Maradona brought God into England rivalry

June 5, 2002

NARAHA, Japan, June 5 (Reuters) - "Pele might be king but Maradona is God" read a banner displayed by Argentina fans at their World Cup opener against Nigeria on Sunday.

The same banner is likely to be on show when Argentina meet England in their second group F game in Sapporo on Friday.

Diego Maradona brought God into Argentina's fierce rivalry with England and the Almighty's influence seems stamped on every World Cup match between the two arch-rivals.

Thanks to God's hand, according to Maradona, Argentina took the lead against England in the Mexico City quarter-final in 1986, the biggest drama in a colourful and controversial history of football enmity.

God must have stepped in for Maradona's second goal against England, perhaps embarrassed that the devil had got the better of him for a few seconds.

Maradona scored an out-of-this-world goal, voted the best in the history of the World Cup finals, after running through the England defence from the halfway line.

But God did not take England's side as Gary Lineker only pulled one goal back in a 2-1 defeat.

England were not to be favoured 12 years later either when the teams renewed their World Cup rivalry in the 1998 finals in France.

The Argentine sports daily Ole ran a banner headline on the eve of the match in St Etienne that read: "May God give us another hand."

After the second round clash which Argentina won on penalties, it's headline was: "God save Roa."

Goalkeeper Carlos Roa saved two penalties in a shootout to hand Argentina victory. The match, with a first half widely regarded as the best 45 minutes of the tournament, ended 2-2 after extra time.

With the latest meeting between the two countries taking place in Asia, maybe Buddha will have a say.