Diego Maradona says Argentina are over-reliant on Lionel Messi and must improve dramatically if they are to beat Belgium in the World Cup quarter-finals.
Maradona, Argentina's coach in the last World Cup when they went out in the last eight, gave a withering assessment of the team's performance so far in Brazil.
"We still haven't got started," Maradona, a World Cup winner with his country in 1986, told Venezuelan TV. "They need to get it into their heads that we can't be 'Sporting Messi'.
"Maybe he can score a great goal, but if it doesn't come off for the kid, we can't jump on him tomorrow as if he's guilty of the Argentine disaster."
Argentina struggled in their last-16 match with Switzerland, winning 1-0 in extra time, and Maradona was not impressed.
"Man-for-man, and collectively, Argentina are better. They (the Swiss) may make good watches but they have few footballers.
"The kid (Messi) is very alone... the team doesn't have a change of rhythm, movements in its strikers.
"I feel something very strong inside, like bitterness, rage, frustration, because Argentina can play much, much better...the coach has to impose this."
And when asked what would happen if they do not improve against Belgium, he replied: "We're in trouble."
