MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Maradona’s foul reactions turn “hand of God” against him

He loves headlines

Argentina’s coach Diego Maradona lashed out angrily at the media for failing to back him during Argentina's roller-coaster ride to last-gasp qualification for the World Cup finals in Montevideo after beating Uruguay one to zero.

The coarse and crude language he used made instant news the world round and even shocked some of the Argentine national team players. Maradona, the 1986 “hand of God” goal against England, admitted he wasn’t sure about continuing on the job.

However back in Buenos Aires he ratified “every word” he said adding he would “not walk back” because that’s “how I felt during the concentration with the team that has honoured me as coach”.

At the press conference in Montevideo at the end of the match, Maradona pointed his finger at Argentine journalists who he said smeared the image of the national team, and insulted them before the cameras.

Journalists from America TV station, who were the epicentre of the attacks, defended their claims saying Maradona had actually been “protected by the media,” regardless of the “catastrophic” results of the national soccer team in the qualifiers.

“Another coach would have been blasted by the media in his situation, especially when he flew away from the country after losing against Bolivia, Brazil and Paraguay. He was actually quite protected, thanks to his legendary history,” they said.

Most of the Argentine media agreed with such statements and regretted “the lack of Maradona's self criticism”.

Only the Argentine Football Association head supported Maradona's outburst: “We can thank our families, not the media. I wonder what those journalists with bad intentions will have to say now,” Julio Grondona said.

After sneaking victory over Uruguay Wednesday night, the coach, who led his country to World Cup glory in 1986, used the crudest terms to attack repeatedly “those who did not believe” in him.

At the press conference after the game, Maradona said, after asking women to cover their ears, “to the ones who did not believe in us, you can suck it.” He then targeted a journalist from the America TV channel in particular and insulted him.

Newspapers in Buenos Aires had reported that the coach's relations with team manager Carlos Bilardo were on the rocks. “You made up the problems with Bilardo,” Maradona charged.

“Today wee are in the World Cup finals, without anybody's help,” Maradona noted, expressing his satisfaction after the 1 - 0 victory against Uruguay.

Uruguay must now play with Costa Rica for a place in South Africa.