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Maradona’s Argentina to keep flying high

The appointment of Diego Maradona as coach of the two times World Cup winners Argentina has sent the Albicelestes into a new era. The national team seems to have been reshaped by his policy based on ambition, optimism and precise players’ selection.

Two consecutive wins against Scotland and France marked Argentina’s first back to back victories since beating Egypt and Mexico on the trot last year.

The country’s late mediocre record back in 2008 (with only one victory in their last 6 qualifiers) led to the sacking of former manager Alfio Basile.

Argentina are yet to impose themselves in the qualification table, seating third with only 16 points from a possible 30, but Maradona has put anxiety behind as he already plans of triumphing in South Africa come the 2010 World Cup.

"First and foremost, I only have one objective and that is to win the World Cup," Maradona stated in an interview before guiding his side in a friendly against Scotland.

"There is no point thinking about making it into the last four. With the players that we have that has to be our goal and that is what I will be striving to achieve.

Diego Maradona has reformed the Argentine squad, putting Liverpool’s Mascherano in place for the captaincy and inviting new talented players into the squad.

One of them is Jonas Gutierrez, who is believed to be a good replacement for Lionel Messi. The Newcastle United winger is poised to be selected by the coach to face Venezuela, as playmaker Messi has been asked by his club Barcelona to restrain from Argentina’s qualification campaign.

Gutierrez, who featured in his country’s goalless draw against Brazil last year, is expecting to move on as a frequent figure in the national team, after impressing against France. However, despite being involved in Maradona’s flying start, Gutierrez is aware that things will stress up a little bit when the qualification for the World Cup resumes on March 28.

"They'll be tough opponents because it (the South American Zone) is very evenly matched. Nowadays nobody wins by virtue of the shirt they're wearing, but we do have some great players.”

The Argentina squad is indeed filled with a multitude of talent and Venezuela may just find it too hard to try and match them.

La Vinotinto have suffered defeat in the hands of Argentine at every occasions, so facing them now that they possess the mighty Maradona might just come at the bad time.

Lying third from bottom with 6 points behind Argentina, the 2007 Copa America hosts have some work to do to claim a qualifying spot for South Africa.

But they will try and build their confidence on their 3-1 victory over Ecuador which saw them lighten their hopes of qualifying to the World Cup. This result also helped them end a run of four consecutive defeats.

Perhaps will they find the tonic to create an upset against the Argentines? For Maradona, anything less than a win will put him into trouble once again with his country’s FA.

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