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Maradona: Argentina bosses betrayed me

The Argentine Football Association (AFA) decided not to renew Maradona's contract following the team's 4-0 drubbing by Germany in the World Cup quarter-finals.

In his first public comments since the defeat, Maradona took aim at AFA President Julio Grondona and the technical director of national teams, Carlos Bilardo.

"Grondona lied to me, Bilardo betrayed me," a sombre Maradona told a news conference at a restaurant, reading from a prepared statement.

"Grondona told me in the changing room after we were eliminated in South Africa... that he was very pleased with the work I'd done and he wanted me to stay on," he said. "When we were in mourning, Bilardo worked in the shadows to kick me out."

After convincing wins in their opening World Cup games, Argentina became one of the tournament's favourites, but Maradona's dreams of lifting football's most-coveted prize as coach were dashed by the Germans.

"They called me to put out a fire and then when I did, this happens," he said, adding that he had taken over the team during a time of crisis and had been dropped before being able to finish the job.

"He knows it's impossible for me to continue without my coaching staff, Maradona said. "I defend everyone from the masseuse to the assistant because I have values and I'm not going to change."

"I've given my all for the Argentine soccer shirt... to wear this shirt again... And I'm convinced that the players felt this again ... maybe that was my job."

Grondona said he had asked Maradona to stay, but said changes had to be made among the coach's staff team.

"I can't see how there was a betrayal of any kind," Grondona told reporters.

"Perhaps he sees betrayal as trying to make things better. ... the only thing I was looking for was to make a change, not to get rid of Maradona."

President Cristina Fernandez, who has backed Maradona's tenure since the World Cup exit, said she was sad he had been dropped.

"He took over the national team when it was a hot potato and lots of people predicted we wouldn't even qualify for South Africa," Fernandez said at the presidential palace.

"I'm really sad about Diego, I think the team put on a very dignified performance," she said. "I don't know what happened