David Pleat recalls Maradona’s Hand of God and his Azteca commentary blunder

Former Tottenham manager David Pleat has shared his personal memories of England’s fateful 1986 World Cup quarter-final defeat to Argentina, describing the day Diego Maradona scored both the most controversial and, in his view, one of the finest goals ever witnessed live. Writing for the Guardian, Pleat recalled working as a pundit for ITV alongside commentator Martin Tyler at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City, where a crowd of 114,000 watched Argentina eliminate England.

Pleat, who had just begun his broadcasting career after taking up his first television role with ITV that tournament, said the build-up to the match remained vivid decades later. He described chaotic Mexico City traffic and encounters with local police officers who would sometimes seek small bribes from drivers before matches, adding that the noise from the crowd inside the stadium before kick-off resembled “a huge nest of bees”.

England’s team and the altitude challenge

England had beaten Paraguay at the same venue days earlier and lined up with Peter Shilton in goal, Terry Butcher at centre-back, Glenn Hoddle in midfield and Gary Lineker leading the attack, according to Pleat. He noted that wingers Chris Waddle and John Barnes were struggling to force their way into the starting eleven at that stage of the tournament.

Pleat explained that playing at altitude posed a particular problem for England’s midfield, since recovery runs after surging forward became far more difficult in the thin air. He felt the team lacked pace in that department and would need the ball to do more of the work against Argentina.

The Hand of God and a moment of genius

England held their own for much of the first half, but the game turned early in the second period when Maradona produced his infamous “Hand of God” goal. Pleat offered his own interpretation of the incident, suggesting that Maradona raised his arm out of fear of colliding with the onrushing Shilton, who was slightly slow off his line, rather than acting with deliberate intent, though he acknowledged the goal amounted to “a clear piece of cheating” once Maradona celebrated with no flag raised and no whistle blown.

England’s players immediately surrounded the Tunisian referee, Ali Ben Nasser, in protest, according to Pleat, who noted that Ben Nasser never took charge of another World Cup match but did keep the match ball as a souvenir. Minutes later Maradona scored again, this time weaving past Peter Reid, Peter Beardsley, Butcher and Terry Fenwick before slotting past Shilton in a goal that drew no complaints from England.

Pleat rated that second goal as the best he has ever seen live, placing it above Gareth Bale’s overhead kick for Real Madrid against Liverpool in the 2018 Champions League final and Son Heung-min’s celebrated solo run for Tottenham against Burnley. Bobby Robson brought on Waddle and Barnes, and hopes briefly lifted when Barnes crossed for Lineker to head in, but England could not find an equaliser and went out of the tournament. Pleat recalled that Robson, usually mild-mannered, lost his temper in his post-match interview.

A commentary slip to remember

Pleat also admitted to his own embarrassing moment on air that day, recalling that as Maradona whipped in a cross from the byline he told viewers: “Maradona gets amazing elevation on his balls from the tightest of angles.”

Reflecting on the wider tournament, Pleat pointed out that the 1986 quarter-finalists alongside Argentina and England included Brazil, Mexico and European heavyweights Spain, Belgium, France and West Germany. He noted that it remained to be seen whether any African nations would reach the last eight of the current World Cup, though he was in no doubt that the standard of African football had risen enormously over the past four decades.