Maradona has back to wall after Argentine fiasco

BUENOS AIRES: After leading his country to their worst defeat in six decades - a 6-1 World Cup qualifier pasting in Bolivia - Argentina coach Diego Maradona has his back to the wall.

Having only taken over last year, as a surprise successor to Alfio Basile, the 1986 World Cup winner started off with friendly wins in Scotland and France and then last week the two-time world champions hammered Venezuela 4-0 in his first competitive match in charge.

But Wednesday's humiliation in La Paz - to his credit Maradona did not blame the high altitude - ramped up the temperature of the hot seat, even if qualification for next year's finals in South Africa should still present a formality with the team still only two points behind second-placed Brazil.