Why didn’t Riquelme participate in 10 World Cups?

On March 10, 2009, Argentina midfielder Riquelme announced his retirement from the national team, citing disagreements with Maradona. In an interview with Argentina's "Canal13", Riquelme said: "My national team career is over, and I will watch the 2010 World Cup in front of the TV." Talking about the reason for withdrawing from the national team, he said: "Me and Argentina Ladona's ideas are different and our outlook on life is different. He became the national team coach, but it pains me not to quit the national team. I hope they can succeed."

Argentina head coach Maradona announced the new national team roster to prepare for the two World Cup qualifiers on March 28 and April 1. Riquelme, who has announced his retirement from the national team, is not on the list. He was replaced by Daniele Montenegro from Independiente, which meant that a week-long war of words ended in a breakup between the two talents. Riquelme, Argentina's most talented midfielder since Maradona retired, officially called time on his career.

What set off the fuse was Lao Ma’s criticism of Riquelme in a TV interview on March 5: “If he is always lagging behind and only knows how to receive the ball from the defender, or Riquelme just hanging around Gago and Mascherano in the midfield is of no use to me. I need Riquelme to participate more in the offense." Finally, he added, "If you quit the national team, don't come back."

On the 10th, Riquelme counterattacked and announced his withdrawal from the Argentina team; "I have my principles, but it is obvious that these principles are not this coach's. I It would have been great to wear the blue and white jersey, but due to differences in philosophy we could not work together. For me, missing out on the 2010 World Cup was a huge humiliation and I wish the team all the best. "

Lao Ma was very unhappy when Riquelme defeated him. At midnight that day, he made a strong statement: "I originally had Riquelme in my qualifying list, but now I have included him." His name was completely erased! To me, he made a wrong decision and did not back down." On the evening of the 11th, Lao Ma's mood eased a lot and he talked about Riquelme again. Expressing his willingness to leave a door open for him, "If he tells me 'I was wrong', then I will be very happy. The national team is neither Maradona's nor Riquelme's."

In the evening of the same day, Lao Ma was interviewed by "Ole" again. This time he pointed the finger at Riquelme's agent Franci, "Riquelme's press conference was obviously carefully planned. Someone was planning behind it to instill these things into Riquelme, and those words were not Riquelme’s own words. I know Franchi.”

However, these overtures did not receive a positive response from Riquelme, "I am very tired, I hope to live in peace, fate is really strange, after the incredible 2008 , but it turned out like this in 2009."

This is the second time Riquelme has announced his withdrawal from the Argentina national team. In September 2006, he left the national team coached by Brazile after the World Cup in Germany because his mother could not stand the harsh criticism of him in the media. But in the 2007 Copa America, he returned to the national team and became the core of the Argentine midfielder during the Brazile era.

Riquelme's withdrawal from the Argentina team and his break with Maradona caused a strong shock in the Argentine football world, but this is only in terms of the importance of the people involved in the incident itself. People did not regret the exit of this artistic master.

Break! Due to three confrontations

The break between Maradona and Riquelme went through three rounds of verbal confrontations. It is worth noting that these confrontations were conducted through TV screens, and the two did not even interact. Communicate directly face to face.

"Last month I heard the news on the radio that I would not be selected for the friendly match against France," Riquelme said. There is usually no communication between him and Maradona.

Maradona said unjustly that he called Riquelme 5 times, but the other party refused to answer. "I called him 5 times, but he didn't answer. In the end, I also left him a text message, but he didn't reply to me. I called Demichelis in Germany and he got back to me within 5 minutes, but I didn't get Riquelme's call until 12 noon. , I don’t know what he is thinking!”

Lao Ma said that in order to form a team for the two rounds of World Cup qualifying matches on March 28 and April 1, he called the players one by one. , this is his habit, this kind of communication is very necessary, just like when he visited European clubs for home visits at the beginning of taking office, he will explain his ideas clearly to the players and listen carefully to their opinions. If there was no intention to call Riquelme into the team, he would not make a call.

Later, Maradona put forward requirements for Riquelme in terms of position and playing style in a TV interview, "If Riquelme is in good physical condition, he will be important to me. It's still useful. My request for Riquelme is that he needs to decide the game in the last 20 meters, which requires him to contact Messi, Aguero and Tevez more. "Unexpectedly, it annoyed Rique. Ermei.