Say what you will about the habitually controversial Diego Maradona, but the Argentinean soccer legend and current national team head coach has his squad in top form heading into the knockout stage of the 2010 World Cup. After a 3-0 start, Maradona must be feeling just fine about converting his Argentinean critics into believers. Good enough to say this:
Many journalists should apologize to the players. I’m not suggesting you drop your trousers, but it would be honest and great so we all get along better … It isn’t easy going from being nobodies back home to winning three matches at a World Cup. At the training camp, we had to swallow what you all said about us being a disaster—the worst Argentine team you’d ever seen. All of a sudden we’re an excellent team … the most handsome people in the ‘barrio!”
First of all, I’m not suggesting Maradona drops his trousers either. Second, the one-and-done system of the knock out stage is a volatile format for competition, and Maradona may be eating his words come Sunday when Argentina faces Mexico in Johannesburg. Self destruction is a pain like that. So yes, Maradona, you have a point and nice work in group play, but just because your critics are now your supporters does not mean that they don’t expect a bit more than you have offered so far.
Sources:
Maradona: Time for critics to say sorry [FOXSports]
