Maradona poised to have last laugh on world stage

Whether it be winning the World Cup almost single-handedly, being banned for cocaine abuse or firing an air-rifle at reporters, one accusation that can never be made about this particular son of Buenos Aires is that life has been predictable.

Even the time Leeds United, then of the Second Division, claimed to have launched a bid to bring the Argentinian to Elland Road in 1987 could not be dismissed out of hand due to the very fact that no one ever really knew what he was going to do next.

This ability to shock has not abated, either, as his outspoken comments since taking charge of the national team have proved.

Nothing, however, will be quite as unexpected as a team managed by the mercurial Argentinian lifting the World Cup.

But, with eight days of the 2010 finals remaining, that is exactly what could happen as Maradona's side prepare to face Germany in the quarter-finals.

Getting past the Germans will, of course, not be easy. But having triumphed 1-0 in Berlin as recently as the Spring, Argentina go into the game in Cape Town full of confidence.

Not only was the manner of that March 3 victory much more convincing than the scoreline suggests, but since arriving in South Africa they have looked every inch a side capable of scooping the big prize.

After claiming a maximum nine-point haul to coast through Group B, Argentina were such comfortable winners over Mexico in the second round that the one saving grace of England's own exit was it spared us likely further humiliation at the hands of Maradona.

Watching Maradona's side has been one of the unexpected pleasures of the 2010 World Cup, though even now it is difficult to work out exactly just where it has all gone so right under a manager who not so long ago seemed doomed to failure.

Certainly, a year ago, he was in danger of turning his beloved Argentina into a laughing stock. Appointed in 2008, his reign had been more messy than Messi with bizarre selection choices – more than 100 players appeared during his first 18 months in the role – leaving the national team in disarray.

Three straight defeats had left Argentina sitting outside the four places that would guarantee qualification and in real danger of El Diego becoming only the second manager to fail to steer them to a World Cup finals.

Maradona had seemed a bizarre choice from the start. Two brief stints in charge of club sides had brought just three wins in 23 games, a record that hardly suggested Maradona was capable of bridging the divide between player and manager.

This feeling was reinforced only two games into his reign when Bolivia, who were destined to finish second bottom of the South American qualifying group, inflicted a 6-1 defeat on his team.

In fact, only a '93rd-minute' winner against Peru kept Argentina in the hunt going into the final qualfier against Uruguay, a game they had to win in Montevideo to seal fourth place – a feat achieved through another late goal, substitute Mario Bolatti breaking the deadlock on 84 minutes.

Argentina were through by the skin of their teeth, though anyone watching Maradona's extraordinary post-match press conference that night would not have known it.

After a vile bit of abuse aimed at his critics he then revealed that his daughters had been keeping a record of those who had "treated me like ****", and proclaimed: "We will go to South Africa through the front gate."

For the foul-mouthed comments, he got a two-month ban from FIFA, while the suggestion Argentina were striding proudly towards the finals brought bemused laughter from those expecting only carnage when the Argentinians finally did reach South Africa.

Nine months on from that boast, however, and it is Maradona who is laughing.

In a World Cup that is in danger of being remembered most for a dodgy ball, vuvuzelas and a couple of shocking refereeing decisions, Argentina and their manager have brought entertainment and colour to proceedings.

Prowling the touchline in a designer suit that looks ever so slightly like it is a size too big, El Diego has kicked every ball, contested every decision and celebrated every goal.

Off the field, he has slammed Pele – the Brazilian legend being told to "go back to the museum" – and Michel Platini, while this week he even adopted a German accent to ridicule Bastian Schweinsteiger and his accusation that Argentina are "provocative".

All very entertaining, especially in a tournament where personality – both on the field and in the dugout – has appeared repressed.

It is on the field, however, where Maradona has done us all the biggest favour. The football may not have been quite of the free-flowing style adopted four years ago by Jose Pekerman in Germany, when they were knocked out by the hosts in an ill-tempered quarter-final that ended with both sides squaring up to each other at the final whistle.

But Argentina's approach has still been pleasing on the eye with the undoubted talents of Lionel Messi, Carlos Tevez and Gonzalo Higuain all given the chance to shine.

Maradona has promised not to compromise those attacking instincts against the Germans, declaring rather melodramatically that "it would be a sin".

As, surely, would any true football fan not opting to sit in front of the television at 3pm today as Maradona looks to take another step towards a feat that seemed impossible just a few weeks ago – joining Franz Beckenbauer in winning the World Cup as both a captain and a manager.