World Cup countdown: 50 days, Argentina moment number 34, Diego MARADONA

By
Roy Nemer
-
5
Diego Maradona 1994 World Cup
Diego Maradona celebrating Argentina's win against Greece at the 1994 FIFA World Cup.

As part of the 50 days, 50 Argentina World Cup moments, we will be counting down the top 50 Argentina moments at a World Cup using the daily number.

We are just 34 days until the start of the FIFA World Cup and in 34th place we have Diego MARADONA scoring his 34th goal for Argentina vs. Greece at the 1994 FIFA World Cup.

When the Argentina National Team took to the pitch on June 21, 1994 against Greece, it was a memorable day for a two different reasons. The first being that Gabriel BATISTUTA scored his first career World Cup hattrick against Greece in a 4-0 win. The second is that it also marked Diego MARADONA’s last ever goal for his country (his 34th in total).

The first goal coming off a great run by Gabriel BATISTUTA who slid the ball underneath the goalkeeper. The second was a downright deadly strike by BATISTUTA. Edge of the area turn and a powerful strike by Batigol. A lovely build up from MARADONA, SIMEONE, REDONDO (those are some names right there), CHAMOT who passed it to Bati and well, the strike was never in doubt.

Diego MARADONA’s last goal (which was Argentina’s third of the match) was one which cannot be put into words. It’s one of those goals you have to watch to understand. To comprehend the passing, the movement, the touches on the ball and the finish by MARADONA.

Gabriel BATISTUTA finished it all off with a typical Bati penalty. That is to say unstoppable.

Here was Argentina’s starting XI for the match:

12. Luis ISLAS
3. Jose CHAMOT
4. Roberto SENSINI
5. Fernando REDONDO
6. Oscar RUGGERI
7. Claudio CANIGGIA
9. Gabriel BATISTUTA
10. Diego MARADONA
13. Fernando CACERES
14. Diego SIMEONE
19. Abel BALBO

Diego Maradona: Argentina International Goals – Senior Level

# Opponent Competition Date Result
1 Scotland Friendly June 2, 1979 Final 3-1 Argentina
2 FIFA World XI Friendly June 25, 1979 Final 2-1 Argentina
3 Bolivia 1979 Copa America August 8, 1979 Final 3-0 Argentina
4 Eire/Northern Ireland Friendly April 30, 1980 Final 1-0 Argentina
5 Austria Friendly May 21, 1980 Final 5-1 Argentina
6 Austria Friendly May 21, 1980 Final 5-1 Argentina
11 Brazil 1980 Mundialito January 4, 1981 Final 1-1 Draw
12 Hungary 1982 FIFA World Cup June 18, 1982 Final 4-1 Argentina
13 Hungary 1982 FIFA World Cup June 18, 1982 Final 4-1 Argentina
14 Paraguay Friendly May 9, 1985 Final 1-1 Draw
15 Chile Friendly May 14, 1985 Final 2-0 Argentina
16 Venezuela 1986 World Cup Qualifiers May 26, 1985 Final 3-2 Argentina
17 Venezuela 1986 World Cup Qualifiers May 26, 1985 Final 3-2 Argentina
18 Venezuela 1986 World Cup Qualifiers May 26, 1985 Final 3-2 Argentina
19 Mexico Friendly November 14, 1985 Final 1-1 Draw
20 Israel Friendly May 4, 1986 Final 7-2 Argentina
21 Israel Friendly May 4, 1986 Final 7-2 Argentina
22 Italy 1986 FIFA World Cup June 5, 1986 Final 1-1 Draw
23 England 1986 FIFA World Cup June 22, 1986 Final 2-1 Argentina
24 England 1986 FIFA World Cup June 22, 1986 Final 2-1 Argentina
25 Belgium 1986 FIFA World Cup June 25, 1986 Final 2-0 Argentina
26 Belgium 1986 FIFA World Cup June 25, 1986 Final 2-0 Argentina
27 Italy Friendly June 10, 1987 Final 3-1 Italy
28 Peru 1987 Copa America June 27, 1987 Final 1-1 Draw
29 Ecuador 1987 Copa America July 2, 1987 Final 3-0 Argentina
30 Ecuador 1987 Copa America July 2, 1987 Final 3-0 Argentina
31 USSR Four Nations Tournament March 31, 1988 Final 4-2 USSR
32 Israel Friendly May 22, 1990 Final 2-1 Argentina
33 Morocco Friendly April 20, 1994 Final 3-1 Argentina
34 Greece 1994 FIFA World Cup June 21, 1994 Final 4-0 Argentinaa

 

If you missed it, here are our 50 World Cup moments:
50: Sergio ROMERO gets 50th cap vs. Switzerland at 2014 FIFA World Cup.
49: Roberto AYALA scores in the 49th minute vs. Germany at 2006 FIFA World Cup.
48: Angel DI MARIA’s 48th cap for Argentina vs. Bosnia-Herzegovina at 2014 FIFA World Cup.
47: Mario KEMPES scores Argentina’s 47th goal all time at the 1978 FIFA World Cup vs. Peru.
46: Jorge VALDANO scores in the 46th minute at the 1986 FIFA World Cup.
45: Javier ZANETTI scores in the 45th minute vs. England at the 1998 FIFA World Cup.
44: Gabriel BATISTUTA scores goal number 44 in his Argentina career at the 1998 FIFA World Cup.
43: Gonzalo HIGUAIN receives cap number 43 for Argentina vs. Germany in the final of the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
42: Pedro PASCULLI scores in the 42nd minute for Argentina vs. Uruguay at the 1986 FIFA World Cup.
41: Maxi RODRÍGUEZ scores in the 41st minute for Argentina vs. Serbia & Montenegro at the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
40: Roberto AYALA plays in his 40th match for Argentina vs. Jamaica at the 1998 FIFA World Cup.
39: Pablo ZABALETA plays in his 39th match for Argentina vs. Nigeria at the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
38: Javier SAVIOLA scores in the 38th minute for Argentina vs. Ivory Coast at the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
37: Maxi RODRIGUEZ plays in his 37th match for Argentina vs. South Korea at the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
36: Mauricio PINEDA scores in the 36th minute for Argentina vs. Croatia at the 1998 FIFA World Cup.
35: Ezequiel LAVEZZI plays in his 35th match for Argentina vs. Netherlands at the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

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5 Comments

  1. I watched the Argentina 94 world cup games on TV and till that day I truly believe that there was a conspiracy against Maradona, there was never ever player who was escorted from the football filed to perform a doping test . If Maradona had stayed in that tournament, Argentina would have won the Cup.

  3. When I saw Diego’s performance against Greece, i told my self , this is it. this will be our third world cup.
    but then , the doping tragedy with maradona occured and the team lost.
    it was sad world cup for me. even sadder than 2002. it is difficult to see Maradona journey has ended this way.

  4. I will always remember that goal.
    Just WOW!

    If only Maradona could have stayed on that team…

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