Argentina World Cup Places Still Up For Grabs - Diego Maradona

“There are players with me here in San Juan for the Costa Rica game that are capable of playing in a World Cup. I have put together a list of 30 names which I must reduce to 23 before going back to South Africa. There are some players here that can make that final list.”

The former World Cup winner also reacted to criticism over the number of players he has called up during his time as Argentina’s head coach.

“They can say that I have called on a lot of players but you need to see them in action before making your mind up. You need to see how they react to the shirt, how they play within the team. Not everyone can reproduce their club form at international level.”

During a candid press conference Maradona told how much he missed his job during his two-month FIFA ban for lewd comments made in a press conference after Argentina's vital qualifying win over Uruguay.

“Those two months were very painful for me. I asked FIFA if I could just pay a big fine and not have to be away from my team. The money I was willing to pay FIFA to avoid the ban could have built football facilities all over Africa, but they still preferred the two months.”

The former Napoli star also told the journalists gathered in San Juan about his recent trip to South Africa and how shocked he was by events in Angola.

“My thinking about football has changed in the past weeks after seeing what happened with Togo in the Africa Cup of Nations. I would like to take this opportunity to express my solidarity with the boys from Togo, it was an absolute tragedy what happened. Despite the attack on the Togo team I know Africa wants the World Cup and we were very well received in South Africa.”

Finally, Maradona spoke about the crisis engulfing the club closest to his heart, Boca Juniors. The national coach could only hold his hands up in bemusement like the rest of us when asked about the current state of Boca.

“The great asset that Boca always had was turning problems into strength on the field. To lose Basile and Bianchi in a week is tough but it is up to the players to take Boca back to the top. Players such as Riquelme, Palermo and Ibarra must get out there and make the difference.”

There are still those who wish Riquelme would get out there and make the difference for Maradona’s national selection.