Argentina hit the right note for Maradona

The former World Cup captain has at times looked out of his depth in the coaching role, fielding more than 100 players and struggling through the South American qualifying group.

At one stage last year, Argentines feared their team could even miss out on South Africa after qualifying defeats in Bolivia, where they were thrashed 6-1, Ecuador and Paraguay and at home to Brazil.

Some of Maradona's coaching decisions were seen as eccentric, such as handing an international debut to 36-year-old defender Rolando Schiavi and recalling Boca Juniors striker Martin Palermo, another player in his mid-thirties.

But Wednesday's impressive, albeit unexciting 1-0 friendly win away to Germany showed that his team is at last taking shape.

After striker Gonzalo Higuain, a player he initially shunned, gave Argentina victory in Munich, Maradona was convinced that he would prove his critics wrong and build a team worthy of Argentina's reputation and tradition.

"If they think that we got into the World Cup through the window, they're wrong," said Maradona, whose team only made sure of their place in South Africa with a 1-0 win in Uruguay in their last qualifier.

"We've said that we're here and we're ready to put up a fight," he added. "This result was important because it showed the Argentine public that we have a great team. We got it wrong against Brazil, Ecuador and in La Paz, but we've always had the players."