Belgium in all honesty had their chances and perhaps might have scored one or even two on that day but the truth is that Maradona was just too overwhelming, even to the point of having Jean Marie Pfaff congratulate him after the game in an exhibition of gallantry. Belgium like England had played well defensively but against a great player on a great day there is little that could be done, and who knows what might have been if that ball had not hit the crossbar but gone in? Or if Valdano had not send in to the crowds that pass Maradona gave with an almost empty goal?
In football most people only remember plays that ended in goals but if ever there was a great play it was the one that preceded Valdano's miss. Maradona had a long pass given to him on the right and some how managed to get to it before it went out of bounds and then with an opposing player coming up on him in an attempt to sweep him. Maradona, literary jumped over him like a hurdle while passing the ball around him and catching it on the other side. After this Maradona went down the flank going past another defender till he was almost at the goal line which prompted Pfaff to come off his line; only to have Maradona pass the ball of to Valdano; who by all accounts should have made it 3 for Argentina.
The final came and who but Germany should meet Argentina in the final. Germany however was not the favorite to win despite having made it to (this one included) 3 out of the last 4 finals however they are never easy to beat. This Bilardo, knew full well as he also was aware that on that day Germany would have Maradona covered to the point where he would be limited to doing very little if anything at all; which was the case. Beckenbaur (Germany's head coach at the time) had Matthaus follow Maradona just about every where on the field along with other players used to assist in the marking Maradona.
Argentina however in spite of Maradona being so closely marked went up 2-0; being that other players were given more freedom such as Brown and Valdano, who got on the score board. Germany however are known for not giving up and coming back as they had done so many times in their history and that day would not be the exception. First it would be Rummingge, to pull one back, as he did against France four years before. His effort would be followed by Rudi Voeller in getting the equalizer. At that point it was clear that the momentum had shifted over to Germany and I must admit that I thought they could win. As for myself personally I can not claim to have been pulling for them or not; as to me only Italy counts.
Germany kept on attacking and it was then that Maradona showed a quality which to be honest I never knew him to have; of a leader. True he had been an outstanding player though at times erratic in his form but till that day he had never been what I would call a leader on the field and it was then while not being on his best form and with team now facing the threat of Germany going up 3 to 2 that he stepped up and delivered a great pass to Burruchaga. It was a ball filtered through the German defense to Burruchaga; who was left one on one with Schumacher and made no mistake when putting the ball in to the net for Argentina's third and winner.
Argentina was world champion for the second time in three world cups and now Maradona was no longer being hailed as arguably the greatest player of his day but of all time. He had won the world cup and was on top of the football world along with his country but there was more to it then that as far as I could see. Maradona was great; this my mind held little room for doubt but what was great about him? This is question I was able to understand for myself if for no one else.
Football for the most part up until I saw Maradona play in that world cup had come down to a few things which I have already mentioned in this article however Maradona went beyond these elementary things. For Maradona's greatness was not limited to being able to be at the right place at right time or being able to hit the ball just right at any given moment or make a move or two that would free himself just enough to get off that shot but something that went beyond that. Maradona had the ability to do everything and then some and that some being controlling a ball like no one ever had. He would actually go through players with skill alone, where so many options did he have at his disposal to pass a player that it was the defender, how ever many there might be were bound to get passed or have to resort to committing a foul. This being the case and the only way to stop Maradona as it could be said that his body was ideal for the sport he practiced much like Jordan's was for basketball. Maradona, stood at 168 cm and was stocky, perhaps such features would not have lend themselves to making him a great basketball player but for football they proved to be ideal as his low center of gravity made it difficult to knock off the ball when he had it plus his short legs made him very fast in short sprints.
It was after the 86 world cup that I spent the whole summer that followed Argentina's win thinking if anybody ever had been that good and I could not think of anybody who had. Beckenbaur was serene and kept his cool organizing his team but was never brilliant though he did do the simple things well like bringing the ball up field and managing to make a pass but other this he had never come close to doing what Maradana had done in that world cup. Pele, was great in his time, scoring over a thousand goals but his time was one when the average game ended with a score of 5-3 and just about anybody could score as teams played with 5 forwards going up against 2 defenders. Also Pele played at time when a good ball controller was one would could bounce the ball on his knees and head and do it many times where in Maradona's time this was something just about anybody could do.
Maradona had dominated Mexico 86 like nobody ever had in a world cup much like he had done in the Youth World Cup of 79 but those had not been the top professionals but youths, now it he had done the same to the great players of the day. I remember thinking back then that he should not have been allowed to play in such a tournament given he had already played with an adult national team but what could be done now. Should another league be created for him after what he had shown in Mexico 86?
His statistics had been good but in all reality five goals (one which even should have been disallowed) and five assists was not really all that impressive. Specially when considering for instance that Muller had scored 10 goals in 6 games in the world cup in 70, Fontaine 13 goals (in 6 games) in the world cup in 54 and Kocsis 11 goals (in 5 games) in the world cup in 54 but with Maradona it went beyond numbers. I do not always agree with Cossell but I would have to when it comes to statistics not always reveling the whole story. So many great plays that did not always lead to a goal though perhaps should have will not be written down in the books but never forgotten by those who saw them. Maradona had five assists and who knows how many he would have had, had he had Batistuta instead of Valdano; who was a fair player but nothing exceptional. With regards to his other teammates; in all truth none of them were all that great as their careers in their respective clubs would show, so it can not be really said that he was surrounded by great players. Pele, for instance having Garrincha, Santos, Didi and Vava in 58 and later in 70 Jairzinho, Tostao, Carlos Alberto and Rivelino. It can not even be claimed that Argentina like Italy in the previous world cup won thanks to having a well balanced team. This had not been the case but of Maradona simply winning for them, as if handing them the title.
After that world cup up until the world cup in 1990, Maradona was considered the best in the game, by far! Him going on to lead SSC Napoli in winning the Scudeto for the first time in their history in 1987 and again in 1990. It was during his time in SSC Napoli that he also lead them to victory in the "Copa Italia" in 1987, Italian Super Cup in 1990 and above all the UEFA cup in 1989, while for himself he was top goal scorer of the Serie A in 1988.
As for "Italia 90", this would end in disappointment for Argentina who would go on to loss the final 1-0 to Germany; in a game that will be mostly remembered for being possibly the worst played final in the history of the world cup. Maradona however got Argentina to the final despite not playing his best football and playing in a world cup that was mostly limited to very defensive play. As for Maradona in what was Italia 90, he again got away with another hand ball against the Soviet Union that prevented them from scoring. Maradona however in this world cup that saw very little of brilliant play will also be remembered for a run through four Brazilian players after which he despite being pulled down by the last one managed to get off a perfect pass with his right foot (something rare for him) to Caniggia. It was this player who scored the goal that would give Argentina a 1-0 victory. As for scoring in Italia 90; this Maradona did not do though he would put in a fine performance unfortunately for me against Italy in Napoli which would see my dreams of seeing Italy win the title at home end. Maradona converted his penalty kick and Serena missed from the same penalty spot. It was perhaps even a difficult situation for most Italian fans in Napoli because on the one hand Italy was playing and on the other hand so was the only man who had ever managed to give their loved Napoli any kind of title. This making it hard for them to decide for whom to cheer for which perhaps might have lead to less support for Italy then they normally would have gotten at home.
Maradona after having problems with cocaine and being suspended for a year and half would come back to play in the World Cup USA 94. This after helping Argentina qualify with a goal in his country's 1-0 qualifying victory over Australia in Buenos Aires after having drawn at 0 in Melbourne. USA 94 however would only see Maradona play two games in which he scored one against Greece in what would be an Argentine 4-0 rout, after which he would provide two almost perfect passes to set up goals against Nigeria; whom Argentina would beat 2 to 1. At that moment it seemed much to my fear that Maradona and Argentina were back in form. Fortunately however this would not be as Maradona, after the game against Nigeria was suspended from the world cup for using a banned substance.
After USA 94, Maradona was nearing the end of his career which saw him play several more years in Argentina till his retirement in 98 and perhaps again Maradona was loved as he was ending his career and even those like myself who had always seen him as an enemy now looked back and realized what a great one we had been privileged with. Of course, the younger generations may watch him on YouTube but I was fortunate enough to see him play live. This being the case though I would have been happier if he had played for Italy in the same way that Camoranesi (Camoranesi also being born in Argentina but obtained Italian citizenship due to being of Italian descent) does today.
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