DIEGO MARADONA HAS requested a meeting with Argentina’s players in an attempt to inspire the struggling squad ahead of their crucial final World Cup group game against Nigeria.
The two-time world champions must beat Nigeria in Saint Petersburg on Tuesday if they are to avoid a premature exit following a disastrous 3-0 defeat by Croatia.
He said he would bring along other Argentina greats of the past for the motivational talk.
“I would love to hold a meeting with them, with (Nery) Pumpido, with (Sergio) Goycochea, with (Claudio) Caniggia, with (Pedro) Troglio, even with (Daniel) Passarella if he wants to come, and with (Jorge) Valdano,” Maradona told Venezuelan TV channel Telesur.
“We’re going to defend our honour, boys. It cost us too much to be where we are for Croatia to come and hit us for three goals and to leave with our arms crossed without anyone putting a foot in.”
Maradona, who has criticised coach Jorge Sampaoli and striker Sergio Aguero in recent days, also took aim at Argentina Football Association (AFA) president Claudio Tapia in his latest outburst.
I’m furious and very upset inside, because anyone who wore that (Argentina) shirt can’t see it being trampled like that by a Croatian team that isn’t Germany, that isn’t Brazil, that isn’t Holland or Spain,” he said.
“But there is a guilty party and the culprit is the president of the AFA. Everyone just accepted it when Sampaoli came in with computers, with drones, with 14 assistants.
“I think there is a total lack of authority on Tapia’s part.”
Javier Mascherano, one of the squad’s senior players, denied on Sunday that there was a rift between Sampaoli and the players.
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So much self-entitlement
I’m furious lads, I’ve spent all my money and I need more blow. I’ll sell you this watch.
@TheHeathen: So close to the truth!!!
He’s been at the marching powder again
Criticizing Aguero to the whole world won’t go down well with his daughter.
@Jonathon Carroll: think it might seeing as they’ve broke up and he’s banging some one from man city ladies
@Mel Roberts: ah that explains a lot…
Tell him to get lost.
Lay off the powder lad
Going to be difficult to lose against the Netherlands!
@Trevor Wallace: Except that’s not what he actually said.
Well that’ll help won’t it? He butchered their chances in 2010 through sheer incompetence.
VFH…