Maradona: Riquelme is key

Argentina coach Diego Maradona has revealed he will work with Juan Roman Riquelme in a bid to improve their fortunes.

Maradona's side are currently third in the South American 2010 World Cup qualification standings having laboured for much of the campaign so far.

Argentina face Venezuela and Bolivia in late March and early April with Maradona, who replaced Alfio Basile earlier this season and wants to restore Boca Juniors star Riquelme to a position of influence.

Maradona also reiterated his captain, Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano, will be the only player guaranteed a place.

"The national squad is, like I said, Mascherano and 10 others.

"The number 10 (playmaker) role will be given to someone who can take the pressure of the team on his back.

"I have to talk with Roman. I want him in the last third.

"It's not useful for anybody if he has to get back to collect the ball from (defender) Martin Demichelis.

"He could be useful, but only if he is faster. This could be his great chance and he has to bear that in mind."

Maradona believes the national team had gone stale under Basile.

"The squad was confused and deflated," he said.

"It seemed that they came, played and that was all. But the national team is more than that.

"This shirt is history, we have to bloody ourselves and put our heads in the way to defend it."

The new boss has a selection issue to handle after goalkeeper Sergio Romero broke his hand punching a wall in frustration following a defeat suffered by his club, AZ Alkmaar.

Romero, 22, is second choice behind Lazio's Juan Pablo Carrizo but Maradona must now find a replacement.

"It is sad. I was hoping to have him, he is my second goalkeeper but I have been notified that he has had surgery," Maradona told TyC Sports television network.