The upcoming match between England and Argentina recalls one of the greatest rivalries in football history.
Modern.az reports that behind the football struggle of these two countries lie not only sports, but also historical tensions and unforgettable events. One of the most famous moments of this rivalry occurred in the 1986 World Cup. In the quarter-finals of the tournament held in Mexico, Argentina faced England. Just a few years before that game, the two countries had fought a war over the Falkland (Malvinas) Islands, and the match carried a great emotional load. In the 51st minute of the match, Diego Maradona made history. He touched the ball with his hand and scored a goal against England.
The referee awarded the goal, and later this episode became known as the “Hand of God”. Maradona said that the moment happened with God's help. In that game, Maradona later scored one of the most beautiful goals in football history: a goal scored by passing several English players was remembered as the “goal of the century” for many years. Argentina won the match 2:1 and became world champions at the end of the tournament. Years later, this historical rivalry was also associated with Lionel Messi.
Messi, speaking about playing very few matches for the national team against England, stated that he had never played against England in the World Cup in an Argentina jersey. These words caused new discussions, as football fans began to compare Messi and Maradona on the same historical line. Messi's possible game against England therefore arouses special interest. On one side stands the legend created by Maradona in 1986, and on the other side stands Messi, one of the greatest figures of modern football. The England – Argentina match is not just a football game; it is a rivalry of past memories, stories of great stars, and two football giants.
Let us remind you that the meeting will take place on July 15 at 23:00.
Nicat Rüstəmzadə
