World Cup 1986

[fatmaradona]

Originally posted by Sao Taffarel
You have to HAND it to the Argentinian overweight one.

the best performance by a single player ever---we all fantanize about it

[Martin Cutler]

Originally posted by FiveXChampion
Zico (the best player of his time) was indeed injured. He was thrown in the pit at the wrong time and missed a penalty.

Coming into the 1986 World Cup I remember the talk was who was the best player in the world between Maradona, Zico and Platini (all great players) but after the 1986 World Cup there was no doubt who was the world's #1.

The 1986 match between Brazil and France was one of the best matches I have ever seen. Perhaps if Zico was healthy Brazil would have won but if he wasn't 100% why did he take the penalty kick in the 2nd half???

[Tony the French]

Platini was not at 100 % too.
he was semi injured

[tpmazembe]

Originally posted by Martin Cutler
I'll tell you which Argentina team I thought was the best of their recent World Cup teams (even better perhaps than their 1978 and 1986 champion teams) and that was their 1994 team. That squad was loaded with Redondo, Simeone, Ruggieri, Balbo, Batistuta, Caniggia and Maradona.

A bold choice. Like you, I would not pick either of the a WC winning sides.

I say 1982 had the best team...the team I would field for the next cup. It had the base of the '78 champs (including Kempes), PLUS Maradona and Ramon Diaz.

I believe this '82 team was better than '94, not only because of their championship experience --which in itself is a lot, given that the Simeone generation never made it past the 1/4 finals in 3 WCs -- but primarily because of defense.

'82 had a better goalie in Fillol, and was anchored by Pasarella (my favorite Argentine player of all time). '82 was unlucky to face two of the most talented Italian and Brasilian teams of all time during the treacherous second group stage.

[Merengue]

tpmazembe,

In the best World Cup Team of All Time thread (which has now drifted to page 2 under this category of FIFA and Tournaments) we discussed both Argentina's 1994 and 1982 teams. The majority opinion was that the 1982 team was similar to some of the teams which competed in World Cup 2002. That is they were talented teams which for some reason (injuries, fatigue, some players out of form) just couldn't put things together in the World Cup. Say what you want about Argentina's 1978, and more to the current topic 1986 teams, but they won the World Cup. It's hard to disparage that, especially when the 1986 team did it on foreign soil.

In 1986 Argentina may have been fortunate to have avoided strong teams like France, Brazil, Spain and the USSR but they beat whomever was thrown in their path and defeated a pretty good German team in a thrilling World Cup final. They deserve praise for their achievements.

[Awe-Inspiring]

Originally posted by Martin Cutler
I'll tell you which Argentina team I thought was the best of their recent World Cup teams (even better perhaps than their 1978 and 1986 champion teams) and that was their 1994 team. That squad was loaded with Redondo, Simeone, Ruggieri, Balbo, Batistuta, Caniggia and Maradona. Once Diego was kicked out for his positive test for a banned stimulant, Argentina lost their momentum but if you saw them play before Diego was booted out, they were brilliant and in my opinion were better than even Brazil's eventual World Cup winners.

As for 1986 you have to give Bilardo, never one of my favorite coaches, a lot of credit. He built his team around Maradona but don't think some of their other players were simply there for dressing. Ruggieri was as solid a defender as there was in 1986, Buruchaga one of the better attacking midfielders and Valdano a classic center forward. Plus Pumpido was a good goalie and Sergio Batista a vastly underrated defensive midfielder in the Fernando Redondo mold. Maybe Argentina 1986 wasn't a vast collection of stars but apart from Maradona they did have some good players and most importantly they played well as a team. Then add one of the best players of all time and you can see why they were world champions.

I agree with you that the '94 team was formidable and that had Maradona not been tossed, the way that Argentina was playing before he was, they would have been champions.

You are also right that the '86 champs should not be underrated. Look at their games. They always had the ball and dominated play. They never trailed in any single elimination round. They always produced the clutch goals they needed.

Yes, they won because of Maradona's brilliance, but don't forget what he said before the final, when the Germans threatened to foul him viciously into the turf every time he touched the ball (a threat they almost carried out completely): "I have teammates who can score. I'll pass them the ball, they'll score and we'll win."

It happened just like the man guaranteed.

[Merengue]

I thought Maradona's best single game performance wasn't the England match but rather was the semifinal vs Belgium. Back then Jean Marie Pfaff was in great form (similar to how Oliver Kahn was this past summer) but Maradona scored two great goals which were really unstoppable. It took nearly perfectly placed shots to beat Pfaff but Diego found a way to do just that.

[sinner78]

Originally posted by Awe-Inspiring
I agree with you that the '94 team was formidable and that had Maradona not been tossed, the way that Argentina was playing before he was, they would have been champions.



LOL
If dirty diego hadnt been exposed as a drugs cheat they would've won the cup..
of course they would ,of course they would..
We believe you..

A lot of their play was down to maradonas drug enhanced performances.. I wish drug testing had started in earlier world cups .Hhhmmm It would've been interesting to see what drugs he took in 86..

[Bauser]

Originally posted by sinner_ronald_monk
I wish drug testing had started in earlier world cups
FIFA has had drugtests in World Cups for decades. Players have been taken for drug abuse both in 1974 and 1978 for instance.

[sinner78]

Originally posted by Bauser
FIFA has had drugtests in World Cups for decades. Players have been taken for drug abuse both in 1974 and 1978 for instance.

I believe that Drug tests are only random...
Maradona was randomly picked in 94 and got caught.
I dont think every single player who steps onto the field of every world cup game gets tested.

[Bauser]

They drugtest two random players from both teams after every World Cup game. At least that's what they used to do. So if you reach the final and have played in every game (7), chances are very good that you have been tested at least once during the tournament.

[Mefisto]

You english whine so much about 1986 that it almost sounds like you are Italians

[sinner78]

i hear that the danes are still moaning about Ebbe sands half-chance that got missed in the 3 - 0 defeat..
oooh if he had scored and brought it back to 2-1 it would have been different...
we believe you..LOL

[Mefisto]

Originally posted by sinner_ronald_monk
i hear that the danes are still moaning about Ebbe sands half-chance that got missed in the 3 - 0 defeat..
oooh if he had scored and brought it back to 2-1 it would have been different...
we believe you..LOL

We drink far to much to remember what happened half a year ago

And how is that trophy closet of yours?

Still empty and dusty?

[Awe-Inspiring]

Originally posted by Merengue
I thought Maradona's best single game performance wasn't the England match but rather was the semifinal vs Belgium. Back then Jean Marie Pfaff was in great form (similar to how Oliver Kahn was this past summer) but Maradona scored two great goals which were really unstoppable. It took nearly perfectly placed shots to beat Pfaff but Diego found a way to do just that.

I agree with you.

I'll go one step further and say that his second goal against Belgium was even more impressive than his second goal against England -- especially considering he did it in the very next game after the England game.

[Sailor Moon]

Oh Mexico 86! Maradona, Argentina. It has been a lot of disscussion about Maradona as the best footballer ever.
The Diego´s goal against England is considered as the best of WC history, and the "hand" goal.. a lot of discussion about it. That wasn´t a goal helped by the hand.

Italy 90: The German revenge, and what a revenge! defeated Argentina for one penalty.



Originally posted by Merengue
Ok over in the Greatest World Cup champion team of all time thread some got sidetracked onto the 1986 World Cup and in particular the Argentina vs England match that year. So I decided to start a new thread simply discussing that World Cup.

I maintain Argentina were worthy winners of that Cup. Maradona had the single greatest World Cup of any player and dominated that tournament like no other player I've seen. I've had old timers tell me Pele in 1970 and Garrincha in 1962 came close but neither one of them were as dominant as Maradona was in 1986.

The beaten finalists Germany weren't a bad team but in my view weren't as good as the German teams of either 1982 or 1990. They were, for example, extremely lucky to get through against Mexico in the knockout rounds. France beat Brazil in a titanic struggle but seemed to run out of steam (and nerves?) vs Germany in their semifinal.

Denmark hammered Germany and Uruguay in the group stages but fell apart against El Buitre (Butragueño) and Spain in the knockout stages. Soain ahd a good team that year but alas like always found the going too tough in the elimination stages.

Brazil had some good players but weren't as strong as they were in 1982 and Zico looked tired and injured. England had Lineker and his excellent goalscoring and a good goalie in Shilton but apart from that were a pretty normal team. I think their 1990 team was superior. Mexico rode the wave of home support but their great star Hugo Sanchez could never reproduce his Real Madrid form with his national team. Plus they seemed to lack the confidence to beat the bigger teams back then, thus explaining their failure to beat Germany when they had them on the ropes.

Overall it was a good World Cup. In my eyes not as good as the superlative one in 1982 but better than any other World Cups played since then. And it will forever be known as the World Cup where Diego Maradona stood above all else. What does everyone else think of the 1986 World Cup?

[Sailor Moon]

With Diego Maradona


QUOTE]Originally posted by tpmazembe
Respect your opinion. You seem to be a fan of the Argentine national team.

Let me ask you this..........if you could pick one of the Argentine teams of the past WCs to try and win the next one, would it really be the '86 squad? [/QUOTE]

[SABuffalo786]

Originally posted by mr magoo
I wouldnt of thought it difficult to get into the world cup, when you have to play rejects like the USA to qualify.

I bet its much harder in Uefa with behemoths like Macedonia. :rolleyes:

[Merengue]

Originally posted by Awe-Inspiring
I agree with you.

I'll go one step further and say that his second goal against Belgium was even more impressive than his second goal against England -- especially considering he did it in the very next game after the England game.

Well I won't go that far but Maradona's goal vs Belgium was great. But his 2nd goal vs England remains the greatest I've ever seen.

I have a question for those who may know. What ever happened with Brazil's right back in 1986 Josimar? He was senesational in that tournament and looked like a future world star but I seem to reall he had some personal problems and never again repeated the success he had at Mexico 1986.

[Awe-Inspiring]

Originally posted by Merengue
Well I won't go that far but Maradona's goal vs Belgium was great. But his 2nd goal vs England remains the greatest I've ever seen.

I have a question for those who may know. What ever happened with Brazil's right back in 1986 Josimar? He was senesational in that tournament and looked like a future world star but I seem to reall he had some personal problems and never again repeated the success he had at Mexico 1986.

I asked the same question a couple of years ago because I felt the same way about Josimar (remember his goals against N. Ireland and Poland in WC '86?). I seem to recall he played a few years at the club level without nearly the same success, but I cannot recall where he played. Perhaps someone else can enlighten both Merengue and me.