not true - there were plenty of great players in the first division. Waddle, Barnes (who scored a spectacular winner in a Brazil friendly), Strachan, Lineker, Hoddle, Beardsley, Robson were all great skilfull players at the time. England had a great team in that tournament with players all from the first division. For sure Maradona was brilliant as was Platini and they were the two great players playing in Europe but there was some real talent in England at the time. Comment number 23. Subterranean I think your letting your bitterness taint your memory! Maradona was a truly stunning talent. There was one league match where he held the ball for a full 90 seconds without a touch from another player. The man was a genius - flawed for sure but he was a brilliant footballer. I can't compare him to Pele as I never saw him except in clips but Maradona is the best player I have seen live. Not sure why he played his football for Napoli though. Maybe at a top side he would have had club honours to match his talent. Comment number 26. I remember being a six-year-old desperate to be allowed to stay up to watch England's last group game against Poland. My mum wouldn't let me but promised to let me know what happened as soon as I got up for school in the morning. As I awoke the next day there was a little note blu-tacked to the ladder down from my