In Aztec mythology, Quetzalcoatl and Tezcatlipoca represent two conflicting, but complementary halves of a whole – like yin and yang. Quetzalcoatl, the feathered serpent, is the god of light and order and his brother Tezcatlipoca, the smoking mirror, symbolizes night and chaos.Forty years ago in the gigantic Estadio Azteca, named in tribute to Mexico’s ancestral heritage, this powerful mythical and cosmic transformative duality found its divine expression. An equally legendary player came to explode with such power and madness that its seismic waves are still felt in the world of football.As England return to the great stage of the Azteca – placed at an elevation of more than two kilometers above sea level – to face co-hosts Mexico in the clash of the 16 of this World Cup, Harry Kane and Co. will be burdened by the challenging conditions like the ghost of Diego Maradona.At Mexico ’86, after struggling in the group stage, England seemed to have settled into their rhythm by beating Paraguay 3-0 at the Azteca, with Gary Lineker scoring a brace to set up a high-voltage clash against Argentina. However, Bobby Robson’s team did not understand the paradox of Maradona’s art coming to consume so brutally but so beautifully.If his first goal from the “Hand of God” was probably the result of a force born in Tezcatlipoca, his second – now revered as “the goal of the century” – came out of nowhere with all his enigma and entertainment, with all his light and order, his wonderful run past six English players injecting the pleasant sensitivity of an unpredictable genius and ebullient dream images in the dream page of the game.The build-up to Argentina’s clash with England has been largely based around the Falklands War, a 10-week conflict between the two nations in 1982 over a territory in the South Atlantic about 300 kilometers off the Argentine coast.As if thrust into a personal war, Maradona took up arms – his left hand and his left foot to be precise – interweaving chaos with magic and single-handedly defeated England 2-1 and led Argentina to their second World Cup title in 1986.His first goal came in the 51st minute. As he tried to play a one-two with Jorge Valdano at the edge of the box, the Argentinian striker could not control well facing a challenge from the English midfielder Steve Hodge and the ball was looped in the air. Goalkeeper Peter Shilton tried to clear the danger, but a five-foot-five Maradona quickly rose to the occasion, his diminutive body initially trained to head the ball, but instead punched and punched, the ball bouncing into an empty net.Neither the Tunisian referee Ali bin Nasser nor the Bulgarian linesman Bogdan Dochev suspected anything and Maradona ran to celebrate in front of his father in the stands.“A bit with the head of Maradona and another bit with the hand of Dio (“A bit with the head of Maradona and a bit with the hand of God)”, Maradona later said about the goal.But when he came to call again four minutes later, a fascinating 10 seconds of brilliance played on the sacred grass of the Aztecs in what Valdano later described as “Diego’s personal journey”.First a double dragback to evade Peter Beardsley and then Reid. It was followed by his typical change of pace, before going through Terry Butcher and Fenwick unmolested, and finally rounding Shilton to complete the move.Thus was born the legend of Maradona – at its most indomitable and intoxicating.Current England manager Thomas Tuchel was 12 at the time, watching the game from home in Germany. “The one who dribbles and that… yes, who never stops these days”, he now said.Can a German be a ghostbuster for England? Tuchel believes fate would be on England’s side four decades later. “We will get him back. It’s karma. Karma will come back for us,” he said before the match against Mexico.With such high expectations comes another challenge: the height factor. Many believe that Bob Beamon’s legendary long jump world record of 8.90 meters at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City was helped significantly by the city’s high elevation. Maradona won’t be there, but past and present weigh heavily on Tuchel’s side as they look to scale dizzying heights.
