World Cup Rewind: 1986 Mexico Semifinals- Argentina vs. Belgium

Belgium’s road to the 1986 World Cup final ended in the semis against the eventual champions Argentina. I was able to watch this match recently thanks to a RAI recording.

FIFA World Cup 1986: Semifinals Match
Argentina - Belgium
June 25, 1986
Match time: 16:00 H
Venue and stadium: MEXICO CITY / Azteca
Attendance: 114,500

Lineups:
Argentina
[18] Nery PUMPIDO (GK)
[2] Sergio BATISTA
[5] Jose BROWN
[7] Jorge BURRUCHAGA (-84′)
[9] Jose CUCIUFFO
[10] Diego MARADONA
[11] Jorge VALDANO
[12] Hector ENRIQUE
[14] Ricardo GIUSTI
[16] Julio OLARTICOECHEA
[19] Oscar RUGGERI
Substitute(s)
[15] Luis ISLAS (GK)
[22] Hector ZELADA (GK)
[1] Sergio ALMIRON
[3] Ricardo BOCHINI (+84′)
[4] Claudio BORGHI
[6] Daniel PASSARELLA
[8] Nestor CLAUSEN
[13] Oscar GARRE
[17] Pedro PASCULLI
[20] Carlos TAPIA
[21] Marcelo TROBBIANI

Belgium
[1] Jean-Marie PFAFF (GK)
[2] Eric GERETS
[5] Michel RENQUIN (-54′)
[6] Frank VERCAUTEREN
[8] Enzo SCIFO
[11] Jan CEULEMANS
[13] Georges GRUN
[16] Nico CLAESEN
[18] Daniel VEYT
[21] Stephane DEMOL
[22] Patrick VERVOORT
Substitute(s)
[12] Jacques MUNARON (GK)
[20] Gilbert BODART (GK)
[3] Franky VAN DER ELST
[4] Michel DE WOLF
[7] Rene VANDEREYCKEN
[9] Erwin VANDENBERGH
[10] Philippe DESMET (+54′)
[14] Leo CLIJSTERS
[15] Leo VAN DER ELST
[17] Raymond MOMMENS
[19] Hugo BROOS

Coaches: BILARDO Carlos (ARG) and THYS Guy (BEL)
Cards: Daniel VEYT (BEL) 27′, Jorge VALDANO (ARG) 33′

1st Half
-Early great chance for Argentina on a free kick.
-Argentina showed off great one touch football.
-A nice long range shot from Maradona almost set up a goal. It was soon saved by Pfaff. An Argentine got the ball back from Pfaff’s save and would have scored but the referee pulled it back for a handball on Argentina.
-Valdano had a nice chance to score.
-Argentina maintained most of the ball possession.
-The Belgian midfield was sloppy and our defense allowed too many shots.
-Belgians were offside 5 times in this half.
-Argentine defense looked pretty bored and fresh since they didn’t have to do much.
-Ceulemans had a nice chance to score but his shot went ridiculously wide.
-The stupid ref let Claesen stay down on the field for awhile.
-Burruchaga seemed everywhere for Argentina. What a playmaker!
-Great chance blew in 32′ by Argentina. A shot was sent flying wide.
-Oh my! Maradona was fouled just outside of the penalty box.
-Burruchaga kicked a great corner allowing Giusti to almost score.
-Another missed opportunity for the Rode Duivels when a Vercauteren shot went wide.
-Shots on goal were 7 to 11 in Argentina’s favor.
-Belgium went offside 5 times in this half!

2nd half
-Argentina commits their first offside infraction.
-Maradona scores the first goal at 51′.
-Valdano almost followed Maradona’s goal with a nice goal, but the shot missed the goal by a lot.
-More poor shooting from the Belgians continues.
-Nico Claesen missed an easy shot next to the Argentine goal. Horrible luck for the Rode Duivels.
-Maradona scores again (63′) by weaving through the Rode Duivels’ defense and finishing the attack off with a nice shot. It is now 2-0 Argentina.
-The Argentines received scoring chances left and right and Diego Maradona has really picked up his game. Maradona is so energetic in this half.
-Oscar Ruggeri commits a foul on Jean-Marie Pfaff that infuriates the Belgian keeper. The foul wasn’t much really. Ruggeri just hit Pfaff’s face as he was landing from a jump.
-Vervoort gets close to score, but instead hits the side netting.
-Argentina has now committed a whopping 16 fouls.
-Close call for Pfaff. He came way out of the net to challenge Maradona. Maradona passed the ball to Valdano but he botched the shot saving Pfaff. A 3-0 score would have been really devastating for us.
-Belgium gets another great chance to score from just several yards out.
-Score ends 2-0 Argentina.
-Total shots on goal were 22-20 in Belgium’s favor.

A match clip: