MARADONA: KING of SCAMS

Azteca Stadium: Argentina v England: World Cup Quarter final:
Sunday 22nd June 1986:

Fear stalked every challenge, tackle and pass, for defeat was an option neither could contemplate. Fifty-one nerve shredding, goalless minutes had passed in this quarter-final. Although always a dangerous presumption England appeared to have the genius of Diego Maradona under lock and key.

Their players shared the burden to kick him up in the air whenever in possession. The pre-game hype of this being a Falklands grudge match succeeded only in strangling the contest of any real quality. Suddenly a turgid game exploded wildly into life when a badly-misjudged hooked clearance by midfielder Steve Hodge sent the ball spinning back into his own penalty area.

Sensing the danger Peter Shilton rushed out, only to be challenged by a hustling Maradona, who with a mischievous flick of the wrist sent it over the keepers head into an empty net. Tunisian referee Ali Ben Nasser pointed to the centre-circle. Argentina's number ten had stolen a goal: a sleight of hand invisible to most, except the outraged English.

A distraught Shilton had the look of a man watching his house burn down. The arsonist ran to soak up the adulation of the crowd. Just momentarily he glanced nervously over his shoulder at the ensuing melee he had just instigated. High in the stand Maradona spotted his Father and gave a clenched fist salute.

Diego Armando had just gotten away with the biggest scam of his young life as all hell erupted in Mexico City. Argentina led. On the touchline England manager Bobby Robson pleaded with officials to put right this said injustice against his team, but to no avail.

For this little streetwise hustler born in the Villa Fiorito slums of Buenos Aires and plying his trade for the Neapolitans of Naples, noted King of Scams had learned well. Maradona's education amongst rascals and vagabonds had proved its worth in Mexican gold.

John Ludden
Cfieldsoffire@aol.com