On This Day – 22nd June
For the second day in a row, an ‘On This Day’ features England being knocked out of a World Cup Quarter Final.
Yesterday featured England’s defeat to Brazil in 2002 but on this day back in 1986, England lost 2-1 to Argentina in controversial circumstances.
Diego Maradona was arguably the greatest player in the world back in 1986 and it was he who scored twice in Argentina’s 2-1 win.
His first came after 51 minutes and was a clear and blatant handball that somehow went unnoticed by the match officials. He later referred to the goal as a goal scored by the ‘Hand of God’.
If his first goal was controversial, his second goal was world-class. Maradona dribbled from his own half, beat five England players before rounding Peter Shilton and tapping the ball into an empty net. It has been named the ‘Goal of the 20th Century’.
England managed to score in the 81st minute, Gary Lineker netting his sixth goal of the tournament. However, they were unable to find an equaliser and it was the Argentinians who went through to face Belgium in the Semi Final.
About Author
