The referee at the centre of Diego Maradona’s Hand of God goal at the 1986 World Cup has broken his silence about his decision to award one of the football’s most controversial goals to Argentina — and has claimed it was not his fault.

As Germany and Argentina prepare to contest tomorrow’s decider at the Maracana, there is one last opportunity for a sensational World Cup to finally achieve greatness

Just when Brazilians thought it couldn’t get any worse after Tuesday night’s total humiliation in Belo Horizonte, they must now dry their tears and play host to their final from hell.

Match of the Century, they called it. There’s even a plaque on the wall of the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City to commemorate the delirious 4-3 win that sent Italy through to the final of the 1970 World Cup at the expense of West Germany.

FRANCE’S most famous referee, Joel Quiniou, has attacked Thierry Henry for his handball goal against Ireland, but also claimed that referee Martin Hansson could have disallowed the effort had he asked the Barcelona star if there had been an infringement.

Mexico manager Sven-Goran Eriksson believes he could be out of a job later this month if his side fail to beat Costa Rica in their World Cup qualifying fixture.

RICKY HATTON is completing preparations for Saturday night’s Las Vegas super-fight against Jose Luis Castillo with a frightening intensity which lends weight to trainer Billy Graham’s claim that he will answer the opening bell in the best shape of his career.

ENGLAND coach Sven-Goran Eriksson has played down suggestions Manchester United’s Alan Smith does not have a future with the national team.

Diego Maradona remains in a satisfactory condition in the intensive care unit of the Suizo Argentina Clinic, but is still attached to a machine that is helping him breathe.