Maradona may resign as Argentina coach

Embattled Argentina coach Diego Maradona said Tuesday he may consider resigning after the final two World Cup qualifying matches in the coming week against Peru and Uruguay.

Argentina is in danger of missing out on next year's World Cup in South Africa, and most of the blame has been placed on Maradona who has failed to mold a team out of some of the world's best players including Barcelona star Lionel Messi and Manchester City striker Carlos Tevez, without forgetting the likes of Mascherano and Aguero.

"I'm going to see if I continue," Maradona said after Tuesday's training session to prepare for Saturday's home game with Peru and a match Oct. 14 at Uruguay. Maradona suggested he might leave, even if Argentina reaches the 32-team tournament in South Africa.

Maradona said he planned to talk with Julio Grondona, the head of the Argentine federation and the person responsible for hiring him despite the fact he had little coaching experience.

"My loyalty is to the guys," Maradona said. "I have everything in the computer to speak and say if I will continue under my terms or not."

Argentina is No. 5 in the South American qualifying standings with the top four teams earning an automatic berth for the World Cup. The No. 5 team faces a playoff in November with the fourth-placed side from the North and Central American and Caribbean region for another berth.

Brazil and Paraguay have already clinched places at South Africa. Chile is next with 27 points followed by Ecuador (23) and Argentina (22). Uruguay and Venezuela have 21 and Colombia has 20.

Two-time champion Argentina has lost its last two qualifying matches : 3-1 at home to Brazil and 1-0 away to Paraguay.

Argentina last missed a World Cup in 1970, and the failure to qualify this time would be a blow to national pride. It could also be a disaster for sponsors and football's world governing body FIFA, which is counting on many of Argentina's high-profile stars to draw crowds and generate publicity.