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Maradona should coach Argentina, says Pekerman
(Reuters)
Updated: 2005-12-14 08:59
BUENOS AIRES, Dec 13 (Reuters) - Diego Maradona should one day become
Argentina's coach, according to the man in charge of his country's World Cup
team.
Diego Maradona
clears the ball away during a friendly match between former Mutual of Boca
Juniors players and veterans of Argentinos Juniors Club in Buenos Aires,
November 23, 2005. [Reuters] | "Diego Maradona should be the coach of Argentina," Jose Pekerman
told the Argentine state newsagency Telam in an interview published on Tuesday.
"I'm convinced he has to decide what he wants to do but it's a situation that
has to come about," said Pekerman, who refers to Maradona as his "greatest
idol".
"I don't know what will happen afterwards," he added in reference to next
year's World Cup. Maradona, Argentina's greatest player and captain of their
1986 World Cup-winning team, almost joined the coaching staff last month.
He pulled out at the last minute days before Argentina's
friendly against England in Geneva without publicising his reasons.
Argentine Football Association President Julio Grondona has repeatedly said
the doors to the Argentine national team are permanently open to Maradona in any
capacity.
Ready for World Cup
BUENOS AIRES, Dec 13 (Reuters) - Argentina are aware of the strengths of
their World Cup Group C rivals but will be ready to have a good tournament,
coach Jose Pekerman said.
Pekerman's seeded team were drawn in one of
the toughest groups with the Netherlands, Serbia & Montenegro and Ivory
Coast for the June 9-July 9 tournament in Germany.
"The team will be in good shape when they get to the World Cup. We have a
very good team and I'm sure we'll have a great World Cup," Pekerman told the
Argentine news agency Telam in an interview published on Tuesday.
"You have to go to the World Cup in your best form. We Argentines are
affected by our elimination in the first round of Korea-Japan," he said
referring to the 2002 tournament.
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