Maradona sacked by Al-Wasl

Diego Maradona has been sacked as manager of United Arab Emirates club Al-Wasl.



The legendary Argentinian's position had been in doubt since last month when the club's entire board resigned following a trophyless season.



Maradona was appointed boss in May last year but after only managing eighth place in the Pro-League in his first season in charge he has been sacked after meeting the new board on Tuesday.



"Following a meeting held by the board of directors of Al Wasl Football Company held today [Tuesday], to evaluate the technical staff of Al Wasl Football Team under the leadership of coach Diego Maradona, it was decided to terminate the services of coach Diego Maradona and his technical staff," a statement from the club said.



Maradona still had a year to run on his contract with the ambitious Dubai-based club.



The 51-year-old had been brought in to help boost the club's profile, both on and off the pitch, but in addition to a disappointing league campaign they crashed out of the President's Cup and Emirates Cup at the quarter-final stage.

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Maradona backs Germany for glory

Diego Maradona believes Germany can finally triumph over Italy when the two sides meet on Thursday in the Euro 2012 semi-finals.



Italy have had the upper hand in recent encounters against the Germans, most memorably beating them on their own patch in Dortmund at the 2006 World Cup.



Despite this, Maradona believes Germany's new generation of young goalscoring midfielders will allow them to beat their old rivals - and is of the opinion that they are favourites to win the tournament.



"Germany's young superstars (Mesut) Oezil, (Sami) Khedira and (Thomas) Mueller have matured over these years and it shows," Maradona wrote in The Times of India.



"Their young midfield and ease of scoring make them the favourites to win the tournament, although they must face their bete noir Italy in the semi-finals.



"If they ever have a chance to change their luck versus the Azzurri, this is it.



"(But) Germany will do well not to underestimate them."



While tipping Germany to make the final in Kiev, he also praised Italy coach Cesare Prandelli for getting an Italy team on their knees to the semi-finals.



"Very few people expected anything of Italy in this Euro championship," he said.



"The (then) defending world champions were humiliated in South Africa. Coach Prandelli inherited a disjointed national team ferociously criticised by 60 million demanding fans."

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