Diego Maradona took over the world stage as he dominated play in helping Argentina collect their second World Cup trophy, finished off with a 3-2 victory over West Germany in Mexico City.
Second World Cup In Mexico, Another Format Change
Mexico became the first country to host a World Cup for the second time. The Mexicans earned the right to stage the event after Colombia withdrew due to financial reasons. A terrible earthquake ravished Mexico in September 1985 and some 20,000 people died. But none of the stadiums were damaged and Mexico staged a terrific football spectacle. The 1986 World Cup saw yet another format change as the second group stage was dropped in favor of a Round of 16 and quarter-final knockout games. The tournament ran from May 31-June 29, 1986.
Argentina Advance, Denmark Dynamic, Morocco Make History
Jorge Valdano scored three goals as Argentina won Group A despite a 1-1 draw with fellow Round of 16 qualifiers and holders Italy. Hosts Mexico advanced from Group B with Paraguay while the Soviet Union and European champions France drew and both went through in Group C. Brazil did not give up a goal in winning all three Group D matches and moving on with Spain.
While both Canada and Iraq lost all three games, fellow newcomers Denmark lived up to their nickname "Dynamite Danish" and used an attacking style - including Michael Laudrup and Preben Elkjaer both scoring hat-tricks in a 6-1 win over Uruguay - to bag three straight wins in taking Group E ahead of West Germany. And Morocco became the first African team to survive the first round by winning Group F with a 3-1 win over Portugal, finishing ahead of England and sending home the Portuguese. Poland, Belgium, Uruguay and Hungary also advanced to Round of 16 as third placed teams.
Argentina, West Germany Survive, Belanov Hat-Trick Not Enough, Butragueno Hits Four
In the Round of 16, Argentina scored late in the first half to beat Uruguay 1-0 and Lothar Matthäus hit with three minutes to play to give West Germany a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Morocco. Europe's 1986 Footballer of the Year Igor Belanov scored a hat-trick but it was not enough as the Soviet Union lost 4-3 in extra time to Belgium. Belanov became the third player to score three goals in a World Cup match only to lose.
Emilio Butragueno scored four goals as Spain brought Denmark back to reality with a 5-1 win while Brazil beat Poland 4-0; France eliminated defending champions Italy 2-0; England got two of Golden Shoe winner Gary Lineker's six goals in a 3-0 win over Paraguay; and hosts Mexico ousted Bulgaria 2-0.
Diego's "Hand Of God" And Magical Dribbling Dash
Diego Maradona stamped his genius and brashness on the World Cup in two of the most famous goals in football history as Argentina downed England 2-1 in the quarter-finals. The first goal would later become known as the "Hand of God" which were the playmaker's words to describe the goal as he raised his arm and flipped a high ball past English keeper Peter Shilton in the 51st minute. Three minutes later, Diego set off on perhaps the most magical dribbling display in cup history, dribbling from the midfield past five England defenders and Shelton before finishing with a perfect shot.
Penalty Shoot-Outs Decide Three Quarter-Finals
Penalty shoot-outs would decide the other three quarters. West Germany and hosts Mexico were scoreless after 120 minutes before German keeper Harald Schumacher stopped two Mexico attempts in a 4-1 win. Michel Platini was stopped in his chance to win before Julio Cesar struck the post in France's 4-3 shoot-out win after 1-1 in regulation. That was the same score after 120 minutes between Spain and Belgium, who went on to win 5-4 as Jean-Marie Pfaff stopped Eloy's attempt.
Argentina, West Germany Reach Final
In the semi-finals, Maradona scored two more goals in Argentina's 2-0 win over Belgium. And West Germany advanced to their second straight final as Andreas Brehme and Rudi Völler scored in a 2-0 win over France.
France Take Third Place
Bernard Genghini and Manuel Amoros scored in extra time as France beat Belgium 4-2 for third place.
Maradona Unstoppable For 90 Minutes, Argentina Crowned Champs
German coach Franz Beckenbauer had Lothar Matthäus mark Maradona in the final and the Argentinean star was a non-factor for most of the game. Still Argentina went ahead 2-0 after on goals by Jose Brown and Valdano. But Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and Völler scored to equalize with 10 minutes to play. And Maradona finally found some space and sent Jorge Burruchaga into the clear for the winner in the 83rd minute. Diego had scored five goals and set up five more of Argentina's 14 goals as the South Americans were world champs for a second time.
