By FRANCO PANIZO
Diego Maradona's first World Cup as a manager may have ended in a disastrous defeat, but that hasn't stopped the Argentina Federation from offering the soccer legend an extension.
The AFA have announced its plan to try and keep Maradona on as coach, and federation president Julio Grondona will meet with him next week to see if he sticks around for the next World Cup cycle, which ends in 2014 in Brazil.
While Maradona lacks coaching experience, he led Argentina to four consecutive wins at the World Cup. That was before the albiceleste suffered an embarrassing 4-0 loss to Germany in the quarterfinals, a loss that raised questions about Maradona's coaching abilities.
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Ronaldinho to stay with Milan
Despite reports claiming he was on the way to Brazilian club Flamengo, Ronaldinho is staying with AC Milan for the final year of his current contract. AC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani not only said Ronaldinho was sticking with the Italian club, but he also stated that discussions about Ronaldinho's future will take place in the fall.
Johnson keen on Bradley joining Fulham
While it is uncertain how an American coach would be received at a Premier League club, one person backing the thought of U.S. head coach Bob Bradley joining Fulham is Eddie Johnson.
Fresh off his loan spell with Greek club Aris Salonika, Johnson is back with the Cottagers and he believes Bradley could do a good job filling the team's vacant coaching position. Johnson said Bradley is similar to former manager Roy Hodgson in terms of preparation and style.
Heskey hangs international cleats
Emile Heskey has called it a career at the international level after winning 62 caps and scoring seven goals for England. Heskey retired following England's dismal World Cups showing, in which it was eliminated in the Round of 16 to a 4-1 loss to Germany. The 32-year-old Heskey, who played in four games in this summer's World Cup, made his debut for the Three Lions in April 1999 in a friendly vs. Hungary.
Ramires hoping to land on bigger club
Benfica midfielder Ramires is currently receiving interest from several clubs, and he is hoping he will make a move to one of the world biggest this summer. Currently linked with Chelsea and Bayern Munich, Ramires looks likely to latch onto one of the top clubs in Europe after his World Cup showing with Brazil.
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Think Argentina will have trouble qualifying for Brazil 2014 with Maradona at the helm? How do you see Ronaldinho faring with AC Milan this season? Think Johnson would earn lots of playing time with Bradley coaching Fulham? Consider Heskey's international career a success, a failure or something in between? Where do you think Ramires would fit in best?
Share your thoughts below.
“Back to the old onion bag…”
Awesome responses guys. I was laughing with anxiety when I clicked on this page . . . I knew you wouldn’t let me down. Ives and co. I love this site more than any other w*rk safe site.
Since most, if not all, of the good responses have been written I’ll just add that he kind of reminds me of Al Bundy hitting the ol’ “relax button” on his couch in front of the TV.
I’ll offer you an extension!
“Malditos no estirar los pantalones!” English: Damn these non-stretch pants!
The hand of God makes contact with the ballz
oh, well, if Eddie Johnson says so…
“I think I need an extension…”
I commend your wit.
He wears two any time he is outside of Argentina, one on local time, one on the time zone for Buenos Aires.
Weird dude.
Decir “hola” a mi pequeño amigo.
I can’t be… No, it really is that small… Damn…
“Say hello to my little friend!”
“Where did I put those strategy plans?”
the hand of “oh god!”
“a loss that raised questions about Maradona’s coaching abilities.”
Questions were raised starting when Maradona took over Argentina’s qualifying campaign and proceeded to squeak through with awful displays against the likes of Peru (mi primera patria te amo pero let’s be honest we were awful this campaign).
Similarly Argentina looked good against competition that was sub-par in relation to their all-star team like talent. When it came to their first real test they were more than exposed- they were flayed, disemboweled even.
Rather than evidence of “amazing potential” as Paul states above, their group stage performance should have been taken with a grain of salt. As their performance against Germany coupled with their struggles in CONMEBOL qualifying (which is a tough region for respectable teams like Colombia, Ecuador, and Chile, but the thought of Argentina not coasting to qualification, what with its vaunted history and vast pools of talent, is unimaginable) eventually proved, this team was just not ready.
Agree with you Kevin that Maradona’s accomplishments in the group stage are not accomplishments at all.
That sure is a good looking man in the photo above.
Good news for Martin Palmero. Any chance we’ll see him at the World Cup at age 40? I kid, I kid (sorta of)….
Great picture. Reminds me of Austin Powers looking for his mojo after he lost it. The Argentines are beyond fatalistic. Only crazy people would not recognize how looney this guy is.
A picture is worth a thousand words lol. Great work Ives and co. Too damn funny!
Anxiously awaiting Bradley’s next move …
You heard it here first Ronaldinho to real salt lake in 2011
Best picture ever.
Per the report from Football.UK yesterday, Johnson was one of Fulham’s top performers yesterday in their preseason friendly. Granted it was a lower tier side but I think he gained a good bit of confidence in Greece and could very well break into the team this year. His goal was very well taken.
Looks like he’s resting after eating at the buffet table. 🙂
El médico dijo que la medicina podrÃa exterminar mi cangrejos. (In English: The doctor said that medicine would exterminate my crabs.)
Seriously, give any of us that talent and we would win, too. The evidence of his (non-)coaching ability is the Germany game, when they were getting roundly beaten, and he didn’t adjust their tactics or strategy one bit. All he did was tell which 11 to go out and play.
Caption: The force is strong with this one!
No mention of Dominic Cervi playing the full 90 in goal for Celtic yesterday?
Donde esta mi pelotas?
I’m intrigued by the fact that Diego wears two watches. So theoretically he could bring like six hands into play?
hahaha awesome picture. EJ is just praying that Bob gets the job. But even then, he’ll be lucky to find playing time.
i guess it is good news for MLS that Dinho is staying at Milan. maybe they can step up and sign him after this year…
“I’ll show Suarez the REAL way to handle a ball”
PICTURE IS CLASSIC!!!! “My little friends you will never feel the wind as we run through the streets of Buenos Aires!”
That won’t get you a statue this time, Diego.
The second most important ball handling of his career? And no I don’t expect this comment to stay up long.
I was going to post that but you beat me to it.
Here’s my entry:
“Mmmm, Mardona likes the hand of God!”
This photo is priceless.
Argentina has sunk themselves.
The only guy that comes out to say that Bradley is a good idea to coach Fulham is an American who couldn’t crack the first team on Fulham. That’s hilarious. If Johnson is looking for playing time, he certainly knows how to kiss some arse.
god i love that photo
“time to fap”
THE HAND OF-EW GOD!
Emulating his hero Al Bundy?
http://agentanonymous.files.wordpress.com/2008/07/al_bundy1.jpg
I’ve heard it said that the only person who could contain Michael Jordan was Dean Smith (his college coach). I think the same could be said of Messi and Maradona.
He gets the credit for “leading” Argentina to wins over Nigeria, Greece, South Korea, and Mexico? I think that’s a little bit generous….
….but I’m only one man.
lol. Probably the latter
Huevos? Si, si, tengo los huevos.
Argentina showed amazing potential in this World Cup, looking like one of the best teams in the early stages, but crumbled as soon as they met a good team (admittedly a VERY good German side). I’m not sure how much further Maradona can take them. Do they really want to hand him the reins for another World Cup?
what an awesome photo
I think he’s stashing his drugs … or trying to get at them after another German goal.
WTF is up with that picture of Maradona, I’m rolling laughing lol
I think we need another caption contest for this Maradona photo. Maybe one with two levels: unfiltered and family friendly.