"For those who didn't believe in this national team, for those who treated me like garbage (I say) today we are in the World Cup with all the honours, beating a team like Uruguay," Maradona said.
Argentina secured their berth at the 2010 finals in South Africa with a 1-0 away win over arch-rivals Uruguay at the Centenario, scene of the first World Cup final in 1930.
"I am black or white, I'll never be grey in my life," Maradona, who in Argentine eyes could no wrong as a player, told reporters as he criticised the media for inventing stories about differences within the national team staff.
He lost four matches and won four, including the last two against Peru and Uruguay that left Argentina in the last of South America's four automatic qualifying berths behind Brazil, Paraguay and Chile.
On Wednesday, he allowed a similar doubt to fill the air when, in answer to a question about whether he would be in charge of Argentina in South Africa, Maradona would only say: "I need to talk to (Argentine Football Association president Julio) Grondona."
"I want to thank the whole squad for having given me the privilege of taking Argentina to the World Cup and the people... who crossed the pond."
