Argentina
Qualify for World Cup
14 Oct 2009
"For those who didn't believe in this national team, for those
who treated me like garbage (I say) today we are in the
World Cup with all the honours, beating a team like
Uruguay," Maradona said.
Argentina secured their berth at the 2010 finals in South
Africa with a 1-0 away win over arch-rivals Uruguay at the Centenario,
scene of the first World Cup final in 1930.
"I am black or white, I'll never be grey in my life,"
Maradona, who in Argentine eyes could no wrong as a player,
told reporters as he criticised the media for inventing
stories about differences within the national team staff.
Maradona has been under fire for most of the qualifying
matches since he took charge a year ago, for inconsistencies
in selection and tactical errors that left Argentina on the
brink of failing to qualify.
He lost four matches and won four, including the last two
against Peru and Uruguay that left Argentina in the last of
South America's four automatic qualifying berths behind
Brazil, Paraguay and Chile.
Fifth-placed Uruguay play off next month against Costa
Rica, of the CONCACAF region, for another place.
A week ago, Maradona gave the impression there were
divisions in the national team staff, suggesting to
reporters in Buenos Aires that preparations to face Peru on
Saturday had not run smoothly. He said he would only stay on
for the finals on his terms, but a few days later accused
the media of inventing his possible resignation.
On Wednesday, he allowed a similar doubt to fill the air
when, in answer to a question about whether he would be in
charge of Argentina in South Africa, Maradona would only
say: "I need to talk to (Argentine Football Association
president Julio) Grondona."
He reserved his praise for his players and the small
group of fans, less than 2,000, who crossed the River Plate
from Buenos Aires to support the team in a stadium packed
with close to 60,000 Uruguayans baying for Argentine blood.
"I want to thank the whole squad for having given me
the privilege of taking Argentina to the World Cup and
the people... who crossed the pond."
After a troubled qualifying campaign, Diego Maradona's side
came good in their crunch match in Uruguay, with Mario
Bolatti's late goal securing the 1-0 win which secured their
place at South Africa.
Argentina had only failed to qualify for a World Cup once
in their history - in 1970 - but their win secured the
fourth and final qualifying spot in the South America group.