Diego Maradona has admitted that he is considering his future as Argentine coach after his side were brutally dumped out of the World Cup by Germany. 'I may leave tomorrow,' he said after their 4-0 quarter-final defeat. 'I'll have to think carefully about it, and talk with my family and the players. There are many issues here.' 
Maradona, who led Argentina to World Cup glory in 1986 as a player, said that 'whoever comes after me' must follow the team's attacking style. But that commitment to going forward was easily nullified by Germany as the Europeans defended with complete commitment before breaking forward swiftly and effectively on the counter-attack. The former World Cup winner likened the defeat to being punched by former world heavyweight boxing champion Muhammad Ali. 'This is the most difficult experience of my life, because to [lose] in front of so many good players, such good people, such good professionals is like getting punched by Muhammad Ali,' he said. 'I don't have any energy left. The first cross produced a goal, and suddenly we were looking at a different game. They took advantage of all their chances.' Full-back Gabriel Heinze urged Maradona not to make any rash decision and said it would be 'great' if the manager continued. 'Now is not the time to make these decisions,' said the thirty two-year-old former Manchester United defender. 'Surely it would be better to wait until the emotion has cooled. Maradona has worked very well and it would be great for him to continue.'
Argentina striker Carlos Tevez offered no excuses after a disjointed performance in Cape Town in which Lionel Messi was frequently reduced to collecting the ball from his centre-backs. 'There's nothing we can say about their win,' said Tevez after Argentina suffered their worst World Cup defeat in fifty two years. 'To lose like that is very painful. We played badly and sometimes when you make mistakes you go home.' The Manchester City striker added: 'We knew it would be complicated and that they wouldn't let us attack. They did what we knew they were capable of doing. We knew they could be dangerous on set-pieces and on the counter-attack.' Maradona was derided in Argentina before the tournament for leading the team by instinct and emotion rather than paying attention to a tactical plan, or the opposition's strengths. Much of that criticism was washed away with four straight wins in South Africa, but it may now rear its head after Germany easily exposed the individual rather than collective nature of his side's play. 'I'm as disappointed as all Argentines,' he said. 'To see my country lose a football match is very hard for someone who has worn the shirt.' When asked whether he was satisfied with the team's performance against Germany, Maradona added: 'Are you joking? This is a country where you live and breathe football. I don't think that anybody will be happy when the team loses 4-0.'
Meanwhile, Dunga has been sacked as Brazil coach following his country's quarter-final exit. A statement from the Brazilian Football Federation confirmed that the former captain has been dismissed, along with his entire coaching staff. Dunga, forty six, who returned with his squad to Brazil on Sunday, had already said he was likely to go after their 2-1 defeat by the Netherlands on Friday. The CBF revealed that a new coach would be installed by the end of the month. Corinthians manager Mano Menezes and former AC Milan coach Leonardo have already been tipped as possible successors, as well as former Brazil coach Wanderley Luxemburgo. Luiz Felipe Scolari, who coached Brazil to a fifth World Cup title in 2002, has ruled himself out due to his commitments with club side Palmeiras. Dunga - whose full name is Carlos Caetano Bledorn Verri - is a legend in his homeland after captaining his side to World Cup victory at USA 1994.
He took over as coach of the national side in 2006, replacing Carlos Alberto Parreira despite having no prior professional coaching experience. His more pragmatic style of play split opinions in Brazil, with some supporters believing it stifled the natural attacking flair of the five-time world champions. As far back as December 2009, Dunga revealed he would probably step down after this year's finals, even if his side managed to lift the trophy in South Africa. However, defeat to the Dutch put an end to their dreams of a sixth world title. 'With the closing of the work cycle that started in August 2006 and ended with the elimination of Brazil from the World Cup in South Africa, the CBF announces the dismissal of the Technical Commission of the Brazilian team,' the federation said in its statement. The first big challenge for the new coach will be the 2011 South American championship - the Copa America - due to be held in Argentina. However, the 2014 World Cup will dominate the agenda, particularly as the tournament will be held in Brazil for the first time since 1950.
The Nigerian Football Federation's top two officials have been sacked in a bid to appease the wrath of the country's president who suspended the team after the World Cup. NFF President Sani Lulu and Vice-President Amanze Ugbulam were fired as the federation asked President Goodluck Jonathan to reconsider his ban. FIFA has threatened to expel Nigeria from world football unless the Nigerian president lifts the two-year ban. It has imposed a deadline of five o'clock on Monday for the ban to be lifted. FIFA rules prohibit government intervention in its members' affairs. The NFF said the two sackings, as well as the dismissal of a member of the federation's technical committee, were carried out 'to tender a resolved apology' to all Nigerians over the team's performance in South Africa. The NFF also promised 'to take urgent steps to address the maladministration of football in the country.' The country's House of Representatives has passed a resolution asking the Nigerian president to reverse his order, fearing sanctions. 'FIFA has sent a letter to the Nigeria Football Federation indicating that the government of Nigeria has until Monday to cancel its direction to withdraw Nigeria's participation from all FIFA and CAF competitions for the next two years,' said FIFA communications director Nicolas Maingot on Friday. 'Also the management committee set up by the Nigeria government will not be recognised by FIFA.' If Nigeria are suspended, the country cannot participate in competitive matches or club games in African competitions. 'A suspension goes beyond the suspension of the national teams,' added Maingot. 'It also freezes financial help and no referees can participate in international competition.' FIFA executive committee member and former Nigeria government minister Dr Amos Adamu will be in the country on Monday 'for a last mediation attempt.' The governing body's president Sepp Blatter had already warned French president Nicolas Sarkozy of possible sanctions after he pledged to personally lead an investigation into France's acrimonious World Cup campaign.
Uruguay midfielder Nicolas Lodeiro has been ruled out of the rest of the World Cup after fracturing a bone in his right foot against Ghana. The South Americans may also be without captain Diego Lugano for Tuesday's semi-final against the Netherlands. Lugano is undergoing tests after suffering knee ligament damage during the quarter-final victory over the Ghanaians at Soccer City.
But defender Diego Godin has returned to training after a thigh problem. Godin missed the match against Ghana, which the Uruguayans won on penalties to reach the last four of the tournament for the first time since 1970. Ajax playmaker Lodeiro has been hailed as one of his country's best prospects. The absence of Lugano for Tuesday's match against the Dutch would be another big setback for Uruguay as the powerful centre-back has been a key player for them in South Africa. They are already without defender Jorge Ciro Fucile, who is suspended for next week's game.
Maradona, who led Argentina to World Cup glory in 1986 as a player, said that 'whoever comes after me' must follow the team's attacking style. But that commitment to going forward was easily nullified by Germany as the Europeans defended with complete commitment before breaking forward swiftly and effectively on the counter-attack. The former World Cup winner likened the defeat to being punched by former world heavyweight boxing champion Muhammad Ali. 'This is the most difficult experience of my life, because to [lose] in front of so many good players, such good people, such good professionals is like getting punched by Muhammad Ali,' he said. 'I don't have any energy left. The first cross produced a goal, and suddenly we were looking at a different game. They took advantage of all their chances.' Full-back Gabriel Heinze urged Maradona not to make any rash decision and said it would be 'great' if the manager continued. 'Now is not the time to make these decisions,' said the thirty two-year-old former Manchester United defender. 'Surely it would be better to wait until the emotion has cooled. Maradona has worked very well and it would be great for him to continue.'Argentina striker Carlos Tevez offered no excuses after a disjointed performance in Cape Town in which Lionel Messi was frequently reduced to collecting the ball from his centre-backs. 'There's nothing we can say about their win,' said Tevez after Argentina suffered their worst World Cup defeat in fifty two years. 'To lose like that is very painful. We played badly and sometimes when you make mistakes you go home.' The Manchester City striker added: 'We knew it would be complicated and that they wouldn't let us attack. They did what we knew they were capable of doing. We knew they could be dangerous on set-pieces and on the counter-attack.' Maradona was derided in Argentina before the tournament for leading the team by instinct and emotion rather than paying attention to a tactical plan, or the opposition's strengths. Much of that criticism was washed away with four straight wins in South Africa, but it may now rear its head after Germany easily exposed the individual rather than collective nature of his side's play. 'I'm as disappointed as all Argentines,' he said. 'To see my country lose a football match is very hard for someone who has worn the shirt.' When asked whether he was satisfied with the team's performance against Germany, Maradona added: 'Are you joking? This is a country where you live and breathe football. I don't think that anybody will be happy when the team loses 4-0.'
Meanwhile, Dunga has been sacked as Brazil coach following his country's quarter-final exit. A statement from the Brazilian Football Federation confirmed that the former captain has been dismissed, along with his entire coaching staff. Dunga, forty six, who returned with his squad to Brazil on Sunday, had already said he was likely to go after their 2-1 defeat by the Netherlands on Friday. The CBF revealed that a new coach would be installed by the end of the month. Corinthians manager Mano Menezes and former AC Milan coach Leonardo have already been tipped as possible successors, as well as former Brazil coach Wanderley Luxemburgo. Luiz Felipe Scolari, who coached Brazil to a fifth World Cup title in 2002, has ruled himself out due to his commitments with club side Palmeiras. Dunga - whose full name is Carlos Caetano Bledorn Verri - is a legend in his homeland after captaining his side to World Cup victory at USA 1994.
He took over as coach of the national side in 2006, replacing Carlos Alberto Parreira despite having no prior professional coaching experience. His more pragmatic style of play split opinions in Brazil, with some supporters believing it stifled the natural attacking flair of the five-time world champions. As far back as December 2009, Dunga revealed he would probably step down after this year's finals, even if his side managed to lift the trophy in South Africa. However, defeat to the Dutch put an end to their dreams of a sixth world title. 'With the closing of the work cycle that started in August 2006 and ended with the elimination of Brazil from the World Cup in South Africa, the CBF announces the dismissal of the Technical Commission of the Brazilian team,' the federation said in its statement. The first big challenge for the new coach will be the 2011 South American championship - the Copa America - due to be held in Argentina. However, the 2014 World Cup will dominate the agenda, particularly as the tournament will be held in Brazil for the first time since 1950.The Nigerian Football Federation's top two officials have been sacked in a bid to appease the wrath of the country's president who suspended the team after the World Cup. NFF President Sani Lulu and Vice-President Amanze Ugbulam were fired as the federation asked President Goodluck Jonathan to reconsider his ban. FIFA has threatened to expel Nigeria from world football unless the Nigerian president lifts the two-year ban. It has imposed a deadline of five o'clock on Monday for the ban to be lifted. FIFA rules prohibit government intervention in its members' affairs. The NFF said the two sackings, as well as the dismissal of a member of the federation's technical committee, were carried out 'to tender a resolved apology' to all Nigerians over the team's performance in South Africa. The NFF also promised 'to take urgent steps to address the maladministration of football in the country.' The country's House of Representatives has passed a resolution asking the Nigerian president to reverse his order, fearing sanctions. 'FIFA has sent a letter to the Nigeria Football Federation indicating that the government of Nigeria has until Monday to cancel its direction to withdraw Nigeria's participation from all FIFA and CAF competitions for the next two years,' said FIFA communications director Nicolas Maingot on Friday. 'Also the management committee set up by the Nigeria government will not be recognised by FIFA.' If Nigeria are suspended, the country cannot participate in competitive matches or club games in African competitions. 'A suspension goes beyond the suspension of the national teams,' added Maingot. 'It also freezes financial help and no referees can participate in international competition.' FIFA executive committee member and former Nigeria government minister Dr Amos Adamu will be in the country on Monday 'for a last mediation attempt.' The governing body's president Sepp Blatter had already warned French president Nicolas Sarkozy of possible sanctions after he pledged to personally lead an investigation into France's acrimonious World Cup campaign.
Uruguay midfielder Nicolas Lodeiro has been ruled out of the rest of the World Cup after fracturing a bone in his right foot against Ghana. The South Americans may also be without captain Diego Lugano for Tuesday's semi-final against the Netherlands. Lugano is undergoing tests after suffering knee ligament damage during the quarter-final victory over the Ghanaians at Soccer City.
But defender Diego Godin has returned to training after a thigh problem. Godin missed the match against Ghana, which the Uruguayans won on penalties to reach the last four of the tournament for the first time since 1970. Ajax playmaker Lodeiro has been hailed as one of his country's best prospects. The absence of Lugano for Tuesday's match against the Dutch would be another big setback for Uruguay as the powerful centre-back has been a key player for them in South Africa. They are already without defender Jorge Ciro Fucile, who is suspended for next week's game.
