The Republic of Ireland opened their their new look Landsdowne Road on Wednesday against Argentina losing 1-0 with a dubious off-side goal. Lionel Messi was by far the most outstanding player to line-out for either team and got a standing ovation from the crowd when substituted early in the second-half. The last time Argentina played the Republic in Dublin was 1980 when the Argentines were reigning World Champions and it was another player who stood out from the rest his name was Diego Armando Maradona who at the tender age of 18 was already a hero in the Republic.
Wycombe managerGary Waddockwas making only his second appearance at International level and had the unenviable task of marking the midfield wizard and this is what he said about that night in May 1980.
Everyone was talking about him before the game, saying what a talent he was. It’s a fantastic memory to have of playing against someone like that. I couldn’t get near him, no one could. But to be on the same pitch as him- you don’t forget those moments.”
“He was head and shoulders above everyone on their team even at that tender age. He was on a different level, which gave you an extra interest watching how his career developed.”
After 75 minutes Waddock was replaced by Gerry Ryan he added: ” I wasn’t injured, I was worn out by that stage he joked”.
After watching the game at the Aviva I think Messi’s performance was pretty similar to Maradona’s performance because nobody could get near him either and when they did they fouled him. Hope Messi doesn’t go down that slippery slope that Maradona did as it would be the biggest waste of talent ever in football.
