By FRANCO PANIZO
Diego Maradona's first World Cup as a head coach may have ended in embarrassing fashion, but that hasn't stopped him from thinking he could reach Brazil 2014 as manager of another talented national team.
Maradona's assistant, Alejandro Mancuso, has revealed that the soccer legend is interested in furthering his coaching career with Portugal's national team. Mancuso also said that while there has been no direct contact from the Portuguese federation, Maradona would prefer that managerial job over any others.
Portugal fired manager Carlos Queiroz last week after he was handed a six-month ban for insulting anti-doping agents prior to this summer's World Cup.
Here are more stories from Wednesday:
Bahrain fooled by fake Togo team
Bahrain believed it had defeated Togo 3-0 in a friendly match earlier this month, but recent reports claim the Togo team fielded that day was a fraud. The Togo Federation is hoping to investigate the Sept. 7 game after stating it never sent a team to Bahrain. The federation believes the side representing Togo was made up of people pretending to be the national team.
Bahrain's federation has said it went through all the correct channels in organizing the match.
Grant to miss Stoke clash
West Ham manager Avram Grant will miss his side's Premiership match against Stoke City on Saturday to observe the Jewish holy day of Yom Kippur. Grant will still select the team that travels to Stoke, but assistant manager Zeljko Petrovic and coaches Paul Groves and Kevin Keen will be in charge come game-day. West Ham is currently in last place in the Premier League.
Stiles to sell World Cup medal
If you haven't been able to find a legit World Cup medal on Ebay, you're in luck.
Former England midfielder Nobby Stiles is hoping to recover $470,000 by selling soccer memorabilia, including his 1966 World Cup winner's medal. The 68-year-old is also planning to sell the European Cup medal he won in 1968 with Manchester United.
Stiles' medals will be auctioned off in October.
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Think Maradona could help Portugal remove the underachiever tag from next to its name? What's your take on the Bahrain-Togo situation? Surprised that Grant won't be on the sidelines this weekend considering West Ham's position? Would you buy a World Cup medal?
Share your thoughts below.