Argentina look like they might just be heading for South Africa after all. With only 30 seconds left on the clock, Martin Palermo netted a dramatic winner to help his country beat Peru 2-1. The goal sent the Buenos Aires crowd into hysteria and coach Diego Maradona celebrated by sliding across the pitch on his newly trimmed stomach. After a nightmare qualifying campaign, Maradona and his team dodged yet another major bullet on their path towards the biggest prize in football. The World Cup.
I for one am pleased. I couldn’t imagine a World Cup without Argentina. I know that might sound strange coming from a Brit, but the World Cup is all about showcasing and watching the best players and teams in the world. Argentina bring a flare and sexy style of football to the world stage that we all love to soak up. And with national hero and football legend Diego Maradona leading them, it makes the South American outfit that much more interesting to watch.
Maradona certainly hasn’t made things easy since becoming manager and there are many who think his talents are best suited to playing rather than coaching. But despite his flaws and forgetting about his ghastly Hand of God act in the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, you can’t help but root for the potential story that could unfold if Maradona takes this team deep into next summer’s competition. What if he wins the World Cup as manager? What would his legacy be then?
Don’t you think the World Cup would be better with Argentina in it? Will they beat Uruguay on Wednesday? Is Diego Maradona the man to lead them to the finals?