Last updated: 19th November 2008
Maradona: Praise from Burley
Maradona is the best player I have ever played against and anyone who was involved at Hampden in 1979 when he played against Scotland in a friendly at Hampden would agree with that.
George Burley
Quotes of the week
Scotland manager George Burley believes Terry Butcher must "move on" and forget Diego Maradona's 'Hand of God' goal.
Burley's assistant was in the England side knocked out of the 1986 World Cup in Mexico by Argentina.
Maradona infamously scored with his hand to give Argentina the lead before producing a wonderful solo goal which ultimately took the South Americans into the semi-finals.
Butcher suggested he will not shake Maradona's hand when the new Argentina coach brings his side to Hampden for Wednesday's friendly.
The former Napoli and Barcelona superstar hit back by claiming he should not be judged by a nation that needed a dubious goal to win the 1966 World Cup final at Wembley.
Burley jokingly chided Butcher while admitting he has his own recollections of the Argentina legend.
He said: "He (Butcher) is a big boy now and he has to grow up and move on!
"I can't remember celebrating in 1986. My recollections are of Maradona the player, not the handball merchant.
"I can't talk about the other stuff, only my thoughts, and playing against him was a terrific experience.
"Maradona is the best player I have ever played against and anyone who was involved at Hampden in 1979 when he played against Scotland in a friendly at Hampden would agree with that.
"In my opinion, he was only behind Pele as the best-ever player. He was a magnificent footballer."
Scotland skipper Barry Ferguson, who should make his first appearance under Burley after recovering from a summer ankle operation, admits he did celebrate England's defeat by Argentina in 1986.
He said: "I watched the game in the house with my dad and I remember jumping about daft.
"The second goal was one of the best goals I've seen. That's the biggest thing - he was unbelievable in that tournament.
"You never think you're going to meet the guy. I'll be standing pretty close to him and it will be a good feeling.
"He's probably the best player ever. People talk about Pele but I'm not old enough to remember him.
"Now Lionel Messi is as close as you can get. It's disappointing that he's not going to be here but obviously I played against Messi when we (Rangers) played Barcelona and he was something special.
"But as soon as the whistle goes you don't care who they are. All the respect goes out the window along with everything they've done in the game."
| Time | Fixture |
|---|---|
| Saturday 10th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 12:45 | Aston Villa vs West Brom |
| 15:00 | Arsenal vs Bolton |
| 15:00 | Everton vs Hull |
| 15:00 | Fulham vs Blackburn |
| 15:00 | Middlesbrough vs Sunderland |
| 15:00 | Newcastle vs West Ham |
| 15:00 | Portsmouth vs Man City |
| 17:30 | Stoke vs Liverpool |
| Sunday 11th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 13:30 | Wigan vs Tottenham |
| 16:00 | Man Utd vs Chelsea |
| Wednesday 14th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 20:00 | Man Utd vs Wigan |
| Saturday 17th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Blackburn vs Newcastle |
| 15:00 | Bolton vs Man Utd |
| 15:00 | Chelsea vs Stoke |
| 15:00 | Man City vs Wigan |
| 15:00 | Sunderland vs Aston Villa |
| 15:00 | West Brom vs Middlesbrough |
| 17:30 | Hull vs Arsenal |
| Sunday 18th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 13:30 | West Ham vs Fulham |
| 16:00 | Tottenham vs Portsmouth |
| Time | Result |
|---|---|
| Tuesday 30th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Hull 0 - 1 Aston Villa | |
| Monday 29th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Man Utd 1 - 0 Middlesbrough | |
| Sunday 28th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Blackburn 2 - 2 Man City | |
| Fulham 2 - 2 Chelsea | |
| West Ham 2 - 1 Stoke | |
| Everton 3 - 0 Sunderland | |
| Arsenal 1 - 0 Portsmouth | |
| West Brom 2 - 0 Tottenham | |
| Bolton 0 - 1 Wigan | |
| Newcastle 1 - 5 Liverpool | |
| Friday 26th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Aston Villa 2 - 2 Arsenal | |
| Liverpool 3 - 0 Bolton | |
| Wigan 2 - 1 Newcastle | |
| Middlesbrough 0 - 1 Everton | |
| Man City 5 - 1 Hull | |
| Sunderland 0 - 0 Blackburn | |
| Portsmouth 1 - 4 West Ham | |
| Tottenham 0 - 0 Fulham | |
| Chelsea 2 - 0 West Brom | |
| Stoke 0 - 1 Man Utd | |
Chris Burton offers up Fantasy Football transfer advice ahead of the resumption of Premier League action.
Ed Chamberlin sees United and Chelsea cancelling each other out on Sunday, while racing feels the freeze.
Paul Merson expects strugglers West Brom and Spurs to lose to Aston Villa and Wigan this weekend.
Paul Ince has told Sky Sports News he is disappointed he did not receive the public backing of Blackburn.
Mark Hughes has received 'tentative enquiries' regarding members of his Manchester City squad.
Lee Bowyer is to join Birmingham City on loan, while Mido is angry at being lined up for a move to Newcastle without his knowledge.
Birmingham have signed West Ham midfielder Lee Bowyer on loan until the end of the season.
Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate insists Stewart Downing should be aiming higher than Tottenham.
Comments
Johnny Brown (Kilmarnock fan) says...
The one thing about Scots fans and our team is that we are famous for our excellent sportsmanship the world over.Terry Butcher has brought his English arrogant mentality with him to a set up he should never have been allowed to be part of in the first place . If as a representative of Scotland he can't shake hands with Maradona then he should go now as I have never seen what qualities this failed many times coach has to offer our national team anyway.
Posted 12:46 19th November 2008
Ben S (Arsenal fan) says...
We all know what the score should have been at the end of the game (1-1) but who knows what would have happened with extra-time or even penalties!!? Best to just let it go, move on and maybe one day we will beat them 2-1 in the quater finals!
Posted 12:34 19th November 2008
Tony Cowan (Liverpool fan) says...
England is the only country in the world that still talks about Maradona's hand ball in '86. It was a QUARTER FINAL guys - get over it. Even if that goal was dis-allowed, Argentina would have still won with Diego in their side. Move on guys - you look ridiculous for trying to smear a footballing god after all this time.
Posted 10:19 19th November 2008
Diego Aguero (Liverpool fan) says...
I think that Terry Butcher should just move on about what Maradona done for my country back then in 1986 that was then and we are now 2008 so i just say move on! Argentina 4 life!
Posted 09:53 19th November 2008
Add Comment*
All fields are required