FRANCE 98 – Match preview n°55
England’s chance to claim revenge for Diego Maradona’s ‘hand of God’ goal that helped eliminate them from the 1986 World Cup finally arrives here on Tuesday.
The second round clash with Argentina in the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard will be the first time the two sides have met competitively since the quarter-final in Mexico, when Maradona used his hand to deflect the ball past Peter Shilton to give his side the lead. Twelve years on, the rest of the world only remembers the brilliant second goal Maradona went on to score to earn his side a 2-1 victory on their way to winning the tournament.
In England however a sense of injustice at the Tunisian referee’s failure to spot Maradona’s handy work is still easily reignited. Coach Glenn Hoddle, who played in the 1986 match, plays down talk of revenge. But he is nonetheless a fully-paid up member of the ‘we-were-robbed’ school of thought.
” It was a big game for everybody and the way it was won by Argentina means there is still a little bit of a sour taste in the mouth after all this time, “ Hoddle recalled. If Hoddle’s young side are to wipe out the memory of 1986, they know they will have to stop Gabriel Batitusta, the man who has taken over Maradona’s role as the carrier of his football-crazed nation’s hopes.
The Fiorentina striker has already claimed four goals in three games and he clearly fancy his chances of hitting the net against England and drawing level with Italy’s Christian Vieri at the top of the World Cup scoring charts. ” If England have a weakness it is in defence and we can exploit that, “ he said.
Both on the basis of pedigree and form so far in France 98, Argentina will start the match as favourites. Daniel Passarella’s side started slowly, struggling to overcome Japan by a single goal. But they moved up a gear to thrash Jamaica 5-0 and kept just enough pressure on the accelerator to clinch top spot in their group with a 1-0 win over highly-rated Croatia on Saturday.
England in contrast went into their final group match facing possible elimination after losing to Romania. Although they rose to the challenge by outclassing a disappointing Colombia side in Lens, the earlier defeat was a reminder to Glenn Hoddle’s men that they still have it all to prove at the highest level.
Hoddle, who believes his side is peaking at exactly the right time, is not expected to change the side that beat Colombia 2-0. Manchester United midfielder David Beckham’s superb free kick sealed the victory and has ensured he will keep the central midfield role while Liverpool’s Michael Owen will start up front alongside Alan Shearer.
” Argentina are a class side of great experience. They have come into the World Cup as one of the teams highly fancied to win the tournament, “ Hoddle said. ” It will be a massive game for both countries but we are geared up for the match and believe we can win it. I certainly haven’t seen anything in Argentina’s game to suggest we can’t win it.”
Argentina have yet to concede a goal in the tournament. But their prospects of resisting Owen and Shearer have been hit by the likely absence of key defender Roberto Sensini, who has not recovered from a thigh strain. Midfielder Diego Simeone made it clear that the Argentinians had been impressed by England’s form in their final group win over Colombia.
” England showed they are a very complete team, “ he said. “They have one of the best squads in the World Cup with a lot of players who are capable of turning a game, particularly Beckham and Owen. “ But for all the diplomatic niceties, the Argentinians cannot help exuding self-confidence. ” Our fans will consider anything less than a place in the final as a failure, “ said Batistuta. ” And they would be right. “.