Argentina to gamble on Maradona

Diego Maradona will be confirmed as the new Argentina coach next Tuesday, according to Argentinian Football Association national…

Diego Maradona will be confirmed as the new Argentina coach next Tuesday, according to Argentinian Football Association national team secretary Luis Segura. Maradona, 47, revealed yesterday he is on the verge of accepting the job and met with AFA president Julio Grondona last night.

Argentina have been without a coach since Alfio Basile stepped down for personal reasons on October 16th.

Maradona has little coaching experience, having been in charge of Deportivo Mandiyu for two months in 1994 and Racing Club for four months in 1995.

"The appointment will be official when the AFA's Committee approves it. And the next meeting is scheduled for next Tuesday." said Segura. "I believe there will not be any more meetings with the other candidates."

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Segura did confirm Sergio Batista will be in charge for the November 19th friendly against Scotland in Glasgow.

Earlier, 1986 World Cup winner Maradona told Radio La Red: "My first job will be watching the players. I'll try to talk to them one by one and then work at the training camp in Ezeiza with them.

"I arrived from Georgia at 10am and three hours later I was having a shower to meet Julio. As I was going to the meeting, I thought it was some kind of hidden camera (show). The direction Julio wants for the national team is the same I have.

"My job will be watching the players and picking up the ones who are in the best form."

Maradona faces the task of helping Argentina improve their form with the side having won only one of their last seven World Cup qualifiers to lie third in the South American Zone.