DIEGO
‘THE HAND OF GOD’ MARADONA (MEXICO 1986 WORLD CUP QUARTER FINALS: ENGLAND v.
ARGENTINA)
THE GENESIS
The Quarter final match between England and Argentina played on the 22nd
June, 1986 between England and Argentina played at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico
was not only famous for the two goals scored by the Argentine soccer legend,
Diego Armando Maradona but also for the events that culminated in the passion
that greeted the game by the players, the fans and the two countries alike.
England 1966
England hosted and won the 1966 World Cup (The only World Cup trophy
won by England till date). On their way to the trophy they, England encountered
Argentina in the Quarter finals and the match was characterized by emotions and
series of deadly fouls. Both team wanted to give anything to it to win the
World Cup. The match became so tense that the referee, a German sent the
Argentine Captain Antonio Rattin off. Rattin felt the German referee was biased
towards the English and did not hid his anger. He stomped on the royal carpet
in the Stadium at Wembley and this prompted the English National team coach to
refer to the Argentines as “animal”. The anger and the passion were definitely
carried over to any game between the two countries.
The Falklands War
The Falkland Island is a British Territory located in the South
Atlantic Ocean (Any place the English consider their own, they do not joke with
it as they consider it an extension of the Authority of his/her majesty the King
or the Queen of England). The Argentines
claiming the Island to be their own, invaded it. The British retaliated by send
forces to recapture the Island from the ‘intruders’. This led to significant
number of lost lives on both sides with Argentina suffering more. Obviously the
Argentines already have two reasons to get back at the British.
Mexico 1986
Argentina: Prior to the World Cup, Coach Carlos Bilardo had taken
the captain band from the more experienced Daniel Passarella and given it to
the 25 year old Diego Armando Maradona. Passarella was not taking this kindly
so he walked out on the team. This sparked a great deal of criticism in
Argentina. Many people even felt Maradona shouldn’t be in the team talk of
being the captain largely based on his role in Argentina’s exit from the 1982
World Cup in Spain where he was sent off against Brazil. Bilardo and Maradona
must justify the decision and like Maradona told Bilardo they were on their
own.
Argentina’s first match at the mundial was against
South Korea whose plan in the match was to frustrate Maradona with their
tackle. The match ended 3-1 in favour of Argentina and “El Pibe de Oro” got the
three assists.
The second match was againt Italy, the defending
champions. 1-1 it ended with “The golden boy” getting the equalizer for the
Albiceleste.
The third match was against Bulgaria and Argentina
had a smooth sail as they beat the Europeans 2-0 and as usual Diego provided
the assist for the second goal.
Having topped their group, Argentina would be
drawn against Uruguay in the Second round of the tournament. The match was
tensed against Uruguay; both teams were quite emotional about the game. The teams
were separated by the solitary goal the Albicelestes scored towards the end of the
first half. Little did the Argentines know what their qualification for the
quarter-finals would turn out to be in the history of the world football.
England: Unlike Argentina, England with some football
legends in their ranks like Glenn Hoddle and Gary Lineker did not have it easy.
Coach Bobby Robson had opted that the two full backs be pushed more forward
thereby putting great pressure on Terry Butcher and Terry Fenwick, the two
centre backs anytime a long ball passed the defensive midfield. England lost
the first game against Portugal and struggled to stay goalless against Morocco.
After the Morocco game, the players stood up against the Coach’s tactics and
demanded that the coach revert to the formation they were used to. The last
group game was against Poland and England would have still qualified if they
had drawn Poland with the result of the other teams in the group. The Coach reverted
back to the traditional 4-4-2 formation and it quickly paid off. England trashed
Poland 3-0 with Gary Lineker scoring a hat-trick.
In the second round England also showed the result
against Poland was no fluke as they repeated the same result against Paraguay
thereby setting up the most memorable quarter-final match in the history of the
World Cup. England was already buzzing with confidence, they were not scared of
Argentina but they sure had a little worry about the “the little demon”
Maradona
The Match
The Match was played on the 22nd June,
1986 at the Azteca Stadium. The Centre referee was Ali Bin Nasser, a Tunisian.
Bin Nasser (which Maradona later referred to as his ‘eternal friend’) was not a
green horn and he was not in charge of a World Cup match for the first time.
Bin Nasser was the center referee in the group stage match between Poland and
Portugal and Assistant referee in three other matches before the phenomenal
match.
The match began in an electrifying way with the
two teams exchanging chances but none was converted in the first half.
Argentina had the upper hand and Maradona created the most chances but England
defence was resolute. The first half ended goalless.
The Magic moment was the 51st minute of
play, the match was still goalless.
The “Hand of God” goal
Maradona had made a run through the left flank
with the hope of a quick one-two pass with the Real Madrid striker Jorge Valdano
and was continuing his run into the English penalty area after releasing the
ball to Valdano’s path. The ball was intercepted by Steven Hodge who attempted
clearance but mistakenly sliced the ball into his own area. The England
goalkeeper, Peter Shilton had a better chance of winning the ball than
Maradona, not only because he was closer to it but also because he was taller
being over six feet tall and Maradona barely five feet, five inches and the
goalkeeper was expected to use his hands while Maradona should use his head.
Shilton came out to punch the ball while Maradona
lept. The ball went into the goal and the referee awarded it. Even Maradona’s
team mates could not believe the goal stood as they hesitated to celebrate with
him. Maradona later revealed “I was waiting for my teammates to embrace me, and
no one came… I told them, ‘Come hug me, or the referee isn’t going to allow it.’”
The English were not going to take that kindly you
should expect. Terry Fenwick and Glenn Hoddle chased Nasser to the center
circle questioning the decision but all entreaties fell on deaf ears. Coach
Bobby Robson would later say “I saw the ball in the air and Maradona going for
it, Shilton went for it as well but Maradona handled the ball into the net. You
don’t expect decisions like that at World Cup level.
To the Argentines, it was a satisfying way to deal
with the English and if it includes some crooked style it doesn’t matter. When quizzed
at the Post Match Conference about the goal, Maradona simply said the goal was
scored “un poco con la cabeza de Maradona y otro poco con la mano de Dios” (A
little with the head of Maradona and a little with the hand of God). The goal
was later to be called the Hand of God goal.
Goal of the Century
English players were still seriously fuming at the
cheat goal awarded against them, in fact according to Terry Fenwick many of the
players were still so upset that they were not concentrating enough, when four
minutes later “El Pibe de Oro” received a passed in his own half from Hector
Henrique and began to dash towards the English goal passing Peter Beardsley,
Peter Reid, Terry Butcher, Terry Fenwick, Terry Butcher again and then rounded
Peter Shilton up in goal before slotting home the goal that was adjudged the
best individual goal of the century.
About the goal Maradona said “I made the play to
give it to Valdano, but when I got to the area they surrounded me and I had no
space. Therefore, I had to continue the play and finish it myself”
The goal was voted the Goal of the Century in the
build up to the Korea/Japan 2002 World Cup beating Michael Owen’s goal against
Argentina in 1998 World Cup to the second position.
Starring World Cup exit in the face, England would
not go out without a fight. Coach Robson quickly introduced John Barnes and
Waddle and this almost paid off immediately as the Argentines were already
tired. Garry Lineker pulled one back for the Three Lions but Argentina held on
to win the game 2-1. Argentina went on to win the World Cup beating West
Germany 3-2 in the final.
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