Maradona feels guilty as Argentines cry

June 13, 2002

GENEVA, June 13 (AFP) -- Argentina football legend Diego Maradona said in a Swiss newspaper on Thursday that he felt guilty and heart broken after his national side's shock exit from the World Cup.

Maradona, who was snapped up by the Swiss daily Blick as a World Cup columnist, said he watched the game at home in Cuba, although he finally received a late visa to travel to Japan on Tuesday.

The former Argentine number 10 admitted Sweden played well but added: "Sweden will not be world champions. That would be laughable".

"Players like Batistuta wanted me there," Maradona said.

"It breaks my heart when I see Batistuta, Veron and Aimar crying."

"I do accuse myself, yes, I am also guilty for the defeat."

"During the match against Sweden I always had the same thought: 'why didn't you fly to Japan to support your team,'" he added.

Maradona insisted he didn't want to go to Japan to hand out advice but as a fan. Nonetheless he rounded on "mistakes" by Argentine coach Marcelo Bielsa, saying he would have played Gabriel Batistuta alongside substitute Hernan Crespo up front, and not pulled Juan Veron off the field.

"One day Argentina wil be at the top again," he added. The 41-year-old 1986 World Cup winner had been lined up to work for Mexican television for what turned out to be Argentina's last game but Japanese authorities earlier refused him a visa because of his past drug use.

It was later granted on the grounds that Maradona would be representing the Argentine government.