Maradona compares Argentina's 1986 team with current one

Argentine football legend Diego Maradona has implied, during a chat with former teammates, that the 1986 World Cup winning team played better than the current one.

Argentina lost to Chile in the penalty shootout of the 2016 Centennial Copa America final, falling to the same team in the same competition in the second year in a row. The heartbreaking loss prompted Argentina captain Lionel Messi to announce his retirement from the national team, reports Xinhua.

Maradona did not let slip the chance to comment on the current team.

"We didn't play against Chile. We won against Germany. Do you understand the difference between the two teams (in terms of quality)," the former player and coach asked of his former World Cup 1986 teammates via a WhatsApp audio message on Wednesday.

The message was published by the Argentine media, despite being a private message between a group of 1986 world champion players.

The message from the former number 10, began: "Diego Maradona, your captain, speaking."

In the message, the 55-year-old also complained about the fact that his fellow former teammates were not "taken into account" for the position of Argentina coach. Maradona coached the 2010 World Cup team in South Africa and made it to the quarter-finals.

"Every second that passes we are getting older," Maradona said.

In the 1986 World Cup, Maradona scored two goals against England in the quarter-finals, one with his hand which he himself later cheekily named as the "Hand of God". The other was a memorable individual effort. The match ended 2-1 in favour of Argentina and England went home.

Maradona was also part of the runners-up team at the 1990 World Cup in Italy.

Argentina's current team lost the 2016 Centennial Copa America final in the United States on June 26 to Chile in penalties, following a 0-0 draw 0-0 after extra time.

--IANS

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