Discuss @David Flin 's latest article here
The assumption I made was that the result at 90 minutes would be unchanged, apart from the non-goal. I rather think the Maradona episode you describe was actually Argentina's second goal; it was a stunning piece of play, no question. He beat six tackles from five players, with almost contemptuous ease, sold Shilton a dummy that left him on the ground, and slotted the ball home. It was sheer genius play, and probably the best goal scored in a World Cup match.
If the match reaches 90 minutes and goes to extra time, then things start to swing England's way. The Argentine team had pretty much exhausted itself after 80 minutes, and was running on empty. Taking the match to extra-time certainly places an England win within the bounds of the possible, maybe even probable.
The Argentine team of '86 was Maradona plus 10 nobodies; essentially, OTL, he won the World Cup pretty much single-handed. If any player is worthy of the Great Man theory in football, it's him (and arguably Eusebio, but that's another digression).
Once you change the result of the match, and taking out the Hand of God, that's not a huge stretch, then things are different in Argentina.
Of course, my favoured Maradona 'what-if' is "What if he had signed for Sheffield United in 1978?"
Perhaps he wouldn't have played in the 1979 Youth World Cup, maybe giving a bost to the career of *looks up* idk, Igor Pomonaryov?It could well be my memory, but I was sure he did it twice, scoring with the first. In my mental chronology, it was just after the ball went just over Lineker's head at 2-1. [Just checked, it was Tapia (who?) who hit the post after it went to 2-1].
I absolutely agree that Maradona won the World Cup in 86. The only modern player I can think of that does the same is Ronaldo.
Of course, my favoured Maradona 'what-if' is "What if he had signed for Sheffield United in 1978?"
Lineker would likely be England's top scorer? Almost certain to leapfrog Charlton.Which avoids the reign of Graham Taylor. What other effects it would have had, though I don't know. I doubt there would have been many, aside from being considerably more likely to qualify for the 1994 World Cup.
Britain had already formed an international governing body for Football prior to the founding of FIFA - the IFAB, which still oversees the rules of International Football (FIFA is a member along with the English, Scottish, Welsh & Irish FA's).being all sniffy and precious about it as in OTL