GABRIEL HEINZE has urged Diego Maradona not to make a snap decision on his future as Argentina head coach.

In the immediate aftermath of Saturday afternoon’s 4-0 hammering by Germany in the World Cup quarter-final in Cape Town, Maradona indicated he was likely to end his reign.

After struggling to make it through qualifying, Argentina quickly established themselves as one of the favourites in South Africa, only to succumb to a rampant German side at the Green Point Stadium and send a nation into mourning.

But Heinze insists progress has been made and while Maradona has never been far from the headlines, the former Manchester United player insists his legendary coach must think carefully before stepping down.

“Now is not the time to make these decisions,” said Heinze.

“Surely it would be better to wait until the emotion has cooled. Maradona has worked very well and it would be great for him to continue.”

The World Cup is certainly going to be a less interesting place for the 49-year-old’s absence, even if his lack of tactical acumen was again missing on Saturday.

Keeping Inter Milan’s Champions League hero Diego Milito on the bench as his team subsided was inexplicable, whilst the total absence of Esteban Cambiasso from the Argentina squad came back to haunt them as Germany rampaged through the central midfield area he would surely have patrolled with more diligence.

“I will defend the selection and I will defend this group,” countered Heinze.

“We can take some positive things from our performances in South Africa.

“But as always, results are the most important thing and we screwed up.”

Even at 32, Heinze intends to carry on playing for his country.

Javier Mascherano was more coy, sending out mixed messages over his international future and failing to address the likelihood of him quitting Liverpool for pastures new.

For Maradona though, the pain seemed most acute of all.

The man who almost single-handedly took Argentina to the top of the world in 1986 and dragged them to the final in Italy four years later must now come to terms with his relative failure as a coach.

“We could not make our dream come true, but you always find a way back,” he said.

“The most important thing is that we played in the right style.

“I may eventually leave but I want these boys to go on.

“I want them to showcase what they are and showing what real Argentinean football is.

“There has been this idea that players who can become millionaires from all around the world were no longer interested in playing for Argentina.

“Well, that has been dispelled.

“The players came in from Europe, came together and gave their all.

“We didn’t get to where we wanted but I am sure whoever follows me will go on the same path.”

Maradona described Argentina’s humiliation at the hands of Germany as the toughest day of his life.

Striker Miroslav Klose scored twice and Thomas Muller and Arne Friedrich got one each as Germany went through to the World Cup semi-finals with a 4-0 victory.

It was Argentina’s worst World Cup defeat since they lost to Holland, also 4-0, in 1974.

It left Messi sobbing in the dressing room and Maradona hinting it could be the end of his colourful reign as Argentina coach.

“I may leave tomorrow,” was his initial reaction before tempering it with a more considered response.

He continued: “We will see what happens. I haven’t thought about leaving. I have to check that with my family and the players and there are things I have to consider. But as coach and player the type of football people like is this one

“Touch the ball, rotate, run, Argentina can’t play a different style.”

In complete contrast, German coach Joachim Low was delighted with another exciting and mature performance from the youngest German World Cup side in 76 years.

Low said: “My team showed great resolve, a great willingness to win and in doing so it was a true champion’s performance.

“There was a lot of ambition in the team to win this game and enormous speed.

“It was really impressive.”