Former England goalkeeper Peter Shilton, 76, has stated he is ready to finally put the controversy surrounding Diego Maradona's infamous 'Hand of God' goal from the 1986 World Cup quarter-final behind him. Shilton, who holds the record for most England caps with 125 appearances, felt the anguish of the defeat for 40 years, believing England could have won the tournament if the goal had been disallowed. The incident occurred when Maradona, who was 5ft 5in, out-jumped the 6ft Shilton and punched the ball into the net. Replays later confirmed the handball, and Maradona famously described it as scoring "a little with the head of Maradona and a little with the hand of God."
Shilton's perspective began to shift after participating in a documentary about the match, where he met some of the Argentinian players from that 1986 squad. He described the encounter as emotional and found the Argentinian players to be very welcoming, which led him to feel it was time to "put my beef to bed."
He also reflected that had Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology been available in 1986, the goal would likely have been disallowed. Shilton also felt Maradona's second goal in that match, often referred to as the "goal of the century," should have been disallowed due to a foul in the build-up.
Shilton, whose career spanned over 20 years and included more than 1,000 English league appearances, also shared his views on current England goalkeepers. He rates Jordan Pickford as the best goalkeeper to play for England since his own retirement in 1990. Shilton praised Pickford's command of his defense, his distribution skills, and his ability with the ball at his feet, which he considers crucial in modern football.
Furthermore, Shilton expressed his support for striker Harry Kane to break his all-time England caps record of 125. Kane is currently on 118 caps and is nearing Shilton's milestone. Shilton admires Kane's leadership, dedication, and the fact that he has earned his caps through consistent starts rather than substitute appearances. He believes moving to Bayern Munich has also benefited Kane by providing a mid-season break.
Despite moving on from the 1986 incident, Shilton remains hopeful for England's chances in the upcoming World Cup, suggesting the team is among the top contenders but acknowledging the need for luck. He believes that sooner or later, fortune will favor the England team, potentially leading them to a World Cup final victory and ending the nation's 60-year wait.