Diego Maradona’s son says Wednesday’s World Cup semi-final between Argentina and England is “not a normal game” and claimed “the brothers who died in the Falklands come to mind”.
Diego Sinagara, one of Maradona’s eight recognised children, spoke out on the eve of the last-four clash in Atlanta despite concerns about violence between the sets of supporters due to decades of political and sporting differences.
One of the biggest of all came in 1986 when Maradona punched the ball into the net, before scoring a brilliant second, as Argentina beat England 2-1 in Mexico City in the quarter-finals.
The game was played amid heightened tension coming just four years after the Falklands War that saw Argentina invade the British Overseas Territory in the South Atlantic. The 74-day conflict ended with Argentina surrendering and the islands remaining under British control. Over 900 service people were killed, including 649 Argentinians.
Maradona died in 2020 but is still revered in his homeland for his one-man show against England at the Azteca 34 years earlier.
This will be a ‘different game’ for everyone from Argentina – Maradona’s son
Sinagra said in an interview with Spanish publication Marca: “My dad would not see it as a normal game, or as just another game. We can say many things, but it would not be normal. For all Argentines and Maradonaians, it will be a different encounter, where everything about the Falklands and all our brothers who died there come to mind. Also, what happened with my dad in 1986. My old man won an historic game and since then nothing is normal against England.”
Argentina are the defending world champions but have struggled to hit top gear in reaching the last four, although the same could be said about England.
Sinagra feels it will be a close game at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium. He added: “This one in particular will be hard for our national team. It is true that England are strong, but, beware, you have to face and beat the world champions. It’s going to be hard… for both of us.”
Sinagra, 39, who was born two months after his father cheated against England, says he has a lot of affection for Argentina’s current hero, eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi.
“The truth is that I have never had the opportunity to meet Messi, but I have him in my heart, like all Argentines, and he deserves to win the World Cup again,” said Sinagra.
“He is the best of the ‘humans’, because my old man has no comparison with anyone on this earth, he was a football alien. But Leo deserves everything. I have a lot of affection for Leo and his family, he is the captain of my national team. I respect him very much and I hope God gives him that opportunity to play another final… and to win it, of course.”
