Maradona hits out at Argentina 'horror film'

MEXICO CITY -- Diego Maradona says Argentina's current squad of players are undeserving of wearing the Albiceleste shirt, likening the team's 3-1 loss to Venezuela on Friday to a "horror" film.

"It hurts me because I feel Argentinian to the core but compared to past generations that had players like [Oscar] Ruggeri, [Gabriel] Batistuta, [Claudio] Caniggia... the current players don't deserve to wear the shirt," Maradona, who is now the head coach of Mexican second-tier club Dorados, told reporters.

The 58-year-old added: "I prefer not to watch horror films but I don't know how the inept bunch who are in charge of Argentina thought they were going to beat Venezuela."

Argentina's defeat to Venezuela in Madrid came despite the return of talisman Lionel Messi to international football following a self-imposed break lasting almost eight months.

The Barcelona forward will miss the Albiceleste's next friendly against Morocco in Tangier on Tuesday because of a groin problem.