Maradona is poor role model: Pele

SAO PAULO: Brazilian football legend Pele has lashed out at Argentinian star player turned coach Diego Maradona, saying he is a bad example to young people, news reports said on Saturday.

Pele’s comments to the press late Friday in Sao Paulo could be the kick-off of a latest row between the veteran footballers, who have exchanged heated words through the media in the past.

“He is not a good example for the youth,” Pele, who is to turn 70 October 23, said of the Argentinian player, almost exactly 20 years his junior.

Maradona, considered alongside Pele to be one of the best footballers of all time, is a colourful public figure who has wrestled with substance abuse and intense media attention since retiring as a player in 1997.

“He had the God-given gift of being able to play football, and that is why he is lucky,” Pele said.

“With everything

Maradona set to leave Argentina post

BUNNIES IRIS: Diego Maradona has left his post as Argentina boss after a unanimous vote from the Argentine Football Association.

Maradona had been offered a new four-year contract but said he would only continue on condition that his backroom staff remained. He met with AFA president Julio Grondona on Monday, but the differences between the parties could not be resolved.

Grondona revealed details of the talks to the board on Tuesday and AFA spokesman Ernesto Cherquis Bialo has now confirmed Maradona”s deal will not be renewed.

“There was a big chasm that made it impossible to find an agreement,” he said. “We will not renew the contract. For the match against Spain, scheduled for September 7, we may already have the new coach.”

A statement on the AFA website added: “The president of the Argentinean Football Association, Julio Grondona, made the members of the executive committee aware of the conversation with Diego Maradona, setting out the points which had come out from the meeting.

“The executive committee unanimously resolved not to renew the contract with Mr Diego Maradona as coach of the Argentina national football team.”

Maradona faced heavy criticism during his time in charge of the national side, with the team struggling during qualification for this summer”s World Cup before exiting at the quarter-final stage with a 4-0 defeat to Germany.

Spain win World Cup with lowest goal tally

JOHANNESBURG: Spain needed just nine goals to win a first ever World Cup Sunday, the lowest tally for any nation since the introduction of the group phase and Round of 16 system in 1986.

Andres Iniesta”s extra-time strike against the Netherlands at Soccer City secured a fourth 1-0 victory in a row for Vicente del Bosque”s side and also means Spain head home as world champions with only three players having managed to score in South Africa.

David Villa”s five goals accounted for over half of Spain”s tally while midfielder Iniesta managed three, leaving La Roja”s goalscoring hero against Germany, Carles Puyol, as the only other player to have made it on the scoresheet.

Brazil”s 11 goals when winning the 1994 title is the second-lowest total while, in contrast, the Selecao managed 18 in 2002.

Diego Maradona”s Argentina scored 14 on their way to victory in 1986 while the then West Germany managed one goal more when lifting the title four years later.

France accumulated 15 goals when winning on home soil in 1998 and Italy only managed 12 when securing a third World Cup four years ago in Berlin.

India cricket board launches IPL inquiry

MUMBAI: India’s cricket board has named a new committee to carry out a formal investigation into charges against suspended Indian Premier League commissioner Lalit Modi, who faces allegations of financial irregularities.

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India cricket board launches IPL inquiry

Iran unveils human-shaped robot

TEHRAN: Iranian officials have unveiled a human-shaped robot that can walk like a person, although at a slower pace.

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Iran unveils human-shaped robot

Germany beats Argentina to reach semifinals

CAPE TOWN: Germany had an easier than expected 4-0 win over Argentina on Saturday, reaching the World Cup semifinals and sending both Lionel Messi and Diego Maradona home.

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Germany beats Argentina to reach semifinals

McCullum quits test keeping role

WELLINGTON: Brendon McCullum says he will no longer keep wicket for New Zealand in test matches but will continue to do so in 50-overs and T20 cricket.

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McCullum quits test keeping role

Old foes face off today in World Cup

JOHANNESBURG: Old rivals Germany and England do battle yet again while Diego Maradona’s all-attacking Argentina expect to knock out Mexico for a second consecutive World Cup in two mouth-watering clashes on Sunday.

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Old foes face off today in World Cup

Late Argentine goals crush Greek resistance

POLOKWANE: Martin Demichelis struck a late goal to set up Argentina for a 2-0 World Cup win over Greece Tuesday, top spot in Group B and a second-round showdown with Mexico.

The Bayern Munich defender ended the brave resistance of the Greeks with goalkeeper Alexandros Tzorvas to the fore by slamming the ball into the net from point-blank range on 77 minutes after a corner was not cleared.

And veteran substitute Martin Palermo added a second 60 seconds from full-time when he pounced on a rebound and hammered the ball into the corner of the net.

Veteran striker Palermo is well down the pecking order with Argentina having a surplus of strikers but he got the team out of jail in the qualifiers with a key strike against Peru and took his chance to mark his debut as a World Cup substitute at the age of 36.

“This is priceless. I will always be grateful to Diego Maradona and to the staff for their confidence in me, knowing there are others ahead of me. My teammates celebrated with me as if they had scored themselves,” said Palermo.

On Argentina”s chances of a third World Cup win he said simply: ” I think we are on the right track.”

World Footballer of the Year Lionel Messi captained the two-time champions in the absence of midfielder Javier Mascherano as coach Maradona made seven changes from the side that triumphed 4-1 against South Korea.

The South Americans gave a first start at the tournament to striker Diego Milito, whose two goals against Bayern Munich last month brought Inter Milan their first Champions League title in 45 years.

Argentina thrashed Greece 4-0 in the World Cup 16 years ago with Maradona among the scorers, but he later failed a drugs test and never played in the competition again.

A Greek team coached by wily German Otto Rehhagel set out a defensive stall and after a cagey opening period they came under pressure with Tzorvas called into action twice.

Maradona rests Veron for S. Korea clash

JOHANNESBURG: Argentina take on South Korea on Thursday with a place in the World Cup”s last 16 at stake as coach Diego Maradona makes just one change to his side by leaving out Juan Veron.

The 35-year-old midfielder has been struggling to shake off a minor knock after Argentina”s opening World Cup 1-0 win over Nigeria last Saturday.

Liverpool winger Maxi Rodriguez comes into the team as Maradona looks to tighten up his side”s finishing against the live-wire South Koreans in the Group B clash at Johannesburg”s Soccer City stadium.

Victory for either side would virtually assure them a place in the World Cup”s knock-out phase.

Maradona”s opposite number Huh Jung-Moo has also made a single change from the side which beat Greece 2-0 in their opening game with defender Oh Beom-Seok taking over from Cha Du-Ri on the right side of the defence.

Argentina: Sergio Romero – Gabriel Heinze, Walter Samuel, Martin Demichelis, Jonas Gutierrez – Javier Mascherano (capt.), Angel Di Maria, Gonzalo Higuain, Maxi Rodriguez – Carlos Tevez, Lionel Messi.

Coach: Diego Maradona (ARG)

South Korea: Jung Sung-Ryong – Oh Beom-Seok, Cho Yong-Hyung, Lee Young-Pyo, Lee Jung-Soo – Ki Sung-Yueng, Park Ji-Sung (capt.), Kim Jung-Woo, Lee Chung-Yong, Yeom Ki-Hun – Park Chu-Young.

Coach: Huh Jung-Moo (KOR)

Referee: Frank de Bleeckere (BEL)

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