Maradona - not impressed (Allsport)

Diego Maradona has dismissed Brazil as "a team of individuals", wrote off Ronaldo as "uncoordinated", and called Rudi Voller's losing World Cup finalists the worst Germany he has ever seen.

The Argentinian, whose drug habit drove him out of football and into rehab, was speaking in Tokyo after the World Cup final.

He was originally banned from entering Japan due to his criminal record, but Japanese authorities were persuaded to give him entry rights midway through the tournament.

"It was a technically mediocre championship," argued Maradona.

"I have played against very powerful German teams and the one in this World Cup is the worst I have seen.

"Brazil, for their part, they were a bunch of individuals.

"Brazil were lucky to have a great goalkeeper like Marcos and a great striker like Ronaldo, but most of all, two of the best players of the tournament, Rivaldo and Roberto Carlos.

"If they ask me if it was fair for Brazil to win, I can say that they have Ronaldo and that he was injured.

"I hope he recovers well and can show us like he did in the past, but I think now he is uncoordinated - you could see in in the first half when he had a one-on-one with Oliver Kahn."

Maradona was at least encouraged that the eight-goal top-scorer escaped unscathed from the tournament following knee injuries which have blighted his career.

"The knee did not give, I hope he recovers for the good of Brazil and for those who love football," said the 41-year-old.

"We have to give him the prize for his heart, for having played but not as the best technically because he couldn't due to his hurt knee.

"But I would be a liar to name him the best player of the tournament."

The 1986 World Cup winner even had a blast at minnows Senegal who reached the quarter-finals at their debut finals.

"If Senegal had played more football instead of hitting people, they would have gone very far," he said. "Football is for men, but you don't have to break the opponent's leg."

Opinion has been long divided as to whether Maradona or Pele is the best player in history, and there is no love lost between the pair.

Maradona recently won a FIFA internet vote to determine the top player, and he has accused Pele of blocking his application to enter Japan.

"He is a great politician. I have to confirm something which they told me, that he was lobbying so that I would not come to Japan," he said.

"I feel sorry for Pele. I can say that he is good, great, but the people did not give it to him - the people are mine."

His anger at being banned from the World Cup was evident as he spoke bitterly of the Japanese authorities.

"I am part of football history - a small part but part of it - and for something that I considered stupid, I was not allowed to go into Japan," he continued.