Hector Enrique

FIFA.com: Senor Enrique, what did the FIFA World Cup ^TM mean to you?
Hector Enrique: That was more than 20 years ago. We're quite old now aren't we? It [the FIFA World Cup] symbolised the happiness you feel on joining up with the national team squad, because when you're a boy you dream of playing in the first division and then the national team. It meant so much to us all to be in that team, and to play alongside Diego Maradona. We were fortunate enough to be part of a brilliant squad and, to top it all off, we ended up being crowned world champions.

That year you were also part of River Plate's Intercontinental (Toyota) Cup-winning side. What differentiates the FIFA World Cup from any of the other competitions you have won?
The World Cup is in a class of its own. I once won the Primera C and Nacional B league titles with Lanus, and you enjoy every victory. But to be crowned world champion is something else entirely, it's the ultimate achievement. Besides which, you mustn't forget that we were playing away from home in Mexico. Once we'd left Argentina we had half a country against us. But we built a strong squad and a great team. If I'm honest, it was as good as it gets.

What is your first FIFA World Cup memory?
It was from the 1978 World Cup, when I was about 15 or 16 years old. Back then I had a normal job, so I was very jealous of football players. But in a healthy way you understand. It was just because they earned a living doing what they enjoyed, which was playing football, and that was what I most enjoyed doing. Back then I had to work to be able to go and train with Lanus, to pay for my bus ticket. That's why I say I was slightly envious of the likes of [Daniel] Passarella, [Mario] Kempes and [Osvaldo] Ardiles. They were heroic figures to us and the public at large. We used to dream about one day making it to the national team. Perhaps we didn't go as far as imagining ourselves as world champions, which was what ended up happening, but we certainly dreamt of playing for the national team like they did.

Oscar Ruggeri clearly recalls that nobody came to see Argentina off from the airport prior to Mexico 1986. Did you also feel the team did not have the public's support ahead of the tournament?
Yes, what El Cabezón (Big Head) says is exactly right. The only people who came to see us off were our families, and the entire country had very low expectations for that particular Argentina squad. Anyway, once we'd arrived in Mexico and the World Cup got underway, we realised that the other national teams weren't better than us, and that we had a fighting chance. And that's what happened. Besides which we had [Diego] Maradona and we knew how to get the best out of him. We also had a very competent coaching team - [Carlos] Bilardo works extremely hard and he never left anything to chance. He was on top of every detail. I can clearly remember when he said that even the kit-man had to be on top form, and the masseuse and everybody else. He used to say, "If you're out there playing and your boot laces come loose, it's the kit man's fault. It causes you to lose time; it takes you out of the game." We played good football and were physically and mentally ready to win the world title.

Some have said that Bilardo is a larger-than-life character. Is he really like that?
He's a lot calmer now, he used to be crazier.

Many of the players remember how upset he was after the win over Germany because of the two goals conceded from set pieces.
That left us all gob-smacked. We'd achieved our goal and been crowned champions of the world. If I'd been the coach I'd still be doing the lap of honour! But Bilardo refused to get involved in the celebrations because they'd scored past us with two set-piece goals, which can happen sometimes, especially against Germany. But Bilardo hasn't forgiven himself and he hasn't forgiven us either, because it was something he'd worked on a lot. He refused to accept that we could concede goals from set pieces. He could understand it when you were beaten by a better team but not by a team who were quicker-thinking or sharper in those situations.

Anyway, the Germans lulled us into a false sense of security and managed to level the game, but we didn't do it on purpose to make the World Cup more exciting. Let one thing remain clear: even when they equalised, all my team-mates and I were still absolutely convinced that we were not going to let the title slip away. We thought we'd beat them before 90 minutes were up and fortunately Diego managed to send [Jorge] Burruchaga clear on goal. And after what seemed like a never-ending charge towards goal, he put it away.

What do you remember about Diego Maradona and how important was he to the squad as a whole?
Incredibly important, because he was our main man in the eyes of both the media and the public. He deserved to be because he earned that status out on the pitch. But he behaved just like one of the lads, and out on the pitch he was even willing to throw himself into tackles. When his team-mates saw that, they thought well if he's launching into tackles like that, I need to be doing even more. His enthusiasm was highly infectious.

And what about during matches?
In that regard we couldn't really try and imitate him because Diego was playing so well, but he was very important to us during that World Cup. To tell you the truth Bilardo had built a really good, well-balanced team, which was strong going forward and defensively. That's why we won. It's not just because of one great player, as Diego himself would testify. That means a lot to me, because he doesn't see himself as the only one responsible for our elimination at Spain 1982 nor for our victory at Mexico 1986. Star players stand out even more as part of a good squad.

During which game did you feel that you were going all the way to the world title?
The Uruguay game was very tough indeed. I didn't play, I was on the bench, but I can remember another story about Bilardo. After the first half was over he said to me and [Julio] Olarticoechea, " Vasco, Negro, stay in the dressing room and warm up because you'll be coming on soon." Well, ten, 15, 20, 30 minutes went by and he still didn't call for us, so, I told El Vasco I thought Bilardo had forgotten about us. "Do you think so?" he replied. "Yes, yes... he's gone and forgotten," I said. So El Vasco went and had a look out of the players' tunnel and as soon as Bilardo saw him he said, "<i>Vasco</i>, come on, come on, you're going on the pitch." So I stuck my head out too and he called me over as well. He started to give me instructions, telling me what I had to do, and the game suddenly finished! He wanted to kill me afterwards, but anyway, that's how he felt about the game. The other key game was against the English.

Why do you think that was?
There was a sudden 'click', a realisation that none of us wanted to lose that game for anything in the world. I played from the start in that game, which allowed Diego to play further forward, with the freedom to move in their half without having to come back and look for the ball. And he decided that game, scoring the goal with his hand and then the second one, which was all down to my perfect pass (laughs). It was an impressive goal wasn't it?

What do you recall about it?
Everyone asks me that question, and of course, I look back and relive it. I passed the ball to him and off he went. You stand and watch him, just enjoying what the guy is doing. You can't believe it. And the English players have said they couldn't get hold of him, they couldn't tackle him. And they couldn't. It was impossible. They wanted to foul him but he'd already gone past them. It was just a wonderful goal.

And the other goal, the handball? A lot of the Argentina players claim not to have seen it at the time.
No, I didn't either. I didn't know why the English were protesting, but anyway, it was pretty obvious he used his hand. I don't know what the keeper's view would have been, because he came out certain he was going to reach the ball first and suddenly Diego sticks his hand out and the ball's in the net. But we didn't beat them just because of that handball, but because we were much better than they were. We were a very intelligent side and we had a maestro in our team.

What did you all talk to Diego about after that game?
Not a great deal, because we were all very focused and deeply involved in the tournament. That game had been won and we'd turned our minds to Belgium, who were very difficult and tough opponents. I don't know who they'd knocked out to get there, it might have been Spain, but they were a very organised team who played good football. Anyhow, Diego had another great game and we all did our bit too. As I said before, we were a very balanced side.

How did the team handle all the furore that had been built up around the England-Argentina game relating to the Falklands War?
It was only a game of football, although we were utterly determined not to lose that game. We ran and committed ourselves just like we had done in our previous games, but if there'd ever been a match we couldn't afford to lose it was that one. That's what was going through my mind.

Let's talk about the Final. What was the atmosphere like leading up to the game?
The same thing always happened whenever we left our team headquarters. We had a number of superstitions that we interpreted as omens, such as a traffic light that we could only pass when it was green [not amber]. Also, we were always escorted by two guys on motorbikes and one of them was called Jesus. One day Jesus didn't turn up and Bilardo went crazy shouting "Where's Jesus? Where's Jesus?" And then in the dressing room we had other rituals we had to follow, for example I used to warm up in the kit-man's trainers as well. As far as the atmosphere is concerned, I only realised how many people there had been after going back to Argentina and seeing it on TV. I was totally focused on what I had to do during the defining moments of a World Cup, and I couldn't let my concentration slip. If you did, Bilardo would have no qualms about dragging you off five minutes in. You had to run, commit yourself and do everything he asked of you.

Who do the Mexican fans tend to support?
There were a lot of Argentinian fans, loads in fact, who were there supporting us. But it was clear in the Final that the fans were siding more with Germany. I think they did it because we were in the lead, to cheer on the losing team. I suppose that's what it was, there wasn't anything dodgy about it.

You were involved in the second goal, scored by Jorge Valdano.
We were winning 1-0 thanks to a goal from El Tata [Jose Luis] Brown. Imagine how good that team was? Nobody had a fixed position except the keeper, the sweeper and the two central-defensive man markers. Everybody else played all over the place. I mention this because Valdano started the move in our area, he passed the ball to Maradona and Diego gave it to me. Valdano ran round the back of me and played him in, and he finished brilliantly. It really was a superb team.

But Germany fought back.
Then they made it 2-2, as I said before, with two goals from set-pieces. We fell asleep a little but we didn't deserve that. I think 3-0 or 4-0 to Argentina would have been a fairer score because we had all the possession and created all the chances. And they caught us off guard doing what they do best - dead-ball situations. And like I said before, then came [Jorge] Burruchaga's winner from an incredible pass by Diego.

Could you describe that move for us?
I remember that [Ricardo] Giusti headed it away and the ball went loose. We went to try and win it against one of the German players, all or nothing. We went in hard and the ball came to Giusti who headed it down to Maradona. Diego picked out a perfect ball for Burruchaga, a piece of skill only he could have pulled off, and Burru, who was a class act, went one-on-one with the keeper. When he knocked the ball ahead of himself I wondered what on earth he was doing, but luckily the keeper didn't come out in time and we got the goal.

How long did it feel like you were waiting for the final whistle?
We were all dying for the whistle to blow because we wanted to make our people happy. We were on the brink of becoming world champions, and we'd worked so hard for it over there in Mexico. When the game ended what I can remember is kneeling down to cry and throwing myself on the ground. But I just couldn't shed any tears. I was overcome with emotion. It was incredible. I was lucky enough to become a world champion.

What was is like to take the Trophy in your arms?
After we got our medals, an Argentinian magazine took a photo of myself, Diego and the Cup, which ended up on the front cover. It was an incredibly happy moment, but I have to confess that for me the real enjoyment used to come, not at the precise moment of winning a title, but later on. In fact, as soon as the tournament was over I started focusing on preparing to win the Copa Libertadores with River Plate, who'd never won it up to that point. I enjoy it all more now than I did at the time.

How did it feel to get your hands on the Trophy?
I felt the enormous joy of having been able to achieve what we set out to do and what nobody believed we were capable of. But afterwards I said to myself "that's enough". That was something we got from our coach Bilardo. "That's enough, that's it, it's over. Time to start something new."

Did you enjoy it more because people initially had so little faith?
No, that doesn't really bother me. I'd always wanted to win it, throughout my whole career, I wanted to win and I didn't care what anybody else thought. Obviously we were incredibly happy to come home and see all those people congratulating us, and they still say thank you today. People joke around with me a lot about the pass I played to Maradona for his second goal against England, they thank me for doing that. It was more than 20 years ago and people haven't forgotten. If you play well and show the Argentinian people what they want to see, they'll thank you for it all your life - whether you achieve your goal or not.

What does that Trophy mean to you, in the context of your life?
It's a source of satisfaction, because of what I said to you before. When you start playing as a kid in the playground your dream is to play in the first division. Then you want to sign for a big club and then play for the national side, which is the ultimate. Every player says that and it's true. There's a documentary featuring clips of Diego and there's one of him as a little kid saying he wants to play for Argentina and win the World Cup. I felt exactly the same.

What do you recall about Argentina's triumphant return from Mexico?
It was incredible. Even today I can still remember just how many people there were, and how excited and happy they were. And now I'm able to say that by playing football, by running yourself into the ground out there on the pitch, you can make people happy. In that respect at least, I was very happy [with what I achieved].