Diegos image not enough,cries Argentina

Sports daily Ole wrote: Were going nowhere over a picture of Maradona.

In a country where football is almost everything,Maradona has been a national icon since he led Argentina to the 86 World Cup title. Hes been a survivor,but this may be his toughest test. He was expelled after the second game of the 94 World Cup and eventually banned for 15 months for using performance-enhancing drugs. He was near death on a respirator five years ago after suffering a heart attack attributed to a cocaine overdose. And hes had a highly publicised gastric bypass to lose weight.

Still,most Argentines have never fallen completely out of love with this rogue character. But missing the World Cup might end the affair. In an Internet poll published on Thursday by the newspaper Clarin,62.2 per cent of 11,288 people responding said Argentina would miss next years tournament in South Africa.

Maradona remained defiant,saying he would stay on the job as long as I have a drop of blood left. Hes also started blaming others. Since I was 15 years old Ive been fighting with you reporters for your criticism, Maradona said. Now Im 48 and Ill still keep fighting.

Since Maradona took over 10 months ago,Argentina have won only two of six World Cup qualifiers and,in that span,he has called up 62 different players. He has used three different goalkeepers. And hes absorbed one of the worst beatings in Argentina history a 6-1 loss at Bolivia.

Newspapers have ripped Maradona about his handling of players,and over his lack of tactical acumen. He was also ridiculed for taking players to a Roman Catholic mass before the Brazil match a 3-1 loss. He was also reported to be relying on some form of witchcraft before the Paraguay game another loss.