Hand of God goal: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 20:37, 22 June 2005

Revision as of 20:39, 22 June 2005

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The '''Hand of God goal''' was scored by [[Diego Maradona]] in the quarter-final match of the [[Football World Cup 1986|1986 FIFA World Cup]] between [[English national football team|England]] and [[Argentina national football team|Argentina]], played [[22 June]] [[1986]] in [[Mexico City]]'s [[Estadio Azteca]].

TensionsAnimosity between the two countriesfootballing nations can be traced back to the [[Red card|sending off]] of Argentine captain [[Antonio Ubaldo Rattin]] in the England-Argentina match of the [[Football World Cup 1966|1966 World Cup]]. At the time, tensions were running particularly high, largely due to the recent [[Falklands War]].

Six minutes into the second half there were still no goals. [[Diego Maradona]] took the ball down the pitch and crossed it to teammate [[Jorge Valdano]], whose shot was blocked by defender [[Steve Hodge]]. English goalkeeper [[Peter Shilton]] came out of his goalmouth to catch or punch the ball, but Maradona (who was not [[Offside law (football)|off-side]], because the ball was last touched by Hodge) reached it first — with his hand. The ball landed in the back of the net and, to the amazement of the English players, the [[referee (football)|referee]] (Tunisian [[Ali Bin Nasser]]) allowed the goal.

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Maradona remained unpopular with the English press for many years and when he was later banned from football for drug use, the tabloid newspaper ''[[The Sun]]'' stated in a headline "Dirty Diego Gone For Good!".

As a historical aside, the animosity between the two footballing nations can be traced back to the [[Red card|sending off]] of Argentine captain [[Antonio Ubaldo Rattin]] in the England-Argentina match of the [[Football World Cup 1966|1966 World Cup]].

After [[1986]], the next competitive meeting between the two sides was at the [[Football World Cup 1998|1998 World Cup]] when Argentina would emerge triumphant on penalties after the game ended 2-2. It was most famous for the dismissal of [[David Beckham]] and the emergence of 18 year old striker [[Michael Owen]], and some histrionic reactions from the Argentine players after their victory which upset the England squad more. The victory for England in 2002, especially as Argentina subsequently failed to qualify from the group, was seen in English quarters as part-revenge.