On June 22, 1986 Diego Armando Maradona scored “The Hand of God” and the “Goal of the Century” against England
The game that took Maradona to heaven was played at the Azteca Stadium, Argentina beat England 2-1 and qualified for the semifinals of the World Cup that they would end up winning.
The Argentine delegation was the first among the participating countries to arrive in Mexico, and would be the last to leave.
Argentina debuted on June 2 defeating South Korea, then they would draw against Italy with a great goal from Maradona and would qualify as first in Group A after defeating Bulgaria.
After defeating Uruguay by a minimum in the Round of 16, Argentina entered the instance that would face England at the Azteca Stadium.
Argentina and England had met twice in World Cups, both with an English victory.
The last precedent, in England 1966, resulted in a scandalous duel, with Antonio Rattín sent off in a confusing episode, insults between the Argentine players and the public and racist statements by the English coach Alf Ramsey.
But this time what hurt was not football, but the war. With the fresh horror of the Malvinas, the war that had begun four years earlier with the landing of Argentine troops in the Malvinas Islands by order of the de facto government, and ended with the death of 649 Argentine soldiers.
After a tense first half and with few scoring situations, the legendary second half would arrive. In six minutes Diego Armando Maradona put together the play that would end with the attempted pass from English defender Steve Hodge to his goalkeeper Peter Shilton.
Maradona intercepted the ball anticipating the goalkeeper with a subtle touch with his left hand. The arbitration body does not avoid the infraction by unleashing the Argentine celebration.
Diego would deny the infraction and after the game declared that he scored the goal with “Maradona’s head but with God’s hand”, a phrase with which the conquest was immortalized.
Years later, the golden boy would admit on television that the goal was with his hand.
And four minutes after the opening, Diego Armando Maradona himself would score the most spectacular goal in the history of the World Cups.
Maradona covered 52 meters in just over ten seconds. In the middle he eluded five English footballers, including goalkeeper Shilton, just before making it 2-0.
The action was dubbed “The Goal of the Century” after more than 340,000 people from 150 countries chose it in a survey conducted by FIFA as the best goal in the history of the World Cups.
Diego broke through showing all his talent before the eyes of the world in a handful of minutes, scoring the two goals that would consolidate him as the greatest football idol.
The English discount did not prevent the Argentine triumph by 2 to 1. The National Team would continue on its way defeating Belgium with another two goals from Maradona and becoming World Champion after beating Germany in the final.
On June 22, 1986 Diego Armando Maradona scored “The Hand of God” and the “Goal of the Century” against England
by Nicolas Ziccardi
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