Argentina assistant wants coach Maradona to stay

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP):

One of Diego Maradona's assistant coaches with Argentina wants him to stay on following the team's devastating 4-0 loss to Germany in the World Cup quarter-finals.

Assistant coach Alejandro Mancuso offered his support to Maradona in a radio interview yesterday, saying the staff wanted him to return.

"Knowing Diego, it is difficult for me to think he wants to step down after failing in his objective to win the Cup," Mancuso said. "We can't throw away all the good work we've done."

Maradona has not made his future plans clear following Argentina's second straight loss to Germany in a World Cup quarter-final last Saturday, but talked of "the end of a cycle" when the squad returned home from South Africa.

Crónica newspaper yesterday quoted Maradona as saying: "I gave all I had. Now I want to enjoy my family. Don't worry, I'm not depressed."

Extended contract

Argentine Football Association senior official Luis Segura said Maradona's contract has a clause that triggers an automatic extension through to the Copa America, which Argentina host next year. Segura said it is up to Maradona to decide what he will do.

Maradona will have to make his decision known in a meeting with AFA president Julio Grondona, who appointed Maradona to the job in October 2008.

Maradona's spell with the national team has been up and down.

Argentina struggled to qualify for the World Cup, absorbing embarrassing losses against Bolivia (6-1) and Brazil (3-1). But the team seemed on course in South Africa for a third World Cup title after group stage wins against Nigeria, South Korea and Greece.

They defeated Mexico 3-1 in the round of 16, leading Maradona to boast about the team's scoring prowess. Then came the humiliating loss last Saturday to Germany, which again led many to question Maradona's tactical knowledge.