January 30, 2013 at 5:54 p.m.
Cabrera: I never doubted Argentina would qualify
Cabrera: I never doubted Argentina would qualify
The South American squad scraped in on the back of a gut-wrenching 1-0 win against Uruguay.
Many had already written off Diego Maradona's team. But not Cabrera, who is in Bermuda for the PGA Grand Slam of Golf at Port Royal.
He said: "I never doubted they would qualify and obviously I'm very happy Argentina finally made it.
"Argentina have a great team and I am sure they will have great chances in the World Cup."
The two-time World Cup champions' path to the 2010 tournament in South Africa was anything but smooth sailing.
They were hammered 6-1 by Bolivia and suffered 1-0 and 3-1 losses to Paraguay and archrivals Brazil.
But having seen Argentina finally fulfill their dream of qualifying, Cabrera now expects bigger and better things from Maradona's men.
He said: "Hopefully things work out for Argentina in the World Cup. They have done well in the tournament before - who knows what can happen this time around?"
In the aftermath of last week's hard-fought win over Uruguay, Argentina coach Maradona - who guided the South Americans to World Cup glory in 2006 in Mexico - hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons.
The man with the infamous 'hand of God' lashed out at reporters and launched into a verbal tirade laced with expletives on live TV, prompting FIFA to launch a probe into his conduct.
FIFA president Sepp Blatter said: "The reports we have received so far leave us no other alternative but to ask the disciplinary committee of FIFA to open a case against the coach Diego Armando Maradona.
"As the president of FIFA, it is my duty and my obligation to (refer) it to the disciplinary committee."
Cabrera, a two-time PGA Major winner who has pocketed $17 million in earnings, claims Maradona is still growing into his role as national coach.
He said: "Maradona is at the beginning of his coaching career and he's definitely not the best. I think he still has to work at his coaching.
"But he was certainly a great player who did many wonderful things for Argentina football."
Cabrera would not comment on Maradona's outburst, which could result in a FIFA ban or fine.
But he said: "Maradona is now in a position where he is pretty much exposed as coach of Argentina's team, so you can expect a lot of criticism from a lot of different people just for that fact."
Turning his focus to golf, Cabrera revealed he is delighted to be back in Bermuda, where he won the inaugural PGA Grand Slam of Golf at Mid Ocean Club in 2007 in a dramatic play-off with Ireland's Padraig Harrington.
He added: "Bermuda is a very friendly place and the people here are very warm.
"I feel very comfortable with my swing and also comfortable with myself.
"I have a lot of confidence coming into the tournament and I'm hoping I can play as well as I can.
"It's a very short tournament and so anything can happen over the two days. Hopefully everything will be okay."
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