Argentina’s football legend Diego Maradona (centre) watches his team’s match against Iran at the Mineirao Stadium. (AFP)
DPA/Rio de Janeiro
Argentina’s last World Cup group match against Nigeria today brings back unhappy memories for the two-time world champions.
Exactly 20 years ago to the day - on June 25, 1994 - Diego Maradona was selected to undergo a doping test. The opponents in Boston then as in Porto Alegre tomorrow were Nigeria.
Five days later, the result was known. The 1986 world champion had used the stimulants ephedrine und norephedrine and was banned for the rest of the tournament.
The positive test led to the end of the then 33-year-old football great’s career and Argentina’s exit at the 1994 World Cup in the United States.
Until then, the tournament had gone well for Maradona.
A 4-0 opening victory over Greece was followed by a 2-1 win over Nigeria. On the day of the positive doping test result, Argentina were playing their last group game against Bulgaria. A shocked Argentina team lost 2-0, and a few days later went out in the last 16 with a 3-2 defeat to Romania.
A whole generation of Argentinians can still recall the image of a blonde nurse accompanying a still smiling number 10 by the hand from the pitch to go to the doping control.
Julio Grondona, then as now Argentinian football federation president, could have fought to prevent Maradona’s expulsion but didn’t, according to the journalists Andres Burgos and Alejandro Wall in a recent book published in Argentina.
Grondona did not want to upset football’s world governing body FIFA, the journalists maintain.
“He had to choose to whom he owed more loyalty, Maradona or FIFA. He decided on FIFA,” Burgo told dpa.
Factbox: Nigeria v Argentina
Where: The Beira Rio stadium, Porto Alegre, Capacity: 48,849
Referee: Nicola Rizzoli (Italy)
Probable teams:
Nigeria: 1-Vincent Enyeama; 5-Efe Ambrose, 13-Juwon Oshaniwa, 22-Kenneth Omeruo, 2-Joseph Yobo; 10-John Obi Mikel, 17-Ogenzi Onazi, 11-Victor Moses, 7-Ahmed Musa; 8-Peter Odemwingie, 9-Emmanuel Emenike
Argentina: 1-Sergio Romero; 4-Pablo Zabaleta; 2-Ezequiel Garay; 16-Marcos Rojo; 17-Federico Fernandez; 5-Fernando Gago; 7-Angel Di Maria; 14-Javier Mascherano; 9-Gonzalo Higuain; 10-Lionel Messi; 20-Sergio Aguero.
Key stats:
Argentina have won the World Cup twice, in 1978 and 1986.
In previous Group F matches, Argentina beat Bosnia 2-1 and Iran 1-0 have already qualified for the Group of 16.
Nigeria are playing in their fifth World Cup. Their best performances were in 1994 and 1998, when they reached the Round of 16.
Nigeria drew with Iran in their opening Group F match then beat Bosnia 1-0. They need a point againstArgentina to ensure going through in the event that Iran beat Bosnia.
Nigeria are reigning African champions.
Previous meetings: The two sides have met six times previously, with Argentina winning four times, Nigeria once, and one match ending in a draw.