GLASGOW, Scotland (AP) - Diego Maradona began life as Argentina coach Wednesday with a lackluster 1-0 win over Scotland.

At the Hampden Park stadium where Maradona scored the first goal of an international career that would make him his country’s greatest player, Argentina showed only flashes of the sort of skill that Maradona was famous for, not least for the move that led to Maxi Rodriguez’s eighth-minute goal.

“What made things happen is that I succeeded in making the players get over their fear of losing and that’s what we needed to do,” Maradona said. “We played for the people, the shirt and the light blue and white of Argentina.”

International Friendlies

Wed., Nov. 12

Mexico 2-1 Ecuador

Recap

Thu., Nov. 13

Japan 3-1 Syria

Recap

Wed., Nov. 19

International Wrap Matchday Photos

Serbia 6-1 Bulgaria

Recap

Ukraine 1-0 Norway

Recap

Rep. of Ireland 2-3 Poland

Recap

Romania 2-1 Georgia

Recap

Spain 3-0 Chile

Recap

Denmark 0-1 Wales

Recap

South Africa 3-2 Cameroon

Recap

Switzerland 1-0 Finland

Recap

Germany 1-2 England

Recap

France 0-0 Uruguay

Recap

Austria 2-4 Turkey

Recap

Greece 1-1 Italy

Recap

Scotland 0-1 Argentina

Recap

Netherlands 3-1 Sweden

Recap

Northern Ireland 0-2 Hungary

Cyprus 2-1 Belarus

Brazil vs. Portugal

Preview

Colombia vs. Nigeria

Euro 2008

But after a first 20 minutes dominated by Argentina, Scotland troubled the visitors and could have earned a draw if it had taken advantage of several defensive lapses.

James McFadden had two good chances to equalize in the first half and another early in the second, but Argentina could also have had more goals, with Javier Mascherano and Ezequiel Lavezzi both going close.

Aside from Maxi’s goal, there was little evidence of the entertaining performance Maradona promised would reward Scottish fans for their warm welcome. Still, the Atletico Madrid midfielder’s low shot past goalkeeper Allan McGregor at least rounded off a slick move and gave a hint of the passing game that could evolve under Maradona.

“There were lots of great performances out there,” said Maradona, showing the confidence that once characterized his game on the field. “There were lots of great performances to fill me with hope for the future. With these players we can be confident looking ahead.

“I can assure the Argentine people these players will give their lives for the shirt. I could go on and on. They will give everything and not leave anything on the field when they play for Argentina.”

The World Cup-winning captain’s debut as coach was largely a quiet one, with little of the frantic gesticulating and wild cheerleading that had characterized his time as a fan of the national team, but his side showed the competitive edge it will need to improve upon its current placing of fourth in South America’s World Cup qualifying group.

“I’m a very proud manager tonight,” Maradona said. “It was a great experience. The lads made me feel very relaxed throughout. We lost our way a little bit toward the end of the first half. We’ve been in a little bit of a mini crisis but the players have shown they are men and made me very proud.”

The home crowd, which greeted Maradona with cheers and sang an anti-English song in his honor, was riled by several tough challenges by Martin Demichelis and Javier Zanetti - both of whom may have been trying to compensate for mistakes that could have led to goals.

Although at least two of the six changes to the team that lost at Chile 1-0 on Oct. 15 were forced upon him by the absence of Lionel Messi and Sergio Aguero, Maradona’s selections have already suggested a ruthless streak as he searches to improve upon the poor recent performances under his predecessor, Alfio Basile.

“It’s difficult to compare different managers,” Mascherano said. “When you start to play with a new manager, the motivation is so different. Maybe it’s a little bit extra when you see Maradona on the bench.”

Maradona spent most of the match huddled on the bench, his diminutive figure exaggerated by the outsized coat insulating him from the cold Scottish night, and barely celebrated the first goal of his tenure. There were two brief forays to the touchline in the first half, apparently to instruct his defense, but he was so composed he did not even uncross his arms when Maxi slipped the ball past McGregor.

Int’l Friendlies

• International Friendlies, Nov. 19

His arms tight to his chest to keep out the cold, Maradona was uncharacteristically calm in his reaction to the slick move involving Carlos Tevez and Jonas Gutierrez. Tevez found space on the right and crossed to Gutierrez, who had time to play a simple pass to the onrushing Maxi - setting up a simple finish.

With Javier Mascherano having drawn a save from McGregor with a volley even before the first goal, the home fans seemed to anticipate a rout.

Aware of the gulf in class between a team mostly drawn from Europe’s premier clubs and their own, which featured seven players from the Scottish Premier League and three from England’s second tier, Scotland’s fans were soon erupting into ironic cheers of “Ole!” each time their team put together a string of passes unmolested.

They also cheered Maradona when he walked to the touchline in the 18th and, after seeing Lavezzi go close, almost celebrated a moment three minutes later. Zanetti let Kris Commons cross from the left and McFadden turned and shot inside the area, only for Demichelis to deflect the ball over.

Argentina goalkeeper Juan Pablo Carrizo then spilled a speculative long shot and fullback Kirk Broadfoot only just failed to redirect a curling free kick by Commons on target. McFadden robbed Demichelis in the area but shot straight at Carrizo just before halftime.

That brought Maradona, who in 1979 scored his first international goal in a 3-1 win over Scotland, to the touchline again - suitably animated for him to have undone his coat despite the cold.

---

Lineups:

Scotland: Allan McGregor, Alan Hutton, Gary Caldwell, Stephen McManus (Christophe Berra, 75), Kirk Broadfoot, Scott Brown (Graham Alexander, 83), Paul Hartley (Shaun Maloney, 59), Barry Ferguson (Scott Robertson, 59), Kris Commons, James McFadden (David Clarkson, 67), Chris Iwelumo (Lee Miller, 46).

Argentina: Juan Pablo Carrizo, Javier Zanetti, Martin Demichelis, Gabriel Heinze, Emiliano Papa (Daniel Diaz, 86), Maxi Rodriguez (Jose Sosa, 90), Javier Mascherano, Fernando Gago, Jonas Gutierrez (Luis Gonzalez, 71), Ezequiel Lavezzi (German Denis, 75), Carlos Tevez.

COMMUNITY ON FOXSPORTS.COM

• FOX SOCCER message boards
• Start or join a new fan group
• Create or go to your profile