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On This Day at the World Cup – July 2: Diego Maradona Sees Red

By Dan Cancian

Diego Maradona was sent off as Argentina were knocked out of the World Cup by arch-rivals Brazil on this day in 1982.

Defeat by Italy in the opening game of the second group phase left the defending champions needing a result in Barcelona to keep their hopes of reaching the semi-finals alive.

But an early goal from Zico, who would later join Udinese, put the Selecao ahead before Serginho and Junior scored in 10 second-half minutes to condemn Argentina to an early exit and effectively turn the final group fixture between Brazil and Italy into a quarter-final.

An already frustrated Maradona snapped when Batista caught Argentina midfielder Juan Barbas with a high boot, and he clattered into the Brazilian as a form of retribution.

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Diego Maradona was sent off as Argentina lost 3-1 to Brazil in their final game of the second group stage at the 1982 World Cup (Photo by Bongarts/Getty Images)

Argentina and Maradona would get their revenge four years later, lifting the World Cup in Mexico after an extraordinary tournament. By then Maradona had already moved to Napoli, a club he would lead to two Serie A titles in the next four seasons.

A hero in Argentina, Maradona remains a God in Naples, a city that lives and breathes football. As well as giant murals in the Spanish Quarters and shrines dedicated to him across the city there are museums with some timeless pieces of Maradona memorabilia.

No other city does football quite like Naples.

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