ENGLAND’S BUTCHER: I LOVED IT

ENGLAND legend Terry Butcher admitted that watching Argentina lose to Saudi Arabia helped him feel “just a little bit better” about 1986.

The 63-year-old is still so angry about the Hand of God incident that he cannot bring himself to feel any sympathy for one of the world’s greatest players, Lionel Messi.

Butcher, a centre-back in England’s 1986 World Cup team, is convinced that if Diego Maradona had not punched the ball into the net past Peter Shilton, then the Three Lions would have won the World Cup that year.

He has vowed to never forgive Maradona and still bears a grudge against Argentina 36 years later.

“I know it is Messi’s final World Cup, but it is such a nice feeling,” said Butcher (above).

“In a way I feel sorry for him, but there have been some great footballers in the past like George Best and they never won the World Cup.

“And nor did we in 1986. I thought we were within touching distance – unfortunately it was Maradona who was in touching distance instead and touched the ball into the net.

“It would have been even better if Saudi Arabia had cheated for their winner, but they got through fair and square.”