Argentina counting on "The Hand of God"

I was a little surprise when I heard from the news that Diego "the hand of God" Maradona is going to become Argentina's national team coach. Though Maradona is one of the best player of all time, credential wise, I certainly do not see him as a worthy coach. Certainly, for a big footballing nation like Argentina, there are some other candidates with better credential. But I can see where this appointment comes in.

Argentina, despite boasting some of the best talents in the world in recent years, had failed to win any significant honours, with only the Olympic Football Gold Medal to show. In the past two edition of the World Cup, they didn't progress to the latter stages of the competition, and were even knocked out in the 1st round in Korea-Japan 2002. In Copa America, they again failed to win the competition, losing to a understrength, junior Brazil team in the final.

Something is not right, something is amiss that stopped them from winning honors, despite having a team filled with talents. Perhaps, that something, they now reckoned, is inspiration and the "magic touch". And Maradona certainly fit this criteria. He is the inspiration, and almost single-handedly lead Argentina to World Cup victory, with his "hand of god" knocked England off the competition they eventually win.

Now, their Football Association is hoping that Maradona can reproduced this midas touch, inspiring and leading the national team to the top of the world again. The effect already can be seen. Key players, and also the whole nation is feeling excited about Maradona being the national team coach. If he can emulate the great Franz Beckenbaur's achievements, he can certainly have his name sealed in the history of football, and had all his negative issue swept aside.

Welcome to the fashion capital, David!

Before David Beckham decided to move to the USA, I was so convinced that Milan will be his next destination to continue his football, being a fashion capital that will surely match his celebrity status. But I guess, the language barrier and the attraction of being an icon in the USA changed his mind.

He has surely make his mark in the MLS, and more specifically, LA Galaxy, though not fully on the field. Today, most football fans will know there is a team called LA Galaxy, and we can see people wearing a LA Galaxy jersey, though the only player in the team that they know is David Beckham.

Now, Beckham is joining AC Milan for a short-term loan to keep himself fit for the national team. Well, if he can suit to the Milan play, he should just join Milan permanently, as Carlo Ancelotti, the Milan coach, had publicly declared that he would like to sign him permanently.

His job in LA Galaxy, and MLS is done. He had increase the profile of his team, and the league to a certain extent. He bucked the trend by joining MLS at 31, and not at the end of the career (35-36?). So what more he can contribute to the LA Galaxy or MLS? The most is to keep the ticket sales, and keep on to be an icon in the MLS. LA Galaxy will not rise to become the champions because of one Beckham, as football, unlike some other sports, is a team game, and one superstar wouldn't win a team the championship.

So is now the time for him to leave LA Galaxy? Certainly, if he is to continue playing for England, and ready to take on the challenge of fighting for a place in a midfield full of talents. Certainly displacing the likes of Kaka, Pirlo, Seedorf, Gattuso, Ambrosini, Flamini and Emerson will not be an easy task, and he risk sitting on the bench for the rest of his career. But for a 3-month loan, certainly there will be no risk, and Milan will welcome him with an open arms, as they continue their fight to the top of the Serie A.

And for all football fans, once again we might get to see his trademark free kick during the match, and not from the news.