Rio de Janeiro - Brazilian football legend Pele spiced up Thursday his tense relationship with Argentina national coach Diego Maradona, while also welcoming the fact that the Argentine team has qualified for the 2010 World Cup. In an interview with Brazilian television network Globo, Pele said that Argentina's last-minute qualification for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa - with a 1-0 win in Uruguay late Wednesday - is a "lesson" for Maradona.
"I think it was good for Maradona that Argentina won. He suffered a bit, but that was good for him to learn, because he is only getting started," he said.
Pele stressed that he is happy that Brazil's arch-rival Argentina will be in South Africa 2010.
"I always say that I prefer to beat Argentina in the World Cup. It's more tasty. We who love football know that Argentina should not miss the World Cup," Pele said.
