[size=18pt]Maradona fires back at soccer greats[/size]
PRETORIA, South Africa -- Diego Maradona made stinging comments about fellow soccer greats Pele and Michel Platini on Wednesday after the pair criticized Maradona's performance as Argentina coach.

Maradona said he was not surprised by their comments and that "Pele has to go back to the museum."

As for Platini, "I always had a very distant relationship with him -- hello and goodbye. We know how the French are and Platini is French and he thinks of himself as being more than the rest of the world. I've never paid him any attention and I won't do it now."

Earlier, Maradona had criticized Pele, who led Brazil to three World Cup titles, for doubting Africa's ability to organize a World Cup.

Asked about Brazil, Maradona said Argentina's fierce South American rival was not tested by North Korea in the 2-1 win on Tuesday.

"Brazil played a relaxed game, too relaxed," Maradona said. "Korea never challenged them. For [goalkeeper] Julio Cesar, it would have been the same to shower or not after the game.

"Brazil is Brazil , and Dunga has done a good job. When more will be demanded of them, they will play better for sure."

Maradona said the general lack of scoring so far at the World Cup could be blamed partly on the teams' initial cautiousness.

"I'm not worried about the lack of goals. The goals will come and there are players here to make that happen," Maradona said. "Of course, in the first matches one is more careful than maybe one should be. The teams are studying their opponents, which is why there are fewer goals."

Maradona also assigned some of the blame to the much-maligned 2010 World Cup ball, saying the Jabulani was having "a large influence" on the low scores. He also asked the sport's authorities to pay more attention to the quality of the ball.

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/world-cup/story/_/id/5292403/ce/us/argentina-coach-diego-maradona-tells-pele-go-back-museum?cc=5901&ver=us

This Maradona self, when will he learn to handle himself with class?

davidif:

This Maradona self, when will he learn to handle himself with class?

When Pele decides to shut up,truly the guy needs to go hang himself on the wall of a museum

aieromon:

When Pele decides to shut up,truly the guy needs to go hang himself on the wall of a museum

Is there anything wrong with Pele stating his opinion?

Pele is a dunce  ! Maradonna was right

Pele is a legend not only in soccer but in the sports world period; if he were a white man, he'd never get this kind of disrespect. It's takes an extremely narcissistic personality to walk around like a demigod the way Maradona does and think that his shite doesn't stink. Does he think we forgot his past transgressions? Just because Argentina chooses to overlook his shameful past doesn't mean everyone else has; he really needs to learn how to conduct himself with class. His ego is just unbearable.

Travelista:

Pele is a legend not only in soccer but in the sports world period; if he were a white man, he'd never get this kind of disrespect. It's takes an extremely narcissistic personality to walk around like a demigod the way Maradona does and think that his shite doesn't stink. Does he think we forgot his past transgressions? Just because Argentina chooses to overlook his shameful past doesn't mean everyone else has; he really needs to learn how to conduct himself with class. His ego is just unbearable.

What does this have to do with skin color?? didn't you see him also attack Platini who is also white? geez, you people are just paranoid about everything. Besides maradona and pele have had spats in the past.

davidif:

What does this have to do with skin color?? didn't you see him also attack Platini who is also white? geez, you people are just paranoid about everything. Besides maradona and pele have had spats in the past.

No, I'm not paranoid. I've seen athletes attack Pele on more than one occasion and it's disrespectful. Besides, Pele and Maradona aren't even on the same level; he really needs to stay in his proper lane. He's just a drug addled cheat.

davidif:

Is there anything wrong with Pele stating his opinion?

Nothing wrong,only that. . . . .

cabcaz:

Pele is a dunce