Former ITV analyst David Pleat has described the 1986 World Cup quarter-final between England and Argentina as the defining “I was there” moment of his broadcasting career, witnessed by 114,000 spectators at Mexico City’s Azteca Stadium.
The match featured two contrasting goals from Diego Maradona that decided England’s fate. The first, the notorious “Hand of God”, saw the Argentine captain punch the ball beyond Peter Shilton after the goalkeeper hesitated off his line. Pleat believes Maradona raised his arm reflexively to protect himself from collision, but noted that the forward accepted the glory despite the clear act of deception once the referee allowed the strike to stand.
Minutes later, Maradona produced what Pleat considers the finest goal he has ever witnessed live, surpassing even Gareth Bale’s overhead kick for Real Madrid against Liverpool in 2018 and Son Heung-min’s solo effort for Tottenham against Burnley. The Argentine weaved past five England players—including Terry Butcher and Terry Fenwick—before finishing past Shilton.
Tournament context and conditions
England’s route to the last eight had been turbulent. An opening defeat to Portugal and a goalless draw against Morocco left the squad facing early elimination, but a tactical reshuffle by manager Bobby Robson and assistant Don Howe brought a 3-0 victory over Poland in which Gary Lineker scored a hat-trick. A subsequent win against Paraguay at the Azteca set up the quarter-final.
Pleat recalled that the altitude in Mexico City posed significant challenges, forcing players to conserve energy and “make the ball do the work” rather than attempting repeated recovery runs. The atmosphere was electric, with the home crowd generating a “huge nest of bees” effect through continual humming and hissing that filled the stadium long before kick-off.
The England squad, based in Saltillo with the television crew, lacked the modern facilities and support structures now standard at major tournaments. Pleat remembers players arranging to watch the Derby and betting on American horse races between matches during their downtime.
Fallout and personal regret
Tunisian referee Ali Ben Nasser, who failed to spot the handball, never officiated at another World Cup match, though he reportedly kept the match ball as a souvenir. Robson, usually diplomatic, was visibly furious when speaking after the match following England’s elimination.
The occasion also provided Pleat with an unwelcome personal memory. When Maradona delivered a cross from the byline, the commentator remarked live on air: “Maradona gets amazing elevation on his balls from the tightest of angles.” The gaffe has endured as a footnote to a day of footballing controversy and genius.