HERZOGENAURACH, Germany - The rivalry between Argentina and Germany is an old
one, including two World Cup finals, with one victory each. And it's bubbling up
again.
The teams meet again Friday, when the quarterfinal in Berlin puts Argentine
wonder boy Lionel Messi and Lukas Podolski of Germany on center stage. But for
the two young stars, the World Cups that started it all exist only in the books
— or the videos.
Messi, who just turned 19, wasn't even born when Diego Maradona led Argentina
to a 3-2 win over Germany in the 1986 final in Mexico. Four years later, Germany
took its revenge, disposing 1-0 of Argentina to win its third world title.
"I've seen the goals on video," Messi said of the 1986 final.
The 24-year-old Podolski, who has scored three goals for Germany in this
World Cup, has no real recollections of that game.
Argentina was ahead 2-0 that day with goals by Jose Luis Brown and Jorge
Valdano, but things got tight when Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and Rudi Voeller scored
one goal each to make it 2-2 with only 10 minutes left.
Maradona, an acknowledged admirer of the young Messi, took the ball in the
middle of the field and set up Jorge Burruchaga with a precise pass. Burruchaga
ran a few yards and scored the winner.
"When the Germans tied, I was not scared at all," Maradona recalled later in
his 2002 autobiography. "We knew the victory was coming, and it came."
A crowd of 114,600 attended the match at Azteca Stadium in Mexico City, most
of them Mexicans rooting loudly for Germany. Argentines are not too popular
among fellow Latin Americans when it comes to soccer.
That 1986 World Cup also went down in history as the tournament of two
unforgettable Maradona goals, both against England. The first was the infamous
"hand of God" goal. On the second, he dribbled through half the English team,
widely considered the best goal ever in a World Cup.
Four years later, it was again Argentina vs. Germany in a World Cup final,
this time in Rome. But the final match at Olympic Stadium has been considered
one of the poorest, most boring in World Cup history.
As the Argentine national anthem was played before the start, fans booed
noisily and apparently Maradona was at least part of the reason.
"Northern Italians never forgave Maradona for leading a modest southern team
such as Napoli to victories over traditional northern powerhouses such as
Juventus, Inter or Milan", Sergio Levinsky, a veteran Argentine newsman said in
explaining the fans' reaction.
In addition, Argentina eliminated Italy from the tournament.
Maradona, still not fully recovered from a foot injury, was not at his best
in the match and the team struggled. Germany won on a penalty kick by Andreas
Brehme.
Not a final to remember. Just one goal — less than in any other — and red
cards for Argentines Pedro Monzon and Gustavo Dezotti.
Nestor Lorenzo, a center for Argentina that day, is now an assistant to coach
Jose Pekerman. He repeated an old Argentine complaint against Mexican referee
Edgardo Codesal: "He gave the Germans a penalty that didn't exist."
Many agree that Codesal's call in the 84th minute was dubious.
Franz Beckenbauer became world champion as the German coach, as he had done
in 1974 as a player and team captain. Current German coach Juergen Klinsmann was
a striker on the 1990 team.
Beckenbauer, as head of the World Cup organizing committee, will attend the
match Friday. So will Maradona, who has cheered and applauded every Argentina
match in this World Cup, always wearing the "Albiceleste" — the blue-and-white
Argentine team shirt.
The Argentina coach in 1990 was Carlos Bilardo, who recently recalled how
Beckenbauer made a substitution after Argentina was down to 10 players.
"He sent a side back to replace another side back," Bilardo told the Buenos
Aires daily La Nacion. "This guy really respects us. 'Who knows?' I thought, 'we
may have a chance in the overtime.'"
But there was no overtime. Brehme's penalty kick ended it all.
Referee Codesal soon whistled the end of the match and Germany captain Lothar
Matthaeus lifted the World Cup. A few yards away, Argentina captain Maradona
cried openly.
There will be no cup lifted Friday, but there may be many tears for one of
these old rivals.
___
Associated Press Writer Vicente Panetta has covered the last eight World Cups
for the AP, including both Argentina vs. Germany finals.
