Well friends, the time to say goodbye has arrived.

Let me begin by saying that I've enjoyed every day that I've spent on the blog talking about the national team & Argentine football with you all.

My decision to no longer blog was not a rushed decision or have anything to do with Argentina's latest world cup failure, as humilliating as it was.

I'm looking forward to reading what those that have been unleashing praise on Maradona have to say today.

Poor Messi. Poor Messi.

Only an incompetent manager can make the best player in the world irrelevant.

Maradona LO QUEMO a Messi.

Argentina made it as far as the quarterfinals because it had goal scoring power but it did not have any play build up.

Share your thoughts on today's game.

Maradona has not confirmed the starting eleven for tomorrow's big quarterfinals matchup against Germany but according to Argentine media reports and from what was seen in yesterday's training session, the starting lineup against Germany will be:

GK Romero
D Otamendi
D Demichelis
D Burdisso
D Heinze
M Maxi Rodriguez
M Mascherano
M Di Maria
F Tevez
F Messi
F Higuain

I don't like it.

Martin Demichelis speaking to the media today.

Messi did not participate in today's training session because he reportedly has a fever.