Saturday November 14, 2009
Maradona tells superstar to take charge of Argentina’s World Cup dream
MADRID: Argentina coach Diego Maradona has told superstar Lionel Messi to take charge of his country’s World Cup dream, starting by masterminding victory over European champions Spain today.
The two soccer super-heavyweights clash in a friendly at Atletico Madrid’s Vicente Calderon stadium with both nations safely qualified for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
But whereas Spain cruised into the Finals, winning all 10 qualifiers, two-time champions Argentina lurched from one crisis to another and just squeezed through as the fourth and last South American qualifier.
Now Maradona, under whom Messi has failed to hit peaks on a consistent basis, wants the Barcelona star to stamp his undoubted authority on his mis-firing team.
“He must be the owner of the team. He knows it. We have the best player in the world in our team,” said Maradona.
“We will give him lots of responsibility. He is doing the work that I have asked of him. I am very happy with Messi.”
Argentina trained behind closed doors on Thursday with Maradona refusing to indicate who will start in today’s high-profile clash.
“Everyone says Spain will be the favourites, but if I thought this then my players wouldn’t thank me,” he said. “Spain are a great side.”
After today’s clash, Maradona will face a FIFA disciplinary committee to explain his sexually-explicit rant after his team’s World Cup qualification was secured thanks to a 1-0 win over Uruguay in October.
The 48-year-old, a sporting icon in Argentina after skippering the 1986 World Cup winning team, told journalists to “suck it and keep sucking it”.
Meanwhile, Sevilla winger Jesus Navas is in line to make his international debut against Argentina.
Liverpool duo Fernando Torres and Albert Riera, as well as Villarreal’s Santi Cazorla and Marcos Senna, all miss the game through injury.
Spain will also face Austria in Vienna on Wednesday in another friendly. — AFP
Sports Poll
- Tevez, Adebayor give Man City 2-0 win over Bolton
- Lotus vow to make it through entire season
- Chinese pair banking on flour power
- Red Devils back at full power, says Edwin
- India’s richest man denies interest in Liverpool stake
- Reds regain mean streak
- Drogba fired up to keep Chelsea ahead of United
- New car will give Force India an advantage
- Hairi wants to be better than Shu Wai
- MNCF worked up over new ruling for team sprint at 2012 Olympics
- Tevez, Adebayor give Man City 2-0 win over Bolton
- Lakers down Spurs for second win without Bryant
- More scandals, please
- India get a thrashing
- Stoke’s Fuller held over club assault
- Two men jailed over Dalglish grenade case
- India’s richest man denies interest in Liverpool stake
- Reds regain mean streak
- Chinese pair banking on flour power
- Bid to find the ultimate EPL viewing experience
RSS
