Maradona knows something about putting Argentina on his back, so you've got to think he's excited to watch how Lionel Messi do the same thing for La Celeste. However, it was a goal from an unlikely player that really put Maradona over the edge.
With Messi having scored a goal in the first half, Argentina was tied 1-1 and in the 86th minute of a match it needed to score in against Nigeria. Then Marcos Rojo did this:
MARCOS ROJO PUTS ARGENTINA AHEAD! pic.twitter.com/3yrzeq7hSu
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 26, 2018
The clutch goal put Argentina up 2-1 over Nigeria. That score would hold, and Argentina punched a trip to the knockout stage for a date with France. You could say that Maradona was a little zealous about the goal:
#MundialTelemundo ¡Lamentable! Otra vez la emoción le ganó a #Maradona . Mira lo que hizo en el gol de #ARG pic.twitter.com/8l2u3qJZOa
— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) June 26, 2018
It’s exhausting being Maradona. pic.twitter.com/5n3xp8lUx5
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) June 26, 2018
You can see the full reaction from the Telemundo broadcast here, because Andres Cantor's call is phenomenal. Just be warned, that image is unblurred, so it's a bit not safe for work.
And while Maradona was happy as can be with that goal, he ended up being taken to a suite room after a spike in his blood pressure left him feeling faint, according to Ole.com.
#Rusia2018 #Maradona se descompensó por un pico de presión y en el entretiempo se lo llevaron para que lo atendieran porque casi no se podía mantener en pie. El 10 asustó a muchos ➡ https://t.co/6gZI0T3VvW pic.twitter.com/TayXb33nWB
— Diario Olé (@DiarioOle) June 26, 2018
He's expected to be fine.
And back on Cantor, a Buenos Aires native, just listen to the call. He literally screams himself hoarse before screeching out "with the right." The goal couldn't have come at a bigger time, and Cantor couldn't have had a better call.
Argentina is now through, and it needs a little more of everything if it's to survive the Round of 16. France is a tough out, and Argentina has a lot of work to do before facing Paul Pogba and company. You can stream all the decisive World Cup matches on fuboTV (Try for free).