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ShareSoon after Argentina's defeat to Paraguay in the World Cup qualifiers, which put another dent to their chances of going to South Africa, stories after stories have appeared on how selecting Diego Maradona as coach was a foolish decision. Of course, the people of Argentina can find no wrong with Maradona. But critics and journalists around the world are in the 'I told you so' mode.
His training methods are being questioned; his oversized tracksuits are being made fun of, and the team's performances being 'hailed' as a farcical show.I came across a report that said Argentina only train between noon and 4 pm, because Maradona can't get up early in the morning after his late-nights of fun and frolic.
Before going any further, I would here like to mention that I am a die-hard romantic and Maradona's appointment in 2008 after the resignation of Alfio Basile had me almost jumping in joy. Maradona back on a football ground was one of the best things to have happened for someone, who in 1986, wasn't old enough to truly understand what he had done.
This appointment had given me the chance to experience Maradona again. I know he can never be as good a coach as he was a player. But it was still him, on the field, shouting instructions, animated, almost struggling to control the impulse to run on to the field and show them how it's done.
Sadly, the results are hard to come by. Argentina has lost four of the six World Cup qualifiers under Maradona, two in the last week -- against Brazil (1-3) and Paraguay (0-1). They are 5th in the South American table. Only the top four are guaranteed spots in the final; the fifth-placed team would have to face a play-off. Argentina still have two matches to go; they play Peru and Uruguay next month. If they do manage to beat these two countries, they'll still need favourable results from other teams to finish in the top four. Otherwise, they are likely to come up against Costa Rica in the play-offs.
Though surveys in Argentina have claimed that over 60% of the people think they won't qualify, I am still hopeful they will, if not automatically then via the play-offs. Good thing Maradona isn't deterred. "I've been putting up with your criticisms since I was 15 years old," he said in one of his interactions with the media. "I'm 48 and you're not going to break me."
What's unfathomable though is how a team of such talented individuals are losing to sides they should ideally roll over. They have names like Lionel Messi, Carlos Tevez, Javier Mascherano in the line-up. And they have the 'Hand of God' guiding them.
But then Maradona wouldn't be who he is if there wasn't an element of folly, high drama, followed by divine redemption in everything he does. That's why we love him. For, he can be as spectacular as he can be absurd.
