"You reporters need to hit us more."

This funny image is taken from the Diario Ole's cover today. Maradona was presented to the press and gave his first list of players ahead of Argentina's friendly against Scotland. During the press conference, the new technical director, Carlos Bilardo, who was in charge of Argentina when they won the World Cup in 1986, said the press has been "too light" with the national team. Bilardo claimed that the press had not been critical enough, and he welcomed the press to really hammer away at the team.

Argentina has not been stellar in their last 4 qualifying games, and it does seem as if the players are complacent. What Bilardo is arguing is that if the press really goes on the attack, then the team is forced to defend itself, and then develop that hard shell a true champion requires. Bilardo basically is trying to replicate the environment that his Argentina squad lived through from the day he took over the coaching duties in 1983. The majority of the press, and the fans, were extremely critical of Bilardo, especially in the wake of a poor performance in Spain 82 where Argentina were the defending world champions. Bilardo took over in that nasty climate, and three years later there were banners hanging in the Azteca during that memorable final that read "Please Forgive Us Bilardo".

It's an unusual theory, but Bilardo has spent the better part of the past 10 years being on the other side of the microfones working for TyC. I bet he didn't feel that way back in 1983, but he probably sees the value in having a very critical press.

What I find particularly interesting is that I've heard this argument from some people here in the United States, where the national team has failed to take the next step at the World Cup. Are players complacent? Do they live in a bubble here where the press doesn't have the cojones to really go after them? Would that really make the difference?

In Argentina I'm sure the press will kindly oblige Mr. Bilardo and really go after them. Whether or not Bilardo gets his desired results is up to debate.