Maradona tells Argentina to win Copa or not to return home

Argentina football legend Diego Maradona believes the national team will win the Copa America Centenario, and should not return home if they fail.

Sports Deskbdnews24.com
Published : 24 June 2016, 06:31 PM
Updated : 24 June 2016, 06:31 PM

Having waltzed into the final after netting 18 goals in five games against just two conceded, La Albiceleste face Chile in the New Jersey final - who they lost to in a penalty shootout in last year's final in their opponents' backyard.

Gerardo Martino's men beat the United States 4-0 in the semi-final, where their captain Lionel Messi (55) became the leading goalscorer for his country by overtaking Gabriel Batistuta (54).

The strike in the semi-final also took the talismanic forward's goal tally to 38 as captain – four more than what Maradona had scored when he led Argentina.

"Of course, I think we'll win," ESPNFC quoted Maradona, who led Argentina to World Cup glory in 1986, as saying.

But Maradona warned Messi and his men, "But if you don't win, don't come back."

The way things stand at the 100-year celebratory edition of the Copa America, Argentina are primed to seal their major international title since 1993.