Disaster Averted: Argentina Automatically Qualify.
Uruguay 0 – Argentina 1
They were always on their way throughout the game thanks to Chile’s Humberto Suazo, proving the third best team in qualifying weren’t going to roll over in order to see big boys Argentina knocked out. But the albiceleste then got a second gift from Martin Caceres in the form of an absolutely absurd second yellow card for pulling Jonas Gonzalez down by his ankles and capitalized in the form of a goal on the ensuing set piece. A goal via midfield substitute Mario Bolatti. That’s right, Diego Maradona is still working miracles as a coach.
(Not really.)
So now, with CONMEBOL qualifying over, the final table looks a little something like this:
(Uruguay will face either Honduras or Costa Rica in a home and away playoff for the last remaining Americas spot.)
Not quite ideal, but at least they have eight plus months to fix all that ails. Such as firing Diego Maradona.
Yet the postgame scene would lead won to believe Diego is once again the hero.
And despite the dogged crawl through qualifying, the late heroics required from a Chilean and a Uruguayan, chances are we see Diego Maradona donning a flappy cape next summer too. What? Why? How could they? Simple.
How do you fire the only unfireable man in the country?
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Comments | Add your comment
By alex | October 14th, 2009 at 7:15 pm 
another garbage goal for argentina….right place at the right time….uruguay vs costa rica….
By Johnny | October 14th, 2009 at 7:32 pm re: “chances are we see Diego Maradona donning a flappy cape next summer”
If a there’s a DM badge on his chest too, that’s the sign the Apocalypse is upon us.
By Native Son | October 14th, 2009 at 8:05 pm Actually we weren’t that bad under Basile.
We had Requelme, Cambiasso, Zanetti et al.
….and we could score.
Those are the days that we could score after stringing about 5 or so passes. Perhaps we’ll get there again, who knows.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOhJGhN7174
By alex | October 14th, 2009 at 9:06 pm native son – anything and everything before maradona went well for argentina….compared to how there playing right now…i just think that the problems in argentina international and domestic levels are too much….owners just want a quick fix and dont wont to work hard and struggle to get there….argentina went threw hell to qualify…mayb they’ll take this experience to harden there players…
By Jonathan | October 14th, 2009 at 9:34 pm Crazy how Argentina can lose away to Ecuador, Chile, Colombia, Paraguay and Bolivia 6-1 and still qualify automatically for the World Cup while Ireland go unbeaten and still have to overcome a playoff against one of the best teams in the world. FIFA have it all a bit lopsided if you ask me.
And Native Son: not that bad under Basile? Argentina only won 1 out of 7 qualifiers before he was replaced by Maradona…
Posted from 
United Kingdom
By Native Son | October 14th, 2009 at 9:34 pm I hear you Alex. It’s been a tough year for us. I hope it finally works out.
As someone said in another post, Brazil isn’t playing great but they do get the job done-ocassionally. They win!
That’s what has been missing from our team.
By Native Son | October 14th, 2009 at 9:36 pm Boys and gals,
I have some photos for you.
Please enjoy. YOU DESERVE IT!
http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/91896687/AFP
By Native Son | October 14th, 2009 at 9:37 pm By Native Son | October 14th, 2009 at 9:43 pm I think Messi’s indifference (or whatever it was) was more of frustration than anything else.
http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/91889879
By Sam | October 14th, 2009 at 11:02 pm You’re right Jonathan, but come on, but you and I both know Ireland’s unbeaten run includes failing to beat Bulgaria and Montenegro (twice each) and only beating Cyprus and Georgia by a goal (twice each).
By Jamaicafest | October 15th, 2009 at 12:00 am It seems as if “The Hand of God” has come to rescue Diego Maradona. Whether it is enough to keep him in the job for the World Cup finals is left to be seen.
Posted from 
Jamaica
By martin | October 15th, 2009 at 1:08 am “For those who didn’t believe in this national team, for those who treated me like garbage I say we are in the World Cup with all the honours, beating a team like Uruguay” – Diego Maradona
Does all the honours mean by the skin of their teeth? Mistranslations maybe? Or just a deluded manager.
Posted from United Kingdom
By Jose | October 15th, 2009 at 3:36 am A fact no one else has mentioned on the WCQ thus far:
There have been no debutantes yet, and, with 9 spots, left, only 3 look to even have a chance.
In UEFA, Bosnia and Herzegovina are not seeded for the playoffs and could be facing France, Russia, Portugal…
In Africa, Gabon would have to take over Cameroon in Africa, which doesn’t look likely to happen.
In Asia/Oceania, Bahrain has to overcome their 0-0 home draw against New Zealand in Wellington.
All in all, Bahrain looks to have the best shot at qualifying. Depending on B&H’s draw, Bahrain might very well be the only new team at the 2010 World Cup.
Posted from 
United States
By Fernando | October 15th, 2009 at 11:09 am I didn’t understand the Maradona red cape thing… can someone explain that to me? Did he specifically have that made, AFA actually spends money in having a RED poncho made? Sounds like Maradona’s ego has flown off the reservation.
But lets congratulate Maradona, he refers to Suarez & Forlan as squirrels and thanks Uruguay for a match well played… never mind that he sends the entire Argentinean media to hell in between (probably the funniest moment of the press conference).
Argentina won because Uruguay absolutely sucked last night, they’ve managed to make a useless drug addict like Maradona look like a genius, amazing!
Posted from United States
By Shane | October 15th, 2009 at 3:15 pm Jose: Slovakia are debutantes as an indenpendent nation. Technically so are Serbia since Montenegro was not yet independent in 2006.
Posted from United States
By Jose | October 15th, 2009 at 7:56 pm Serbia was part of S & M. And Slovakia was part of Vzechoslovakia. And I dont think FIFA coumts either as debutantes. Im talking about a people that have never celebrated their own as WC participants… Not so much “technicalities” like that. :p
Posted from United States
By alex | October 15th, 2009 at 8:01 pm jose…slovakia are first timers…
By Jose | October 15th, 2009 at 8:38 pm CzechoSLOVAKIA have participated before. It is a new country but its people, the Slovaks, have a long history in World Cup paeticipation!
Posted from United States
By uggs | October 20th, 2009 at 7:32 am 
Australia
