Maradona says he would coach Argentina again for free

Diego Maradona has hinted he would coach Argentina again for free if he was asked back by the Argentina Football Association [AFA], after the team were eliminated in the World Cup last 16.

The 57-year-old, who was a very visible cheerleader for the team in Russia, coached Argentina in 2010 where they impressed until being beaten 4-0 by Germany in the quarter-finals.

He left the role after disagreements with AFA but now says he wants to help them put the team back on top.

Speaking to South American television station Telesur late Monday, he was asked if he would "lend a hand" if AFA called once more.

He said: "Yes and I would do it for free. I would ask for nothing in return."

Lamenting the current state of the Argentina side, Maradona said: "It makes me feel bad to see all that we built with so much effort, destroyed so easily."

Maradona also tipped Argentina's great rivals to finish up as champions in Russia.

He told Telesur: "Brazil look like a very solid team. They look on their way to the title."