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MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay (AP)—Argentina cleared a big hurdle by squeaking into next year’s World Cup. Whether Diego Maradona will still be the coach then is another matter.Will the man recognized as one of the world’s greatest players be pushed aside? Or will he resign as he threatened to do a week ago under mounting criticism over his coaching?Maradona probably did not help his case after Wednesday’s 1-0 victory against Uruguay, letting loose with a string of profanities on live television— much of it directed at reporters and his critics.Last week he threatened to resign, then said later he was misquoted. Asked about it again after reaching the World Cup, he said he had to speak with Julio Grondona, the powerful, longtime head of the Argentine Football Association.Grondona hired Maradona—with virtually no coaching experience—almost a year ago despite several strong options.Argentine Marcelo Bielsa coaches Chile and countryman Gerardo Martino coaches Paraguay. Both countries qualified for the World Cup with ease.Team leader and midfielder Juan Sebastian Veron was outspoken after the victory, offering little support to Maradona or Grondona.
“There’s nothing to celebrate. From Grondona on down, it’s all bad,” Veron said. “We suffered, we hung in there and in the end we were able to win, but we have much room for improvement. Now the coach can take the time he needs to correct what needs to be corrected, and put together a team for the World Cup.”