had criticism against Maradona, but he wasn’t the only coach at the World Cup he had harsh comments against. In a surprise move, he launched against Dunga and criticized his lack of attacking strategies for Brazil’s low number of scored goals.
Pele and Maradona, who played for their teams and were once hailed heroes of the nation, have had this war of words for some time now. Their jibes at each other have gone from professional to more and more personal.
Talking to the media, the Selecao legend sarcastically stated, “What kind of football is that which tries to control the game with a forward”. His reference was, of course, understood by every layman. Lionel Messi’s position has been the subject for quite the debate. In essence, he is a forward/winger, who mostly flanks and crosses from the wings while attempting strikes in front of the box. However, in the World Cup, the star has been all over the place and couldn’t truly find his position as the forward.
Pele said, “I don't have a problem with Maradona; I just do not think he is a good coach. He has an outlandish lifestyle and rarely is that a positive thing for the team”.
Referring to Dunga, Pele said that the strategy the coach was applying was untraditional, especially when one considers the Brazilian style of play. He stated that he was destroying the natural game of the squad, and if he wants the dream of every Brazilian to come true, he should bring a change in his plans.
Pele stated, “I myself was a forward and I always wanted to score goals. That was the most important thing, because it encouraged the fans. The current team on the other hand plays on the counterattack; it does not control the ball well. The will and the domination to control the opponent and have the ball are no longer there”.
As always, Maradona was quick to counter Pele’s statements by criticizing his inadequate strategies and shallow unintelligent thinking. Maradona came off a bit more professional than expected, though. Rather than concentrating on Pele, he focused on the German team and criticized their team play.
The pompous Argentine coach said that it was the Germans that were running afraid from the inevitable encounter. He also mocked the German player Bastian Schweinsteiger, asking him in his best German if he was nervous regarding the Argentina – Germany encounter.
While talking to the media, Maradona exclaimed, “We don't have time to think of Schweinsteiger, the boys are thinking about getting on the field and playing a 2006 rematch. So it doesn't worry me what he says about penalties, kicks, that we don't know how to lose, it doesn't interest us”.
Maradona relayed that a different game plan is set for every match and there was going to be a different one this time too. Therefore, he was going to have new tactics and plans to counter the Germans. He said that as he and his team are coming out to attack the Germans and play in their faces, the mere fact of that should shock them to their core.
What came next was even more surprising, though it should have been anticipated, as from Maradona standards it wasn’t much. He looked directly into the camera and asked in his best German accent, “What's the matter Schweinsteiger? Are you nervoushh?”
Maradona also refused to share his plans for the match and didn’t say if he was going to go ahead with his 4-4-2 formation or his old line-up. He expressed that there is a new game plan for each game. “Those games were tactically perfect, but in that moment and under a different necessity. Now it would be a sin to change back with the players that we have”.
However, given Germany’s brutal 4-0 win over Argentina, Maradona will not only be biting his words, but to throw his own taunt back at him, it is he who will be ‘nervoushh’ when facing the wrath of countless enraged fans and the media.
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