Argentinean coach and famous football player Diego Maradona has finally included Inter Milan midfielder Esteban Cambiasso in the nineteen man Argentina squad for the November 14 match against European champions Spain at the Vicente Calderon stadium in Madrid.
Maradona springs last minute surprises
Maradona had ignored the Inter Milan midfielder for long and he was not considered for the final eight qualifying matches for the World Cup 2010. Along with Cambiasso, Real Madrid’s Fernando Gago and Atletico Madrid’s Maxi Rodriguez – both of whom missed the crucial match in Montevideo have also been included in the World Cup squad. Another surprise entry into the Argentinean squad is the uncapped left-back Cristian Ansaldi, who plays for Russian champions Rubin Kazan.
The new entrants:
| Cambiasso | Gago | Maxi Rodriguez |
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Stuttering performance and a last minute entry to the 2010 gala had put immense pressure on Maradona to end player rotation and consolidate a stable team. Argentina only secured their place in the World Cup after a 1-0 win over Uruguay on 15th of this month at Montevideo.
As Argentina gears up to take on Spain in their friendly at the Vicente Calderon in Madrid on November 1, hopes ride high on these new entrants.
Here’s the final Argentina squad for the World Cup
Goalkeepers: Sergio Romero (AZ Alkmaar), Mariano Andujar (Catania)
Defenders: Fabricio Coloccini (Newcastle United), Gabriel Heinze (Olympique Marseille), Martin Demichelis (Bayern Munich), Nicolas Pareja (Espanyol), Cristian Ansaldi (Rubin Kazan)
Midfielders: Javier Mascherano (Liverpool), Esteban Cambiasso (Inter Milan), Fernando Gago (Real Madrid), Maximiliano Rodriguez (Atletico Madrid), Jonas Gutierrez (Newcastle United), Pablo Aimar, Angel Di Maria (both Benfica)
Forwards: Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Sergio Aguero (Atletico Madrid), Carlos Tevez (Manchester City), Gonzalo Higuain (Real Madrid), Ezequiel Lavezzi (Napoli)
Maradona’s ‘Hand of God’ goal in the quarter final match against England during the 1986 FIFA World Cup is perhaps the most famous or rather infamous football moments. The goal leashed out a series of controversies that continue to reverberate through the game’s history till date.
What Actually Happened?
Six minutes into the second half, Maradona cut inside from the right flank and played a diagonal low pass to the edge of the area to team-mate Jorge Valdano and continued his run in the hope of a one-two movement. Maradona’s pass, however, was played slightly behind Valdano and reached England’s Steve Hodge, the left midfielder who had dropped back to defend. Hodge, who swapped shirts with Maradona after the game tried to hook the ball clear but miscued it. The ball screwed off his foot and into the penalty area, toward Maradona, who had continued his run. England goalkeeper Peter Shilton came out of his goal to punch the ball clear, with his considerable height at 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m), making him clear favorite to beat Maradona at 5 ft 5 in (1.65 m) to it. However, Maradona reached it first, with the outside of his left fist and the ball went into the goal.
A TV still highlighting the infringement
Watch the ‘Hand of God’ video:
Due to lack of sophisticated monitoring and replay tools the referee Tunisian Ali Bin Nasser missed the infringement and allowed the goal. In a press conference after the match Maradona described the goal as “a little with the head of Maradona and a little with the hand of God.” The goal received much flak and became a bone of contention between Argentina and England. It was not until 2008 that Maradona apologized for his deed:
“If I could apologize and go back and change history I would do. But the goal is still a goal, Argentina became world champions and I was the best player in the world,” Maradona told the Sun tabloid in London, thus settling the 20 years old controversy.
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