The English… so funny. It was a football match… let… it… go.
Yes, Maradona cheated but he cheated in a game.
I don’t want to be rude but that little white insignificant lie can’t be compared with, for example, the invasion of Irak, (WMD).-
Well, this is posisible one of my latest, if not the last, post in SDMB, it’s been a good three years, I’ll be around, as a lurker, see you around folks. It has been nice meeting you.-
Only one English person has commented on it in this thread, as far as I can see, and that was to make a joke about it. We’re really not that bothered about it, honestly. Personally, I was more depressed by the second goal, at the time. What can you do against that?
Well, the otherwise useless Terry Fenwick could have taken him out before he got to the penalty area. But I’m over it, really.
Usram. I remembered once watching an English journalist, (I think he woked fo the BBC) asking another one what were the chances of the argentinians cheating again. This was prior to the world cup 98 match between Argentina and England.
Anyway my post was directed to The Punkyova, I assumed he was english.
The one in which Simeone cheated in order to get David Beckham sent off, you mean? 
Usram. That is not cheating, we call it “Picardia Criolla”, Beckham did make the foul. Simeone deserved the Oscar for best actor. His performance was so convincing that I thought he had lost the leg.
The moral, never touch an Argentinian player, because he’ll cry like a baby and will get you expelled
Well, I’m a she, and I’m American. 
Actually, I take your point that it is a game, not, as you so astutely point out, WMD. Anyone involved in lying about WMD to start a war should go to jail. Maradona should be ashamed of himself. Different responses to different levels of offence.
Coldfire, a nice, well-thought out post about the various types of “cheating” and the way people react to it. Yes, taking a dive is also cheating, and divers should also be ashamed. In this, as in so many other areas in life, I tend to see things in more “black and white” than most people. There is truth, and there is lying. Period. I don’t always live up to my own standards, and I know they aren’t shared by everyone. (I don’t mean that to sound like I think everyone else is dishonest, either.) I appreciate your point of view, and to be honest, I somewhat envy your ability to be so nuanced.
I often find myself the only one having such an uncompromising view about things. It doesn’t always make me very popular, let me tell you! However, I try to keep a sense of humor about it, and choose which battles to fight. For example, I think speeding is wrong. Period. I find if morally unacceptable to deliberately break the law. I don’t comment (although I do notice!) if someone else is driving. However, I won’t ride in a car with a radar detector (unless it is unplugged and put into the glove box) and I won’t allow one in my car. YMMV, but such choices are my way of trying to maintain my integrity, and live in the real world.
Just to drag this back on topic, I can remember as a child at my parents’ house, staying up until 2 in the morning to watch Juergen Klinsmann play. After a while, it began to seem to be that the spectacular scores were less common than the flagrant dives, and I started going to bed on time. Sad, wasn’t it?
The Punkyova, fair enough. Argentianians are not very good respecting the law, I should know… I am lawyer. In fact the most popular card game here is called truco (trick). It envolves cheating. It is a fascinating game, easy to learn and difficult to play.
I kind soul has decided to sponsor me, so I’ll guess I’ll stick around. At least till Coldfire ban me for criticizing the dutch team, who had the audacity to kick the best team of the world out of the 98 cup… or at least the best dressed. And to think that we gave you Maxima.
And, indirectly, Amalia. Mom an daughter seem to be doing fine and dandy. BTW. As a further off topic, are our Crown Prince and his family big news in Argentina these days? I know they were around the whole parliamentary debates over whether or not Jorge Zoreguieta should be allowed to visit his daughters wedding, what with his Videla ties and all. I thought it had died down a bit after that. Hey, that’s the second time that bastard Videla is mentioned in this thread. 
I’m all for the English and the Argentinians bashing each others skulls in about the Hand of God, but please, let’s refrain from discussing the Falklands. We all know the UK needed those for strategic sheep purposes.
(Thank you, Eddie Izzard.)
TP, I understand your point of view. You’re right in assessing it as a black-and-white approach. Which means you’re always correct - in theory. In practice, life, and indeed the game of football, are not as simple. But I’m sure you’ve noticed that by now.
As for speeding, I’ll suffice with a simple “I plead the fifth”. 
Estilicon, I’m glad to see you extended your stay in the madhouse. And yes, Argentina were definitely the best dressed team on the 1998 world cup. Hell, they ALWAYS are! But was that match a cracker, or what?? Man, I think I lost 10 years of my life that afternoon. Argentina played a good game, too. And no matter what side you’re on, the winning goal by Bergkamp was one of the prettiest I’ve ever seen on a big tournament.
Always a pleasure to see Argentina play. I attended a friendly match between the Netherlands and Argentina before the 1998 world cup (or was it the 2000 Euro tourny?), and had the pleasure of watching the great Argentinians play. WOW. What a line-up. Redondo, my favourite mid-fielder of all time perhaps. One of the best ever at any rate. Veron. Bati-gol! And he scored, too!
My second favourite national side. Cross my heart.
Yes Coldfire, Maxima (and her new political family) is always news in Argentina. The Dutch royal house is, now, our second favourite royals. For all our republicanism, news about our former kings is always BIG news (the marriage of Crown Prince Felipe and Leticia is the event of the year).
Regarding Maxima’s father situation we always thought your country was making a big deal out a very little thing. After all the man was in the Secretary of Agriculture, no accusation was ever made against him, regarding human rights violations. He was a colaborator, there were millions like him.
Fortunately our new president Nestor Kirchner is leading a crusade against the true guilties. For example in a symbolic gesture, he ordered the chief of the army General Bendini to remove Videla’s portrait from the galery of the Militar School, the monster still has some popularity, someone stole the portrait a few hours before the event. Kirchner ordered the army to hung a picture and then to remove it.
And that is the third time we mentioned Videla in this thread.
Back to the subject, my favourite team is, and I will make a horrible confession, England. Of course still there is nothing better than kick them out of the world cup,. It’s even better than winning against Brazil :).-
Nope.
The greatest ever footballer in the greatest ever shirt is here (second picture down).
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/1110093.stm
I was lucky enough to be at that game, where our midfield was Hoddle, Waddle, Ardilles and Maradona. He and Hoddle were playing to the gallery and pulling off the most outrageous skills and trickery.
I think he’s the best ever - certainly the best that’s contemporary with me (I’m 40). Others who come close are: Cruyff (close second), Platini, Hoddle (yes really) Brady, Zidane, and the young Gascoigne.
As to George best - he wasn’t even the best player in either the Man U side he played in (Crerand and Charlton were better IMNVHO), or even the Northern Ireland team (Jennings was at that time a first choice pick for any team in the owrld - Best was not). He was the Beckham of his day - good but not great but a media presence greatly exagerated his abilities.
Someone mentioned that ealier. I knew of which I spoke.
People, if you ever wondered why the Inquisition was formed, its because of people like that…