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Wednesday, May 17, 2006

Hand of God

After keeping the mighty Argentinians at bay for much of the first half, England had started to come into their own - but six minutes after the break Maradona took centre stage.
The next 20 seconds would be imprinted on all our minds.
Steve Hodge slices the ball into his own area.
Out comes Peter Shilton, though, and he'll surely punch it clear.
But somehow Maradona - who must stand no more than 5ft 6in - has beaten him to the ball and it loops into the net.
The little Argentinian wheels away towards the corner flag to celebrate, but not without glancing over his shoulder to look at the referee.
Shilton races out of his area with his left arm in the air screaming "handball, handball, ref, he's handled it" (or words to that effect) but the official gives the goal.
The fact that four minutes later Maradona scored one of the greatest goals of all time mattered little then, it was only years later that we could appreciate the quality of that strike.
England had been cheated out of a semi-final appearance.
(Courtesy Reece Killworth )

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

I really felt my hair stick out in excitement by just readin this clip... that was a glorious moment in the history of football ..
Good one Meera...
Let the Party begin.......

Vasudev Udhatya said...

Argentina went on to win that world cup.In that match Maradona scored a second goal which was voted as the Goal of the Century in 2002, he beat five english players Hoddle, Reid, Sansom, Butcher and Fenwick finally beating the goalie Peter Shilton.
It was not jus Hand of God goal , it was Hand of God Maradona goal. He's truly a god when it comes to football. :-)

catch 22 said...

@ Vasu - But that goal is marred by the cheated goal. Who knows if the first goal would have been disallowed England might have won the game and worldcup there after. I think the game should be played in a fair spirit but its no longer so, i admire Theirry Henry in that sense.

Meera said...

@J: Thanks :))!!
@vasu: Ur really frenzied over football..
@catch22:fair spirit.. thats a heavy abuse..

Mama said...

in maradona's book about his life and football, he clearly states that he did that hand of god thing on purpose and that now he cherishes every moment of that foul game. it was fun.

Vasudev Udhatya said...

@Catch22 - Everything is fair in love,war and soccer. :-)

catch 22 said...

@ Meera - heavy abuse ?!!!

@ Vasu - Thats not an excuse at all dood .

Anonymous said...

Enjoyed a lot! » »