Maradona's debut as coach
Football legend Diego Maradona had a fine debut as the coach of Argentina's national team when Argentina won a friendly game against Scotland at Hampden Park, Scotland -- 1-0. Interestingly, Maradona scored his first international goal against Scotland at the same venue in 1979 when he was 18-year old. Argentina won that match 3-1 and the current Scotland coach George Burley played against Maradona in that game. Maradona fielded a strong line up based on all Europe based players except one player, Emiliano Papa who plays for Velez Sarsfield in Argentina's domestic league. Maradona appointed Liverpool's hard working midfielder Javier Mascherano as the team's new captain. It seems that the most capped Argentina veteran, Javier Zanetti of Inter Milan, Italy (he is the captain of Italian giants Inter Milan for the last few years), won't lead Argentina under Maradona.
Maradona was forced to field the team without Lionel Messi (perhaps the best player of the world now) of Barcelona, Spain who is not allowed to play the friendlies according to an agreement between Barcelona and Argentina Football Association and without the mercurial playmaker, Juan Roman Riquelme of Boca Juniors, Argentina who is engaged with the team in Argentine domestic league.
Diego Maradona was at his best during the press conferences. When he was asked about his "hand of God" goal against England in 1986 World Cup Quarterfinal, Maradona fired back immediately by saying, "England won a World Cup and it was plain to see for everyone that they did that with a goal that did not cross the line. I don't think it's fair to blame me [for 1986] when stuff like that went on in 1966." Clearly Maradona was referring to Geoff Hurst's 2nd goal (England's 3rd goal of the match. Until that goal, the match was deadlocked at 2-2. England went on to win the match and the World Cup 4-2 which is their only World Cup title to this date in the extra time against Germany in the 1966 final.
With the talents Maradona has at his disposal, Argentina should be able to end their recent below par performance, if the coach can find a more effective combination. Maradona has said that Lionel Messi will be in an important player of his side and he will let Messi have freedom in the field so that he can play his usual game.
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