- Diego Maradona could not hold back the tears after Argentina were walloped 3-0 by Croatia on Thursday, June 21
- Before the match, the former Albiceleste star was holding aloft Lionel Messi’s match jersey
- The 3-0 bashing is now Argentina's heaviest defeat in the first-round of a World Cup match in 60 years
Argentina legend Diego Maradona was a shadow of himself after the South American nation were walloped 3-0 by Croatia in their second Group D game at the ongoing 2018 Fifa World Cup in Russia.
According to the UK Telegraph, it was a nightmare for the former Argentina captain and 1986 World Cup winner, who excelled as a player, but could not hold back the tears after the Albiceleste were taught some football lessons by their European opponents.
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Before the commencement of the match at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium, TV cameras captured the former Argentina star holding aloft Lionel Messi’s match jersey before planting a kiss on it.
Furthermore, Maradona displayed another shirt with words that simply translate as "I love you, but I'm a mess".
Diego Maradona in happy mood before the commencement of hostilities between Argentina and Croatia Photo Credit: Getty Images
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Interestingly, the game did not turnout in Maradona and Argentina's favour, but it remains a wonderful football match that will be talked about for a long time.
At the last count, the result is now Argentina's heaviest defeat in the first-round group stage of a World Cup match in 60 years after losing 6-1 to Czechoslovakia in 1958.
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And the South American giants have also failed to win either of their two opening group fixtures for the first time since 1974.
Already, there are speculation that the Barcelona playmaker Messi maybe ending his international career with the Albiceleste.
Messi, clocks 31 on Sunday, but has never shared the joy of winning a major title with South American nation.
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“He is our captain, he leads the team and we quite simply couldn’t pass to him,” Argentina coach Jorge Sampaoli noted.
“We work to give Leo the ball, but the opponent also works hard to prevent him from getting the ball.”
Argentina’s next fixture at the ongoing 2018 Fifa World Cup in Russia comes up on June 26, when they face Nigeria in their last Group D match at Krestovsky Stadium, Saint Petersburg.
Meanwhile, NAIJ.com previously had reported that Croatia have qualified for the round of 16 after beating Argentina 3-0 in their second Group D game on Thursday, June 21.
Argentina went into this game with the hope of them getting a win after drawing their first match against Iceland, but they were embarrassed by Croatia who were superb form during the tie.
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Source: Naija.ng
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