Media and critics alike are questioning the coaching / leadership ability of Argentina legend Diego Maradona after the Albiceleste’s 3 - 1 loss to Brazil in Rosario (their third in a row since 2006), leaving them with just three matches (away to Paraguay, home against Peru and away to Uruguay) to claim their automatic Qualification to the 2010 World Cup within the top four spots in CONMEBOL.

And if they don’t qualify, what will become of Diego and his cult status within Argentina and worldwide for that matter?

Via Guardian 

There was never any doubt what kind of manager Maradona would be, yet no amount of tub-thumping was able to hide his side’s deficiencies against Brazil. His vision of the national team is a cavalier attacking team, ideally with three forwards, but the ambition of his gameplan simply played into the hands of Brazil, who waited patiently for the opportunity to counter attack.

Yet while Maradona will have been frustrated at his team not creating more danger in attack, more of a concern is the defence as Argentina were undone by two set pieces in the first half. After a confident start from the home side, Gabriel Heinze permitted Luisão the luxury of a free header, which the Benfica defender converted with ease. Failure to deal with a driven free-kick from Elano seven minutes later allowed Kaká space to cross, and Luís Fabiano profited in the ensuing scramble. When the debutant Jesús Dátolo’s effort beat Julio César from long range in the second half, Brazil charged up to the other end with Kaká and restored their two-goal lead after Fabiano finished off a classic counter-attack with a calm finish.

Where doubts over Maradona’s ability to find the formula for the national team were previously only whispered, now they are front page news. “The selección isn’t a team,’ warned Olé, “and Maradona can’t find the way to turn the situation around”.