Geneva, June 14: Argentina football legend Diego Maradona said in a Swiss newspaper on Thursday that he felt guilty and heart-broken after his national side’s shock exit from the World Cup. Maradona, who was snapped up by the Swiss daily Blick as a World Cup columnist, said he watched the game at home in Cuba, although he finally received a late visa to travel to Japan on Tuesday.

He admitted Sweden played well but added: “Sweden will not be world champions. That would be laughable”. “Players like Batistuta wanted me there,” Maradona said. “It breaks my heart when I see Batistuta, Veron and Aimar crying. I do accuse myself. Yes, I am also guilty for the defeat.

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During the match against Sweden I always had the same thought: Why didn’t you fly to Japan to support,” he added.

Maradona insisted that he wanted to go to Japan not to hand out advice but as a fan. Nonetheless he rounded on “mistakes” by Argentine coach Marcelo Bielsa, saying he would have played Gabriel Batistuta alongside Hernan Crespo up front. Bureau Report