La Paz - Former world top scorer Joaquin Botero was the hat- trick hero for Bolivia as they stunned Argentina 6-1 Wednesday in the South American World Cup qualifiers.
"Bolivia was better than us and gave us a thrashing that would have seemed impossible if we had thought about it before the game," Argentina coach Diego Maradona said. "They did well to beat us, and we have to start again. Bolivia has been better than us in every corner of the pitch."
La Paz - Argentina coach Diego Maradona admitted Wednesday that his men were overpowered in every aspect of the game they lost 6-1 to Bolivia in La Paz, in a phenomenon that he described as "inexplicable."
"The whole of Bolivia played very well," he admitted. "They played good football."
As for his own men, Maradona was critical and said they did nothing of what they had planned ahead of the match.
"Argentina surprised me. I was surprised by the fact that they created so many chances," he said.
Quito - Brazil seemed lucky Sunday to be getting a win against Ecuador, but its rival equalized just one minute before the end of the game at high altitude in Quito, in the South American qualifiers towards the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
Julio Baptista put Brazil ahead in the score in the 72nd minute. He had come into the pitch for a lacklustre Ronaldinho just a minute earlier, and his long-range effort hit the base of the near post before bouncing on the back of the Ecuadorian keeper and finding the net.
Buenos Aires - Argentina coach Diego Maradona on Saturday praised Lionel Messi for his performance in the 4-0 win over Venezuela in Buenos Aires.
"Seeing Messi like this everyday is a pleasure. We should all leave the stadium, pay for another ticket and go in again," Maradona said.
Messi - who for the first time wore the number 10 Argentina jersey that was once worn by Maradona himself - was the man of the match in the resounding win. The Barcelona striker scored a goal and was decisively involved in two others.
Santiago - 
La Paz - Former world top scorer Joaquin Botero was the hat- trick hero for Bolivia as they stunned Argentina 6-1 Wednesday in the South American World Cup qualifiers.
La Paz - Argentina coach Diego Maradona admitted Wednesday that his men were overpowered in every aspect of the game they lost 6-1 to Bolivia in La Paz, in a phenomenon that he described as "inexplicable."
La Paz - Former world top scorer Joaquin Botero was the hat- trick hero f
Quito - Brazil seemed lucky Sunday to be getting a win against Ecuador, but its rival equalized just one minute before the end of the game at high altitude in Quito, in the South American qualifiers towards the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
Buenos Aires - Argentina coach Diego Maradona on Saturday praised Lionel Messi for his performance in the 4-0 win over Venezuela in Buenos Aires.
