telespallabob

Of that World Cup, I'll tell you a little-known story: the star of that tournament was not any player from the four semifinalists, nor was it Maradona (Diego disappointed). The spotlight should be sought in the saddest adventure of that World Cup: that of El Salvador. Everyone knows about the humiliating 10-1 defeat by Hungary, but the real gem is the last match of that campaign, against Argentina. The Albiceleste won 2-0 with goals from Passarella and Bertoni, but the Salvadorans played better; while the score was 1-0, they were denied a clear penalty. The Salvadoran eleven dictated the play, dodging opponents as if they were bowling pins and doing as they pleased: his name is Jorge Gonzales. He was named in the tournament's ideal eleven and was pursued by half of Europe (only in Italy was there talk of Atalanta and Sampdoria), and he was bought by Cadiz, where he became a legend. He became "Magico Gonzales," delivering goals and spectacular plays (with him, Cadiz experienced the best period in its history), but his excesses limited him (to some, he was the Central American brother of George Best). Maradona admitted that he was stronger than him and strongly advised the management of Barcelona to sign him, but nothing came of it (and not due to his shortcomings; in a Cadiz-Barcelona match, he entered in the second half. At the end of the first half, Barca was winning 3-0, but it ended 4-3 for Cadiz and Magico scored two goals).