Maradona mocks old foe

Argentina coach laughs off Butcher talk

By Ben Collins   Last updated: 20th November 2008

Diego Maradona and Terry Butcher

Maradona: Faced old foe

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Diego Maradona mocked old foe Terry Butcher after Argentina beat Scotland 1-0 in his first match in charge.

Maradona watched Maxi Rodriguez score the only goal at Hampden Park before being asked about former England captain Butcher, who was on the opposing side when Maradona scored his infamous 'Hand of God' goal in the 1986 World Cup.

Now Scotland's assistant manager, Butcher insisted in the build-up to the friendly that he would not shake Maradona's hand.

Butcher was nowhere to be seen at the final whistle and asked if he had shaken his hand, Maradona retorted: "Who is he? Who is Butcher?

"I greeted the Scotland manager after the game. Who is Butcher?"

Scare

Then bursting into a wide smile, Maradona said: "Since the bad news I've had about my daughter, it's the first time I've managed to laugh."

Maradona's youngest daughter Giannina had suffered a pregnancy scare which led to her fiance, Sergio Aguero, quitting the Argentina camp to return to Spain.

"I've been thinking of my daughter and her baby and the lads made things easy for me during a difficult time," added the new Argentina coach.

"She was happy for me to be here leading the Argentina side. The players wore the shirt with pride and made me proud.

"It was a great experience and I was relaxed throughout.

"It was a clear victory for us. We were brilliant for the first 25 minutes and scored a goal but we couldn't convert our half chances.

"We gave the ball away too easily but even then Scotland couldn't capitalise so we deserved our victory."