Shadow of Giants

The dismissal of Diego Maradona:
Argentina v Brazil: World Cup Second Round: 4th July 1982:

Diego Armando Maradona was twenty-two years old when he realised that despite being told since childhood he had no equals on a football pitch, there were those of Brazilian persuasion who adamantly begged to differ.

In Spain a still-teething Maradona, not yet sufficiently mature to deal with the ferocious intensity of World Cup competition encountered the finest Brazil side since the gloriously, yellow-drenched, technicolor summer of Mexico 1970.

Socrates, Falcao, Zico and Socrates, all names that sat comfortably alongside those of the legendary Pele, Gerson, Jairzinho and Tostao. Heroes for a new Brazilian dawn. For the great pretenders all came together on a sweltering, Barcelona afternoon with a contemptuous destruction of world champions Argentina.

Amidst the haunting beauty of their football and the resonant beat of joyful Samba lay also a chilling thirst to not just dethrone their arch rivals but twist the knife deep in doing so. To outclass and embarrass their pompous near neighbours was fine.

But to destroy what they loved most?

Three goals down and up against seasoned, wily opponents in Falcao and Socrates Diego Maradona found himself in the Shadow of Giants. Also any attempt by Maradona to take control of the game was met with immediate brutality as the Brazilians swatted him down like a fly back into anonymity.

Totally frustrated to the point of tears he finally cracked and launched a scything waist high kick on the unfortunate Brazilian, Batista. A red card flashed and as Maradona trudged slowly off, teammate Alberto Tarantini planted a kiss on his head and appeared to utter the sentiments: 'You'll be back Diego'.

Four years later Maradona returned to conquer the world