Diego Maradona: Argentina Lacked Determination Against Colombia

'El Diez' admitted that his team couldn't find their feet against the Coffee Makers even though the win serves them well...

Jun 7, 2009 3:36:26 AM

Diego Maradona ponders the upcoming friendly fixture against Scotland - his first match in charge of Argentina

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Diego Maradona ponders the upcoming friendly fixture against Scotland - his first match in charge of Argentina

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Diego Maradona was disappointed with the manner in which his side confronted their World Cup qualifier with Colombia, because he felt they lacked determination in their game.

The 1986 World Cup winner affirmed that he had to motivate his players during the half-time break, as they couldn't find their form in the initial 45 minutes.

"Yes, [I had to motivate them] a little... it isn't something that has to happen. And they noticed this, in the second half everything changed. Their attitude changed, in [Fernando] Gago, [Carlos] Tevez, [Javier] Mascherano and 'La Bruja' [Juan Sebastian Veron]," said Maradona.

"In the first half it seemed like it was any ordinary game [for the players] and it shouldn't be like this. It was very tough, [Eduardo] Lara played a smart game by opening up the field and we couldn't find the ball. We lacked determination and in the qualifiers this is very costly.

"We tried to break forward on counterattacks and in reality it was them who did this. It wasn't what we had practised, neither was it what we wanted. It seemed like we were playing in Bogota and not in Buenos Aires, not at the stadium of River [Plate]. You could hear the Colombians more than the Argentines and that shouldn't happen."

Finally, Maradona stated that he was happy that his team picked up their game in the second period, and that he liked their attitude.

He said, "We recovered the ball, we wanted to work hard and now we were beginning to win, not like in the first half."

Gregory Sica, Goal.com

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