Coach,legend,friend

Diego Maradona clambered over reporters at a packed news conference on Saturday to embrace friend and former Napoli team mate Salvatore Bagni before saying his Argentina team should beat Mexico at the World Cup. A Maradona news conference at the World Cup has become a sideshow to rank with the progress of his gala team into the second round where they meet Mexico at Soccer City in Johannesburg on Sunday.

Central defender Walter Samuel is still being troubled by a niggling leg muscle problem that forced his substitution by Nicolas Burdisso in the 4-1 win over South Korea and Maradona said Burdisso would probably replace him. If he is not 100 per cent he wont be able to give us the help we need, said Maradona,having returned to his seat in front of cameras and reporters from a bear hug with Italian Bagni,a media pundit at the tournament in South Africa.

Even knowing him as I have done all these years,Diego always does something to surprise you, Bagni,who won the Serie A title with Maradonas Napoli in 1987,told reporters.

Maradona said: Im going to field the best team I have in respect for the Argentina shirt. I was always going to field my gala team at the finals.

Maradona then went on to take a dig at his countrys journalists. They should apologise to the players. I8217;m not suggesting you drop your trousers,but it would be honest and great so we all get along better.