Behind the semi-final between England and Argentina lay a fierce confrontation related to the Falklands War. Four years after the war, the two teams played a legendary match at the 1986 Mexico FIFA World Cup, and Valdano was a direct participant in that game.

Jorge Valdano (born in Las Parejas, Argentina, in 1955) is currently commentating on the FIFA World Cup for TV Azteca in Mexico City. Hours before Argentina and England's historic showdown in Atlanta, he spoke to AS, looking back at that momentous 1986 match. It was an unforgettable encounter, where both the "Hand of God" and the "Goal of the Century" were born.

What does playing against England mean to an Argentinian?

When we played England, it had only been four years since the end of the Falklands War, which is completely different from now, when 44 years have passed since the war. That Argentinian team faced an unhealed wound, whereas these players now face only historical memory. The 1986 match could be used to interpret a nation; the current match only needs to be understood from a football perspective.

Do you remember the situation before the 1986 match?

We had to control our emotions, otherwise we might have ended the game with three fewer players. Because of this, it's unfair to compare that match to now. That game went down in history because Maradona turned it into a work of art.

Did you experience pressure from politicians or the military at the time?

The influence came more from society than from politicians or the military. Politics didn't exploit that match much. The Alfonsín government was in power at the time, and to distance himself from the dictatorship and everything of 1978, he showed considerable restraint when dealing with the players. However, I do remember some parliamentarians trying to turn this match into another form of war. For example, some even suggested that we shouldn't participate.

For Maradona, this was clearly not a good sign…

Maradona participated in that FIFA World Cup as a player but left as Argentina's eternal national hero. That tournament changed all of us, but no one was affected more than him. No one could turn a game into a work of art like he did against England. Diego embodied two Argentinian traits: quick wit and unparalleled technical talent.

In that Argentina vs. England match, two moments went down in history: the "Hand of God" and the "Goal of the Century," both related to him.

Yes, these two titles themselves are also very Argentinian. At that time, we didn't have VAR; it was a more primitive form of football. Today's football is full of various artificial factors. In our era, players had more freedom to express themselves, and Diego demonstrated that freedom in that match. You see, now when I look at Tuchel, I feel he's too much like a coach, even excessively so. Bilardo also placed great importance on tactics, but players then had more freedom on the field than they do now.

How did Maradona explain the handball goal after returning to the dressing room?

I can't recall exactly what he said… but I clearly remember what I asked him. I asked him on the field if that goal was scored with his hand. His answer was very "Maradona": "I'll tell you after the match."

After that, he dribbled past half the English team and scored the "Goal of the Century" against Shilton.

There's so much to say about that goal. I even wrote an article specifically for France Football, analyzing only that attack. Everything that needs to be said and seen about that goal has already been covered. That was the work of art we mentioned earlier.

There are many incredible stories about what happened that afternoon at the Azteca Stadium. For example, Bilardo asked to change the team's original jerseys because he thought they weren't breathable, and the team had to scour the entire city for new ones…

That was actually just a temporary fix. People say it was a stroke of genius, but the truth is, with only 24 hours left before the match, we didn't even have game jerseys to wear. This shouldn't really be praised, but because that match became a legend, even this episode was given special meaning.

The situation has changed significantly now.

It's completely different. The 1986 match was played on an uneven pitch, and I would even say that England's style of play back then was relatively primitive. It was Maradona who elevated that match to another level. A long time has passed. Today, the Premier League is the laboratory of world football, and Tuchel has also built a very complex and sophisticated team. In comparison, Argentina has further strengthened its competitiveness, although in the last match, the team lacked both physical fitness and game content.

How do you think Maradona would evaluate Messi today?

They worked together; Diego was the coach, and Leo was the player. I believe geniuses recognize each other. Maradona was a professional rebel, but he respected Messi.

Messi never seems to run out of energy…

He has made the history of football over the past 20 years even greater. Surprisingly, in recent years, he has finally embarked on the path to the throne. This shows that football talent can transcend everything. Today's football is dominated by over-analysis. People meticulously study what opponents might do and what they will do next, but they can do nothing about Messi. No, they really can't do anything to him. Often, he just needs to walk around on the field, which is very captivating.

This will be a very intense semi-final.

Neither team is perfect. This match is very important both historically and from a football perspective. Both teams have endured tough battles and the exhaustion of extra time to reach the semi-finals. The difference is that England has found another goal-scoring player. With Bellingham, they have a double-barreled shotgun in attack.

Argentina, on the other hand, relies everything on Messi. However, if Julián and Lautaro can score, it might help them regain their form.

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