"I like English football, always have. It's just that people go on about the World Cup in 1986 and then I'm seen as the real bad boy"

In this quote, Diego Maradona is assessing his complex relationship with English football and the withstanding tradition of the 1986 World Cup. His statement, "I like English football, always have", reveals an appreciation for the sport as it is played in England. This could pertain to the style of play, the enthusiasm of the fans, or the abundant history and culture surrounding English football. Maradona's comment recommends an authentic adoration that goes beyond the competition that exists in between his native Argentina and England on the football pitch.

Nevertheless, the quote takes a turn when he points out the 1986 World Cup, a tournament forever engraved in football history and Maradona's tradition. Specifically, the 1986 quarter-final match in between Argentina and England is infamous for Maradona's 2 renowned objectives. The very first was the controversial "Hand of God" objective, where Maradona utilized his hand to punch the ball into the web, an act that he later on declared was partly magnificent intervention. The second was the "Goal of the Century", a screen of Maradona's remarkable talent as he dribbled previous numerous English defenders to rating.

When Maradona states, "then I'm viewed as the genuine bad boy", he appears to acknowledge that the "Hand of God" goal has actually eclipsed his affection for English football, turning him into a villain in the eyes of numerous English advocates and the footballing community. The term "genuine bad boy" is considerable, as it suggests a sense of notoriety that may feel unfair, provided his real respect for the video game and his amazing accomplishment with the other goal because match.

Overall, the quote encapsulates Maradona's double tradition: as a football genius and a controversial figure. It highlights the complex emotions connected to his actions in the 1986 World Cup, where sporting brilliance and controversy intertwined, affecting not just his personal story however also the historical relationship between Argentina and England in football.