Maradona backs Argentina after Spain thrashing

By Michael Place

BUENOS AIRES, March 27 (Xinhua) -- Diego Maradona took to social media on Tuesday to express support for Argentina's national team following a 6-1 loss to Spain in Madrid.

The result at the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium represented Argentina's worst defeat since 2009, when an Albiceleste team coached by Maradona fell 6-1 to Bolivia in La Paz.

"Right now all we can do is improve," Maradona wrote on Instagram. "Let's go Argentina, always."

The positivity of Maradona, who won the World Cup with Argentina as a player in 1986, was not shared by the country's major newspapers. Clarin was among those to pour scorn on Jorge Sampaoli's side, which struggled in the absence of injured talisman Lionel Messi.

"Argentina is lacking world-class players in decisive positions," it said. "How many Argentine footballers can say they have [Andres] Iniesta's talent to pass the ball and organize play? How many come close to the silky skills of Isco?

"How many central midfielders are as accomplished as Sergio Busquets.... how many central defenders are at the same level as [Gerard] Pique and Sergio Ramos? All the questions have the same answer: none."

According to La Nacion, the result bodes ill for Argentina's hopes of winning the World Cup, to be played in Russia from June 14 to July 15.

"It was a punch in the face, a real bath," the newspaper said. "It was a resounding demonstration of Argentina's reality without Lionel Messi. We can fight, kick and push. But it will be difficult to match teams that are serious contenders to win the World Cup.

Sports news website Ole said: "What a tremendous beating Spain have given us. They were relentless and, for Argentina, there are major concerns about the World Cup."

Cronica said Argentina also suffered from the absence of injured pair Sergio Aguero and Angel Di Maria.

"Argentina put in a bad showing in their last high-level friendly before the World Cup," the newspaper said. Enditem