World Cup: Diego Maradona’s shadow looms large as England return to the Azteca

A pedestrian carries a bucket past graffiti depicting the late soccer legend Diego Maradona in Buenos Aires. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd) In Aztec mythology, Quetzalcoatl and Tezcatlipoca represent two conflicting but complementary halves of a whole – like yin and yang. Quetzalcoatl, the feathered serpent, is the god of light and order, and his brother Tezcatlipoca, the smoking mirror, symbolizes night and chaos.Forty years ago in the gigantic Estadio Azteca, named after Mexico’s ancestral heritage, this powerful mythical and transformative cosmic duality found its divine expression. An equally mythical player came to explode with such power and madness that his seismic waves are still felt in the world of football.When England return to the big stage of the Azteca – sitting more than two kilometers above sea level – to face co-hosts Mexico in this World Cup’s round of 16 clash, Harry Kane and co. they will be burdened by demanding conditions just like the spirit of Diego Maradona.In Mexico ’86, after struggling in the group stage, England appeared to have settled into their rhythm by blowing away Paraguay 3-0 at the Azteca, with Gary Lineker scoring to set up a high-voltage clash against Argentina. But little did Bobby Robson’s team realize that the paradox of Maradona’s art would consume them so brutally yet so beautifully.If his first goal from the “Hand of God” was probably the result of the power born of Tezcatlipoca, his second – now revered as the “goal of the century” – came from nowhere in all its mystery and fun, with all its light and order, his labyrinthine run around six English players brought an unpredictable genius of pleasant perception and a moving dream to the ebullient game.The rise of Argentina’s clash with England was heavily based on the Falklands War, a 10-week conflict between the two nations in 1982 over territory in the South Atlantic about 300 miles off Argentina’s coast.Maradona, as if thrown into a personal war, took up arms – left hand and left foot to be precise – mixed chaos with magic and single-handedly set out to destroy England 2-1 and lead Argentina to their second World Cup title in 1986.His first goal came in the 51st minute. Attempting to play a 1-2 with Jorge Valdano on the edge of the box, the Argentina forward failed to get the ball under control as he faced a challenge from England midfielder Steve Hodge and the ball looped in the air. Goalkeeper Peter Shilton tried to parry the danger but Maradona, who was five feet five inches, immediately seized the opportunity, his diminutive body initially shaped as if he was heading for the ball, but instead he punched and punched and the ball bounced into the empty net.Tunisian referee Ali bin Nasser and Bulgarian linesman Bogdan Dochev had no idea and Maradona ran to celebrate in front of his father in the stands.“A bit of Maradona’s head and a bit of God’s hand,” Maradona later said of the goal.But when he came on again four minutes later, it was a mesmerizing 10 seconds of brilliance that Valdano later described as “Diego’s personal journey” on the Aztecs’ hallowed turf.First a double dragback to avoid Peter Beardsley and then Reid. His trademark change of pace followed before he went past Terry Butcher and Fenwick with no problems before finally rounding Shilton to complete the move.Thus the legend of Maradona was born – in the most indomitable and intoxicating way.Current England manager Thomas Tuchel was 12 years old at the time and was watching the game from home in Germany. “The dribbling one and the… yeah, that would never do these days,” he pointed out now.Can the German be England’s ghostbuster? Tuchel believes fate will be on England’s side four decades on. “We’ll get it back. It’s karma. Karma will get back to us,” he said ahead of the clash with Mexico.With that level of expectation comes another challenge: the altitude factor. Many believed that Bob Beamon’s legendary long jump world record of 8.90 meters at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City was greatly aided by the city’s high altitude. Maradona won’t be there, but the past and present weigh heavily on Tuchel’s team as they try to reach dizzying heights.