Rumors are swirling that Argentina's Manager Diego Maradona is considering quitting, even if Argentina would qualify for South Africa in 2010.  Argentina is sitting in 5th place in the CONMEBOL (South American) Qualifying Group - 1 point behind Ecuador, 5 behind Chile & 8 behind 2nd place Paraguay.  Long time rival Brazil leads the group with 33 points and it looks inevitable that they will come out on top.  The top 4 teams in the group qualify for SA2010, but the 5th place team (which remember is Argentina) will go to a playoff against the 4th place team from the CONCACAF (North American) Qualifying Group.  If, and this is a big if right now, Argentina is the 5th place team - they should have no problem beating whatever 4th place team comes out from CONCACAF, but heck, that is what we thought about Argentina going into qualifying - that they should breeze into South Africa. 

There are 3 teams nipping at the heels of Argentina - Uruguay & Venezuela are both sitting 1 point back and Colombia is only 2 points back of that all important 5th spot.  A week from today it will all be figured out - at least the top 4 will be decided and who the Playoff team will be.  Each team in the group has 2 games left - 1 game on Saturday, October 10th & the final game played Wednesday, October 14th.  Now here is who each team plays with the 1st game listed played Saturday and the 2nd one listed played next Wednesday:

Ecuador                      Colombia                        Argentina                 Venezuela                Uruguay

Uruguay 6th                Chile 3rd                         Peru  10th               Paraguay 2nd          @Ecuador 4th
@ Chile 3rd                @ Paraguay  2nd           @ Uruguay 6th      @ Brazil 1st              Argentina 5th


So as you can see Argentina has the easiest road to South Africa of the 5 teams that are fighting for 2 spots.  But remember this - Peru tied Brazil back in November 2007 1-1 & Argentina tied Peru 1-1 back in September 2008 - so that could be a tricky test...and then Argentina beat Uruguay 2-1 back in October 2008 - but that was in Argentina - so these 2 games are not going to be the as easy as some think.    Venezuela looks like they will be out, at least on paper, because they play the top two teams in the group and the game against Brazil is on the road.  And Colombia plays two of the top 3 teams in the group, Chile and Paraguay, so Colombia is probably out.  That would leave Ecuador, Argentina & Uruguay fighting for the 2 spots. 

Now, about Maradona quitting.  I would love to know what the soccer fans think of this.  Don't you think he should have been fired by now.  This is an absolute embarrassment that Argentina has not qualified.  Just look at the depth of the squad...their "B" team could possibly beat any team in the world - and yes - this includes the Spain's and Brazil's of the world.

Argentina's roster includes

Messi
Aguero
Milito
Tevez
Gago
Maxi Rodriguez
Mascherano
Heinze
Zanetti
Burdisso
Lavezzi
Palermo
Demichelis

That's just some of the names.  Are you sure??  How has this team not qualified...and now - because of the incompetence of Argentina's manager - Messi and all the other superstars HAVE to play and risk injury for both their club and, if the injury would be sever enough, miss out on SA 2010.  I said this on the show when Argentina hired Maradona - this was the worst possible hire they could have made.  Argentina's Football Association hires a former legend, that is most known for his drug addictions off the field than what he did on the field.  Why would you want your young stars, Messi, Aguero, Mascherano, Gago, etc want them looking up to Maradona.  This was absolutely ridiculous.  All of the players I just listed are 23 years of age or younger and are very impressionable - why would you want them learning how NOT to be a professional.  How embarrassing is it that every time Maradona steps foot in Italy - anything he has of value on him must be confiscated to help pay back taxes that he ran from back when he was a player in Italy.  This hire is on the AFA - and higher ups should be losing their jobs for anyone that supported the hiring of Maradona.

So that's my take on both Argentina & Maradona - we would love to know your thoughts on the subject(s).  Please leave your comments below - and also leave your name and where you are from so we can read your comments on the Goalmouth Scramble Podcast.