World Cup 2010: The madness of Diego Maradona
With Argentina's win against Mexico and their huge upcoming game against Germany in a few days time, their energetic coach is back in the spotlight. Who is considered to be the best footballer in the world is also the most controversial to say the least. Diego Maradona is trying to lead his side to their second World Cup win in order to secure a place for himself in football history. Along the way, Maradona is entertaining the fans with his extra-ordinary behaviour on the sidelines.
The media loves the little fiery coach from Argentina and he loves them back. Maradona is not associated with any usual press conference where players or coaches look uncomfortable. Maradona on the other end of the spectrum jokes around with the press and asks for more questions. Quite recently, Diego Maradona stopped all the journalists from asking any questions as he had to show them something. He pulled out a pair of sunglasses that his daughter had bought him for father's day and he put them on and modelled around the room to show it off in front of the press. Strange but that’s how Maradona works.
Maradona has over the years captivated his legions of fans who almost worship him as a god. Fans have started calling him D10 which is a combination of his initials and his famed jersey number. It seems that he is leading his team with the same randomness and excitement that he once played with. He has done some really crazy things in the build-up to this World Cup and looks all set to continue if Argentina makes it through to the next round.
Maradona leads his team and makes coaching decisions with his heart and not often with his head. The strategy seems to be working for him with Argentina winning all their games so far in South Africa 2010.
But despite the controversies surrounding the great player, this World Cup has been Maradona's. He has stolen the limelight away from every other coach, and has done an admirable job of keeping his players out of the media's attention by allowing the press to focus on him. Maradona is trying to relive World Cup glory as a coach. The only player turned coach who achieved this feat as a player was Franz Beckenbauer when he led Germany to a World cup win. Jurgen Klinsman tried to do the same by leading the German team to victory during the last World Cup but his team fell short. Maradona with his immense fame and popularity might just pull it off.
Few would have even considered Argentina to lift the title in South Africa before the tournament started. They shuffled through almost 100 players before picking a squad to Argentina. Argentina was humiliated by Bolivia with a final score of 6-1. After that loss, no one would have given them a chance in South Africa 2010. It seems though that Maradona has come into his element since he landed in Johannesburg and it looks as if his team has done that too. Maradona’s strategy to hug and kiss his players from the sidelines has inspired the squad to perform brilliantly on the pitch.
Maradona redefines the word extreme but is a likeable character in the squad. His colourful past has not been forgotten by people and neither has his brilliance faded away. They still remember the cocaine addiction, the weight gain and the millions in unpaid taxes to the Italian government. But they also remember the brilliant goals, how Maradona led his country and every club he played for and the fact that he is still considered to be the best player of all time. It is his personality that has got people in two minds about Argentina - they can either perform brilliantly on their day or can crash and burn in the next match - just like their enigmatic coach.
Whatever happens for Argentina and Maradona in South Africa, this World Cup will always be remembered as his tournament. If he manages to lead Argentina to victory, his place in history will be cemented forever and nothing he does from that day forth will be able to diminish it.
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