Argentina suffered its worst defeat in World Cup qualifying when it wilted 6-1 against Bolivia at high altitude yesterday. [Sina.com]

Argentina suffered its worst defeat in World Cup qualifying when it wilted 6-1 against Bolivia at high altitude yesterday.

The result eclipsed the 5-0 defeat against Colombia in 1993 and ruined the early promise shown under coach Diego Maradona, who had earned three victories in three games with no goals conceded since he took over last November.

Maradona said he wanted to tell Argentines "that I suffered with them, every Bolivia goal was a stab to the heart."

"This is the first time (losing) has happened to me," he added. "Hopefully this will be the only time."

The thrashing matched the two-time world champion's worst World Cup result, a 6-1 hiding from Czechoslovakia at the 1958 tournament.

Most of the Argentine squad - 16 out of 23 - had never played in the Bolivian capital 3,600 meters above sea level, and they arrived only two hours before kickoff.

But Maradona wouldn't give as an excuse the team's minimal time at altitude and lack of experience of it.

Bolivian players celebrate a goal against Argentina in the 2010 World Cup qualifier on Wednesday. [Sina.com]

"We have to give the merit to Bolivia," he said. "They played well, played good football. We didn't do what we came here to do and paid for it."

Maradona last year defended playing football at altitude following a FIFA decision to ban international games above 2,500 meters. He even played with Bolivia President Evo Morales in the city.

"What hurt me most is that we did not know how to stop the Bolivian attacks," Maradona said. "I feel mad and I am expecting revenge but that will have to wait."