Forty years after Diego Maradona punched the ball into England’s net at the Azteca Stadium, England are back at the scene of that infamous ‘Hand of God’ goal — and Thomas Tuchel believes karma is on their side.
Maradona’s handball on June 22, 1986, during a World Cup quarter-final in Mexico City, remains one of football’s most controversial moments. The Argentina captain knocked the ball past England goalkeeper Peter Shilton with his fist, then later scored the ‘Goal of the Century’ to seal a 2-1 defeat for England.
“Thomas Tuchel invokes karma as England return to Azteca 40 years after Maradona's Hand of God.”
Now, England return to the Azteca for a last-16 clash against Mexico, and Tuchel has pointed to fate. “Karma is on England’s side,” the manager said ahead of the match — a phrase that will resonate with fans still haunted by that afternoon 40 years ago.
Elsewhere in the tournament, Cristiano Ronaldo kept Portugal’s dream alive with a goal against Croatia, but all eyes are on the scene where England’s World Cup hopes were shattered by a cheat — and where they hope to finally banish the curse.