Madrid  - Responsibility appears to be Javier Mascherano's key motivating element, and commitment his main tool on and off the pitch as the midfielder looks ahead optimistically to a new era for the Argentine national team, under new coach Diego Maradona.

"The national team captaincy is a beautiful challenge. The fact that Maradona thought of me represents an unforgettable pride in my career," the Liverpool midfielder told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa.