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Leo Messi - Cheeky or what?

Rashid

By Rashid,
in FF - Football Forum

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Rashid Grand Master

Rashid

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ARGENTINE wind-up merchant Lionel Messi yesterday tried to rattle England fans by wearing boots praising Maradona's "handball" goal in the 1986 World Cup.

 

The 18-year-old Barcelona striker smugly paraded around the ground during his team's demolition of Serbia and Montenegro with a logo on his footwear that read in Spanish: "The Hand of God '86."

 

His gesture was a clear attempt to taunt England supporters about how Maradona cheated his way to victory by pushing the ball past goalie Peter Shil-ton with his fist during Argentina's 2-1 victory in Mexico 20 years ago .

 

But fans last night laughed off his feeble jibe.

 

One, Robin Phipps branded the wind-up "pathetic". The 55-year-old pipe fitter, from Bristol, said: "The Argentines can boast but we don't give a monkey's about them.

 

"We are English and we can handle it. They can have any grudge they want but we will take our revenge on the pitch next time the teams meet.

 

"As far as we are concerned Maradona's goal is long gone and it doesn't mean anything to anyone any more. We are prepared to let bygones be bygones." Former policeman Roy Smith added: "I think Lionel Messi is trying to stir it up but the English are bigger than that.

 

"We should just ignore him because it's absolute rubbish.

 

"We know Maradona cheated and they do too but we must not let them wind us up."

 

Kevin Miles, of the Football Supporters Federation, said: "I'm not going to take offence, this sort of thing is all part of the game.

 

"I'm quite relaxed about it. I'm not going to get worked up. We will take our revenge on the field."

 

Maradona was in the crowd yesterday celebrating Argentina's 6-0 drubbing of the sorry Serbs.

 

Messi, who was not even born when the Hand of God incident sparked fury among England fans, scored one of the goals.

 

Former England midfielder Steve Hodge played in the '86 game against the South Americans and swapped shirts with Argentine legend Maradona.

 

Steve, capped 24 time for his country, said of Messi: "He's a good enough player so he can probably get away with it.

 

"I don't really feel offended by him wearing them as the incident was such a long time ago.

 

"If we get play Argentina I don't think the England players will set out to get him. Boots are just a pair of boots, that's all."

 

Maradona's left little finger was bandaged up as he watched his team's impressive display in Gelsenkirchen.

 

Perhaps he's suffering some long-term pain caused by the ball hitting his hand 20 years ago in Mexico.

 

Sunday Mirror

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