Maradona lambasts Sampaoli, Argentina FA

Sports Desk: With one point in two games and one match to go, Argentina are on the brink of being eliminated from the World Cup and Diego Maradona has blamed their coach Jorge Sampaoli for the team's performances.

The 57-year-old has also put the Argentine FA in the firing line, for mismanaging the national team.

"People believed that Sampaoli was going to solve the problems with computers, drones or with 14 assistants," Maradona told Telesur.

"Argentina don't know what they play for, they have no solutions at all, not in the midfield, in defence or in attack.

"On Thursday, Argentina didn't create a wall, didn't hold the ball up and didn't touch the ball.

"The Argentina FA is run by people who don't know anything about football.

"They improvise, lack planning and have left the team adrift."

The 1986 World Cup winner went on to back Lionel Messi, who has been harshly criticised following the recent Albiceleste performances.

"As everyone today blames Messi, I have to say that he played as he had to play and as he could play," he added.

"It is difficult to solve your teammates' problems."

Croatia have already qualified to the last 16, while Argentina, Iceland and Nigeria as set to compete for the second qualifying spot.

Source: Marca


risingbd/Dhaka/June 23, 2018/AI