World Cup Betting: More Maradona madness as Dunga keeps things real

Brazil / Ben Lyttleton / 18 May 2010 / 1 Comments Free £25 Bet

Mad but not that mad. Lionel Messi was the first name on Maradona's squad list

There were mixed reactions in both the Media and the betting as Diego Maradona and Dunga announced their World Cup squads. They were very contrasting affairs but then again that's what you'd expet from such different personalities, says Ben Lyttleton.

It was probably the truest statement of his reign: the Argentina camp
resembles a circus, and a highly complex one at that. Especially after
another son, this time belonging to Maradona’s predecessor as Argentina
coach Alfio Basile, wrote on Twitter that: “At the World Cup, Argentina will
be coached by a conspirator.”

It's amazing what expectations and pressure can do to a country. Just as Spain's period of dominance looked to be wobbling, what with injury worries over Xavi, Fernando Torres, Andres Iniesta and Cesc Fabregas, last week's squad announcements was the perfect moment for Brazil to stamp their mark on the pre-tournament hype.

Instead, Brazil coach Dunga had to face an extremely uncomfortable press conference in which he was forced to explain the absence of Ronaldinho, Diego and Santos striker Neymar while the presence of Julio Baptista, who has scored three goals in 23 games for Roma this season, was met with bafflement. As a result, Brazil's outright price has drifted from ([5.9]) to ([6.2]), while Spain are now ([5.4]).

Aside from their injury concerns, there are other reasons to think about laying Spain and not just because of a potential Round of 16 clash against a Portugal side that will have a point to prove against them. Never mind the fatigue currently afflicting David Villa or the worries about Joan Capdevila's lack of pace: no, last summer at the Confederations Cup, Spain seemed to struggle with the pitches and climate in South Africa, and coach
Vicente del Bosque will need a big improvement on last year's efforts.

It was also a huge week for another team whose price has slightly drifted out, this time to ([9.0]), after their squad list announcement was overshadowed by a series of bizarre accusations. Once again, Argentina boss Diego Maradona was at the centre of controversy as his decision to omit Inter duo Esteban Cambiasso and Javier Zanetti, as well as Fernando Gago and Gabi Milito, was glossed over.

Instead, two bizarre squabbles have once again called into question Maradona's effectiveness as coach. After Maradona had complained that the Argentina FA had cancelled a lucrative friendly in Dubai (as if the team hadn't played enough meaningless matches recently), Humberto, the son of FA president Julio Grondona threatened him by saying, "If you attack my dad, I will get rid of you." Maradona shrugged off the threat and said, "I only talk to the ring-master of the circus."

It was probably the truest statement of his reign: the Argentina camp resembles a circus, and a highly complex one at that. Especially after another son, this time belonging to Maradona's predecessor as Argentina coach Alfio Basile, wrote on Twitter that: "At the World Cup, Argentina will be coached by a conspirator."

The gist of his argument was that Maradona approached players while Basile was still in charge, and promised them that he was being lined up to take over. The inference was that the players would then play badly to get Basile sacked. "I am only saying what's an open secret in the football world," said Basile Jnr. Maradona wrote a public letter in response to the Basile accusation, claiming he recommended that Boca Juniors hire Basile in 2005, and then refused to replace him when Boca's board approached him. He also tried to draw a line under it with the excuse, "I now need to focus on the
World Cup."

Perhaps that's what he was doing for the four hours on Tuesday during which the nation was waiting for his squad. He promised to deliver it at 3pm but it was gone 7pm when it was finally released.

There are still two more weeks before the squad lists become finalised and so plenty of time for Maradona to change his mind once again. The contrast with Dunga, though, is incredible: while the Brazilian, like Maradona a World Cup-winning captain (from 1994), is unpopular and can only reverse that by winning the tournament, the Argentina coach has reduced expectations to an all-time low and continues to overshadow the team and its preparations.

Some WAGS in Argentina have even said it would be a good achievement if the team made it to the World Cup, considering that as of last week, the Argentine FA had not yet booked the team's flight to South Africa. The differences with super-organised Brazil could not be greater but will it be method or madness that will prove the most effective?

Tags: Argentina squad, Brazil players, Brazil squad, Javier Zanetti left out, Julio Baptista, Lionel Messi