Argentina’s maverick” coach Diego Maradona effortlessly continued a war of words with his team’s German opponents in tomorrow afternoon’s quarter-final in Cape Town.

German midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger accused Argentina of being “disrespectful” to referees, while their captain, Philipp Lahm, added “impulsive and temperamental” to the charge sheet.

In response during a television interview, Maradona said, in a mock German accent: “What’s the matter with you, Schweinsteiger, are you nervous?”

 

However, Maradona added, more seriously: “We don’t have time to think about Schweinsteiger.”

Maradona also dismissed talk that Argentina would revert to the more defensive formation which saw them beat Germany 1-0 in a March friendly in Munich, insisting:

“It would be a sin to change back with the players we have. We are coming out to attack them and play in their faces.”

The spat has diverted attention from a more pertinent worry for Argentina. Talisman Lionel Messi missed training 48 hours before the World Cup quarter-final with what has been varyingly described as a “head cold” and a “fever.”

The official word from the Argentine camp is that Messi will be fully fit for the Germany match. But Maradona has ensured that at least the speculation about Messi is not “feverish.”