Maradona says Argentina too forgiving vs. Nigeria in his victorious World Cup coaching debut

Maradona says Argentina too forgiving vs. Nigeria

JOHANNESBURG — Diego Maradona liked much of what he saw from his players in their World Cup opener. There was one thing he didn’t see that he’s certain Argentina will need in the tournament.

More goals.

Maradona chided his players for wasting too many chances Saturday in their 1-0 victory against Nigeria. He said it seemed like his players “couldn’t see the goal” and were too forgiving as they squandered numerous scoring opportunities

“We should not forgive, that’s what I told them after the match,” a relaxed Maradona said. “In football, to forgive is to pay.”

Maradona also praised Nigeria goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama, who made spectacular saves against Lionel Messi and Gonzalo Higuain to keep the Africans in the game.

“Today we took a very important step, but we have to improve many things to reach the seventh match,” Maradona said, referring to the tournament final. “Still, the boys did well.”

Making his World Cup coaching debut, the hero of Argentina’s 1986 world championship said everything would be fine if the missed opportunities meant Argentina was saving some goals for Thursday’s game with South Korea, which beat Greece 2-1 earlier Saturday.

“Goals aren’t missed on purpose,” Maradona said. “Winning has given us a certain calm for the next match.”

Before the game, Maradona seemed not to have a care in the world.

As Ellis Park was filling up with thousands of Argentine fans, he walked around the edge of the pitch calling out to acquaintances in the stands, listened to the crowd serenading the greatest player in the nation’s history, and allowing dozens of photographers to follow him.

During the game, after switching from a warmup suit to a suit and tie — a first for Maradona as Argentina’s coach — he did not seem all that different from other coaches, trying to move players into position and giving instructions to substitutes about to enter the game.

But his reaction to the final whistle from referee Wolfgang Stark was revealing. Maradona began hugging and patting the backs of his assistants, the substitutes on the bench and the players coming off the field as if Argentina had just won the final, not the first game of the group phase.

Maradona was especially demonstrative with Messi, giving him a bear hug and lifting him off the ground in celebration.

“I want Messi always close to the ball and he was,” Maradona said. “He did terrific things today.”