World Cup Moments: Maradona’s Goal of the Century, ‘86.

May 21st, 2010 | by: chris |

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Finishing up a World Cup Moments post on a couple of Maradona Goal recreations, I dove into the World Cup Blog archives for a link and grasped…nothing. Somehow, some way, we hadn’t yet devoted a frame all itself to the greatest tournament’s greatest goal. At least until now.

The goal has been dissected, emulated and recreated, but most importantly, it has been loved. A goal of superior pace and skill by a footballing magician against a very good team under an umbrella of circumstances which transcended sport itself. It may be the most remembered non-final in World Cup history for two reasons – this is the first.

And it was supposed to be a pass.

“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.” – Diego Maradona

Isn’t that always the way? True genius is so often born from failure.

Argentina were up 1-0 in the quarterfinal on the back of Maradona’s Hand of God, the illegal goal which the referees failed to spot, and you’d have to believe the English were a little bit stunned, which is why only five minutes later they – and it is a they, because he ran through half the team – conceded the World Cup’s most memorable goal, ultimately the winning goal. Starting from his own half…

The most intricate move may have been the first, before Diego ran around, through and past these unfortunate souls: Stephen Hodge, Peter Beardsley, Peter Reid, Terry Butcher, Terry Fenwick and Peter Shilton.

And then there was Jorge Valdano, slyly streaking in unnoticed as the English defense was collapsing to Diego, all alone at the far post, waiting to merely steer in the greatest assist of all-time, inevitably watching the greatest goal of all-time.

‘Failure’ has never looked so good.

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http://www.facebook.com/people/Nick-Pirce/100000088233919 Nick Pirce

Maradona´s second goal against England in the 1986 World Cup is widely regarded as the goal of the century, and the greatest goal ever scored in a World Cup. While there´s no doubting either the brilliance of the goal or Maradona´s brilliance that entire Cup, I take issue with it for several reasons.

1) Maradona´s first goal – which set the tempo for the match. Nothing like it had ever been scored before in a World Cup. The English stated after the game they were in a state of shock, similar to someone who had had his wallet stolen, and were taken completely off-guard for the second.

2) The fact that several English players held yellow cards – and thus were afraid to tackle, much less foul, Maradona. Tunisian referee Bennaceurs decisions that match tended to tilt towards Argentina, and no English player made any attempt to foul Maradona until it was far too late.
http://profiles.yahoo.com/u/B6VEB5XPZQQ4TNBCBSS2SQEMD4 Henry

Boo Hoo Hoo Nick Pirce

Its almost 24 years ago – Deal with it.

Peter Beardsley, Lineker and the rest of english are full of excuses. Perhaps thats the reason you guys are going down as bankrupt nation soon enough.

Viva Argentina!