Destiny or something else: Four striking similarities in Argentina’s last two world titles

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The soccer team of Argentina became the world champion for the third time on Sunday, 36 years after they lifted the Golden Goddess for the last time, and Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi led the campaign.

It is interesting that in winning the title in 1986 and this year there are four amazing similarities.

Namely, at both World Cups, Morocco finished first in its group, and Belgium was third. The difference is that at the WC in Qatar the two national teams played in the same group, and in Mexico 36 years ago they were in different groups.

The second coincidence is that England won 3:0 in the round of 16 at both World Championships, and lost 2:1 in the quarterfinals. In Mexico, England won over Paraguay, then lost to Argentina, and now at the World Cup in Qatar, they defeated Senegal, after which they lost to France.

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In both World Cups, Brazil was eliminated in the quarter-finals, and on penalties. At the 1986 World Cup, the Cariocas were defeated by France, and in Qatar by Croatia.

The last fact is the most incredible, the two judges who judged the finals, now in Qatar and now in Mexico, were born on the same day, January 7. At the WC 1986 the final was refereed by Romualdo Filho, and on Sunday it was Simon Marcheniak.

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