The Maradona experiment in Argentina is over.
One of the world's best-ever players demonstrated with all eyes on him in this summer's World Cup that a great player isn't always going to be a great manager (more often than not it's the opposite, actually).
The Albicelestes entered the World Cup with modest expectations worldwide after a disappointing qualifying campaign and some 'questionable' exclusions to the roster Maradona offered up by the June 1 squad deadline.
But a funny thing happened en route to the quarterfinals -- Argentina dominated. Once tempered hopes began to rise higher and higher with each masterful set-up by Lionel Messi, each well-taken goal by Gonzalo Higuain and each powerful distance shot by Carlos Tevez.
Argentina looked unstoppable until they met the precocious and determined Germans, where they fell to a dismal 4-0 defeat and crashed out.
And no one suffered more than Maradona himself.
If he could have traded in his short shorts from 1986, thrown on a modern kit and jumped into the fray, he would have -- without hesitation. His passion and exuberance for the game brought back memories of a not so distant time when his every move on the pitch was dissected and gawked at from afar.
Nothing really changed in 2010, except for the fact that all the analysis was about his decisions off the field, and how his his players peformed under his command.
Historically speaking, the 2010 World Cup was a dull affair on the pitch with defensive posturing the order of the day. The world is watching, so if you're going to lose, don't lose badly.
The exception to the rule? Diego Maradona.
His lineups were predicated on an attacking philosophy. His press conferences were a circus that one couldn't turn away from. His celebrations on the sideline were unmatched. His love for his players was unconditional, and he was always the one taking the heat to keep it off of them.
At the end of the day, few can argue with his dismissal based on the facts. But football isn't always that black and white. Or is it?
Coaches are two things -- tactical directors and motivators. It's obvious after Maradona's lineup against Germany that he was lacking in the former (Argentina had no midfield presence whatsoever to counter one of Germany's greatest strengths), but there was no greater motivator in South Africa than the Hand of God himself, and for that, his release is something of a downer.
No doubt whoever replaces him on a permanent basis will be an astute tactician with all the proper words to say to the press (youth team manager Sergio Batista was appointed interim coach). He'll be the right man to right the ship that Maradona supposedly left listing.
And we'll all be the more bored because of it.
I had as many doubts as anyone about Maradona's ability to lead Argentina to the World Cup title, but in a tournament short on Zidane-esque moments, Diego led the way.
He will always be a legend in Argentina -- an untouchable enigma who can do no wrong after all the joy and national pride he provided just a quarter of a century ago, but the world of football is a much less interesting place with him out of the spotlight.
Robert Burns is the senior editor of FoxSoccer.com.
