'Maradona, on the other hand, has lived and almost died, not for the glory of the game, but the drama.'
I think this is idiotic.

Actually, the whole part about the qualifications is utter and total bullshit.
How can you talk about and make it seem that maradona was the man responsible for this team when the truth is he was brought in as a desperate gamble HALFWAY THROUGH the qualifications? I think the whole saga with Basile letting the team go to hell is very, very important. Maradona was the perfect foil for the argentine FA. He could go into this mess and make it worse and when he failed, the FAs blame in the mess would be overlooked by the media looking for godly blood. If he won, then the myth continues.
Basile's team was a viper's den filled with me first egotistical players, with egos and prima donnas clashing and full of cliques in the 'I wont play if hes on the team', blackmail and pressures to cut or add friends-enemies.
And you know who the biggest cancer on this team was? Riquelme.
if you want to know more about this walking disease, please refer to any articles involving Manuel Pelligrini, the team officials and Riquelme at Villareal.
This diva defines the word cancer on a team.
If there wasnt prior examples of Riquelme's behavior and demanding and erratic behaviour as well as hate filled words from ex-teammates, coaches and officials, you could take it with a grain of salt about his role in the mess that led to Basile's firing.
Letting the loons run the asylum is waht got Basile fired and no one represents this more than Riquelme.
If Maradona did anything since he took over it is clean the air in the locker room.
Its not a team of me's but a team of we's now and in no unsure terms is it understood that this is Messi's team. It might seem ludicroud to some that this needs to be done but Messi is only 22 and is foreigner of sorts as well as not a vocal person. Maradona has done a great job going to Barca talking with Pep, the team officials and coaches, Messi's parents and youth coaches to see how he can make Messi feel more at home (i think thats gonna be hard for a lad who has played Barca style tickytack ball since he was 9 and has never had to play any other way). There was jealousy towards him and old leaders who didnt want him to take too much space until he payed his dues plus the whole home/euro league divisions… THAT is now solved.
But hey, go on and keep your narrative which so conveniently avoids the fact that he was dropped halfway through and this wasnt his team.

Did he use a lot of players? yes but you have to realize that there two teams, the team for the qualifications and the team for the friendlies (a lots of crappy one like Haiti and other games they were using a C team almost). One team had euro players who btw the way have to deal with a 22hr buenos aires to london flight and one was basically home based for the friendlies. Add to the fact that he was starting with a two year delay and wanted to try players out, the numbers arent that out of whack. (lets be honest, everyone knew the first 5 forwards and Palermo is deserving for the 6th spot from which he will never see the field. A lot of people appreciate the respect he has shown Palermo for his winning goal which got them there and also for his career which have made me a hero in Argentina but unknown in europe. Palermo's spot could have gone to a kid but a 6th forward aint see much action)

I understand the pathological hatred the english have towards him: its like a disease really.
What I find funny is that if you take all the hacks, pundits and commentators who laugh at his decisions and you look at their venom filled diatribes against his decisions, you have to ask yourself "who knows more and has seen first hand more top flight games and world class players than Maradona?", the word journalist will never be uttered.
He might not be a great coach, that Im not going to debate but he knows more football and experienced more of it than any naysayer will in a thousand lifetimes.
When Maradona thinks a player is good, you ask yourself "who has seen more world class players? me or him?"
it might make you feel good to crap on his personal life but his wealth of experience and knowledge and ability to perform under pressure is remarkable.
Bob Buttmunch writing his 400 word column every week playing beer league football, not so much.

As for Brazil, I dont care about pragmatism and about winning, I want to be entertained.
If they dont entertain, I will turn on them faster than an italian soldiers changes sides.

Slightly related in the sense that one tackle or great bit of skill in the World Cup could change everything!

Argentina were terriblle in qualifying but I've got a sneaky feeling they might do quite well in South Africa. I've got them down to reach the semis!