Por favor, quédese

Querido Diego

Remember Espagña 1982 and how your frustration at being constantly kicked saw your tournament come to a premature end? Over the next 4 years, you used that experience as motivation for Mexico 1986 and the whole world saw what a motivated Diego can do.

Your first campaign as a World Cup Manager has ended prematurely, but I do believe that once you've had a chance to reflect, you will realise how much better you can make the likes of Leo, Carlitos, Gonzalo, Javier M, Javier P, Otamendi, Sergio with 4 years to prepare - the thought of winning the Jules Rimet trophy on enemy territory should provide you and your players with all the necessary motivation.

Whatever you decide do after discussions with your family, thank you once again for providing us with more unforgettable memories and quotes!

Maradona, Zidane - I THINK NOT!!

Luis Suárez has evoked the "Hand of God" and Sebastian Abreu has compared his chipped penalty that "won" the match for La Celeste with that of Zidane's in the 2006 World Cup final in Germany. Firstly, Luis Suárez, you have just gone to no 1 in the World Cup 2010 Hall of Shame, secondly until you single-handedly win a World Cup then you have no right to compare yourself to Maradona - your actions if anything prove the absence of God. However, as Daniele de Rossi, Luis Fabiano have found, cheating does not pay in this World Cup so you have just ensured that La Celeste will be summarily dispatched by the Oranje on Tuesday.

As for Sebastian Abreu, please come down from the clouds because until you orchestrate your team's progress to the final à la Zidane in 2006, win World Player of the year 3 times, score the winning goal in the Champion's League final with a volley that showcases your superb technique, score 2 goals in a World Cup final and inspire your team to win a continental championships, you really have no right to compare yourself to Zizou.

More fool you!!

The prevailing misconception among the media (listen here) is that Diego Maradona can't really be coaching La Albiçeleste - this is doing a great disservice to the great man!! After all, how is it possible to have played the game the way he played without having a fundamental understanding of what football is about?!

Maradona's genius lay in his ability to elevate his teammates, at Argentina and Napoli, to his level for the time it took to convert a typically astute pass to a goal. Though his talent is innate, he was a very industrious player - he was the first one to training and the last one to leave. Now as manager, he conveys his reading of the game to his players, La Albiçeleste play in his image and on the pitch, Maradona's genius is equalled by Messi.

4 down, 3 to go

So even if Messi doesn't play, La Albiçeleste are still formidable. Let's be perfectly honest, Messi is yet to fully ignite, despite his armful of MoM awards. The inevitable is bound to happen and methinks de mannschaft will be on the end of a virtuoso Messi display as he continues to mirror Maradona.

It's time to fetch the steaks - 3 down 4 to go

Leo oversaw the Albiçeleste's serene progress to the second round and in so doing he became the youngest captain at the tournament. The extra responsibility was handled with his customary aplomb and did not stop him from earning yet another MOM award.

Diego's plan for the second round - it's time to fetch the steaks.

What is it with the Lefties?

What do Brian Charles Lara, Diego Armando Maradona, Rafael Nadal, Martina Navratilova have in common? They are either left handed or left footed and have all bamboozled, befuddled, bemused and bewildered opposing players on a regular basis, whilst holding spectators in their thrall.

The Swiss Maestro had a staggering win/loss of 82/5 last year, but 4 of those 5 times he lost to El Pirata. El Pirata has not been beaten on clay since 2005 and is currently on a 65* match winning streak. When Diego dribbled, it appeared as if the ball was glued to his left foot and opposing players resorted to underhand measures to dispossess him. Martina Navratilova bowed out of competitive tennis after winning her 59th Grand Slam title, at last year's US Open, at the age of 49. Brian Lara is the finest batsman of his generation and currently holds the record for the highest Test innings, the most Test runs and the highest first-class runs.

The left side of the brain is responsible for creativity so don't lefties have an advantage to begin with?!

Strangely enough, I'm right-handed, but left-footed.

*he could extend this to 67 if he wins in Monte Carlo this week.

In Maradona's footsteps

Many have been called the new Maradona, an unfair tag if ever there was one, but even the great man himself acknowledges that Lionel Messi is something special. Like Diego in Japan, in 1979, Lionel inspired Argentina to triumph at FIFA's U-20 World Cup in the Netherlands, in 2005, where he was voted the tournament's best player aka MVP (John Obi Mikel was 2nd and Taiye Taiwo was 3rd). He also picked up the Golden Shoe for top scorer - Diego was 2nd highest top scorer in '79.

Diego had a rather unhappy time at Barcelona, where he moved after his exploits in Japan, but found his feet at Napoli where he led them to 2 scudettos in 1987 and 1990. Messi has already won La Liga twice with Barça and in Germany last year, he tantalised us during his all too brief cameos for Argentina - it was mystifying, to say the least, when Jose Pekerman decided to substitute him in the game against Germany.

Maradona's 2nd goal against Enland in the 1986 quarterfinal match has been labelled the best World Cup goal, even though the English players seemed spellbound and didn't make any decent tackles. To my mind, this makes Messi's goal against Getafe better because he skipped past some committed tackles. It was fitting that in the post match interview, Messi paid tribute to Maradona and wished him a speedy recovery.

Messi to lead Argentina to victory at the FIFA World Cup in South Africa in 2010 - you read it here first.