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You will make money online through commissions which you earn from marketing other people`s products. You do not have to handle or ship products. All you have to do is to direct potential customers to the merchant`s website using your affiliate link. You do not need to worry about payment processing or product Delivery. You do not need to create a website or write a sales copy, which can be quite costly. If you already have your own website, all you need to do is to add your affiliate links on your website. You can also still make money online without a website by simply promoting your affiliate link. If you are looking for the best home based online business that is easy to start and requires minimal start-up capital, affiliate marketing is the most recommended approach. As an affiliate, you will be marketing other people`s products for a commission. Depending on the product, the commission can be 30% to 70% on every sale that you make. This article outlines the reasons why affiliate marketing is the best online business which anyone can make money, regardless of what experience you have in internet marketing. You do not need to create your own product. For more detail go to: www.squeeze-page-profits.com. If you are writing and submitting articles as a way of advertising, all you need to do is to add your links at the end of each article. People who read your articles will then click on your affiliate link which can make you a sale. There is no need for domain and hosting costs. For more detail go to: www.podcasting-made-easy.com. When starting an online business, most people have limited cash. In affiliate marketing, there is no need to pay for hosting and having your own domain since you do not necessarily need to have your own website. While it is helpful to have your own website where you promote your affiliate programs, you can still start to earn money just by promoting your links without a website. There are no requests for refunds to deal with. You will not have to worry about handling any requests for refunds. You make money on every product you sell, and it is the product owner`s responsibility to handle any requests for refunds. You can pick and choose the products you want to sell. There are many products you can choose from to promote. You can therefore choose those products that excite you. Products that you can truly feel good about promoting! Want to know an even better way to make money online? You can sell products that other people create; using the web site they also create for you. The best part is that you legally get to keep 100% of the profits! So it`s similar to affiliate marketing because you don`t have to create a product or website. http://www.internet-marketing-word.com
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Article Writing with Simplicity and Clarity

Article Writing: Start One Sentence at a Time

Writing for some is a great source of anxiety. For the most part it really has nothing to do with the actual act of putting words to paper, though that is often how it is expressed.

It really has more to do with trying to figure out what to write about. For many the metaphor is sitting there alone on the rock overlooking that overwhelming vista of the canyons and valleys below. What to make of it all? Where do you go from your perch? Vertigo…let me find my way back to low secure ground.

Well maybe the thing to do is pick one point of contact. A house on the hillside below or a flower laden pasture may do just fine. Then get up and find the path that gets you there, one step at a time.

The same holds true for writing your article. Look at your idea, business concept; find your audience through careful observation or research; feel what they feel, know what they are looking for and then start communicating one sentence at a time.

How to Write a Simple Sentence

Your first sentence, usually your headline is the most important. Why you ask? Because it has to have all the right attributes of good communication. A clear subject (usually your reader), a verb (action that relates to the reader) and an object (usually the problem or solution that defines your reader).

That sentence is simple. It has no qualifiers to muddy the idea flow. It is natural in tone. It uses words easy to understand; no fancy spelling or need to explain anything. The reader knows instantly what the message means to him/her and what is expected. The message is clear.

How to Communicate with Clarity

In the words of Professor Strunk, “clarity is not a prize in writing, nor is it always the principal mark of good style. But since writing is communication, clarity can only be a virtue.”

In other words, if you want to get cute or metaphorical, be clear about it. When your sentences start running long, you may want to take a break, take a look, and start over.

Getting lost in the fog of a long winded pitch means you have lost your focus and your audience. Go back and read your words aloud. See how they sound and see how they feel. Then re-chart your course and start writing again.

It is not easy to be clear and simple. It took the artist Picasso about forty years to get his depiction of a bull down to three lines on a canvass. It can take more than a few re-writes to craft your message with as few words as possible.

Conclusion

The great achievement of learning how to write simple and clear messages is that you will be in perfect communication with your audience. That means you will understand who they are, what they are thinking, why they are thinking what they are thinking and what they will do to act on your message.

And is not that what your goal is in the first place; to connect with your intended audience and establish a relationship?

So do your thinking up front and build your message one sentence at a time; remember, simple and clearly focused.

May Your Travels Be Prosperous.

Over the past 20 years Claude Pelanne has worked in a series of startup ventures including some of the first commercial webcasts. He is an internet marketer and serial entrepreneur. Feel free to distribute this article in any form as long as you include the resource box. For tips and resources to get into internet marketing visit affiliatestartingline or claudepelanne

This high-tech age has offered us numerous options to facilitate our communication factor. In fact, these days we tend to depend on high-end technologies for every purpose without even thinking a lot. Now to enhance the communication factor even further, the VoIP technology has been introduced. Earlier, we used to think twice before accessing any calls due to certain factors. The first and the foremost point used to be the complicated process whereas the second point reasonably used to be the expense factor. Whatever be the case, numerous technologies have been introduced during the past couple of decades to ensure total satisfaction to the users. In this respect the mobile phones and the Internet can be mentioned. Mobile phones were responsible for enhancing the mobile communication feature, whereas the Internet was responsible for the cost effective feature. Furthermore, with the support of the Internet the communication on the whole became a very cost effective process. Not just this, Internet even added more zing to the communication feature by offering many extra benefits to the users. In this context the VoIP calls have offered a very cost effective option to the users.

With the support of the Internet, the users can easily send text, voice and picture messages to the users at the other end within a few minutes. In fact, such instant messaging options permitted people to sustain long term relationships with people residing in other parts of the globe. Not to forget, the users can easily communicate with people residing in other parts of the globe at rates which are quire unbelievable. In this context the VoIP technology and cheap VoIP calls further added more spice to this cost effective feature. With the support of this advanced technology, the voice messages are transferred over the Internet as signals. The transferred signals are further transmitted to the far off places in the digital packets with the support of satellites. This high-end process actually helps people to share their messages with their friends and relatives at very cost effective rates. Moreover, the VoIP call rates would astir the users at ease.

However, it must be borne in mind to enjoy the VoIP calls high speed Internet connection is obviously required. Moreover as this technology has become the most preferred among the masses these days, the VoIP service providers are also coming forward to offer cheap VoIP call rates without any hassles. This is because due to the presence of numerous service providers in the market, stiff competition is also surfacing.

VoIP allows you to make cheap calls without compromising on the product quality and satisfaction levels. Besides these benefits, the users of these services can also get benefited by smart and quality services without paying too much money. This is the prime reason why more and more businesses and individuals are moving to VoIP, the most cost-effective way of making cheap free calls. One thing can be easily said that VoIP calling rates have indeed reduced the financial burden on many shoulders, who were previously burdened by the weight of high call rates.

Enjoy calls at affordable price through cheapest VoIP call rates.

He should also increase the potential to earn by utilizing the right tools necessary for a thriving affiliate marketing business. Which of the following tools have you used in affiliate marketing? Just this one small suggestion for your affiliate program will drastically motivate your affiliates to continue marketing your product or service. Continue to improve your knowledge especially with the basics in affiliate marketing ranging from advertising to programming, web page development, and search engine optimization techniques.

People simply love the idea of affiliate marketing. Well, starting in an affiliate program without a website may be easy, but getting successful in affiliate marketing without a website is another thing. This is a simple example of an affiliate marketing failure. Before getting any further about how to start an affiliate marketing campaign, do you have any idea what it is?

Keeping up-to-date on the newest ways people use to advertise their affiliate programs and continuously improving your marketing knowledge will give you an advantage and lead you to a lucrative affiliate program business. Affiliate marketing can be successfully applied to almost any product on the net. It is this freedom of exchange, coupled with the potential earnings of both sides that have propelled the affiliate-marketing program into one of the most important advertising outlets. David specializes in helping people with their affiliate marketing programs by teaching them the importance of developing a relationship with each of their prospects.

Online money programs also offer a full list of informational articles to help you get started with affiliate marketing or for more details visit to www.greatpromotionsite.com just sharpen your skills. These affiliate-marketing programs require you to sign up on web sites offering them. “Day Job Killer has all the earmarks of a well-created product that lays out simple instructions on following a blueprint for affiliate-marketing success. Well don’t give up until you’ve looked at a good affiliate program marketing partnership.

The truth is very few of thousands of affiliates are successful in making good amount of money from affiliate marketing. The opening chapter titled: Creating an Affiliate website that sells like crazy, includes information on affiliate marketing including a list of affiliate networks to join. Affiliate Marketing works by placing ads on websites for the products and service people are searching for and want to buy• Article Writing – All the ways to make money online are driven by content. Affiliate marketing is quite complex, and it would be impossible on the limited space here to explain all you need to know to succeed in affiliate marketing.

There are obviously many compelling reasons for the popularity of affiliate marketing. Jim Martell, Rosalind Gardner, Jim Edwards, Allan Gardiner and many other highly successful affiliate marketers, that you may not have even heard of, for more details visit to www.clickmagnet-secrets.com all LOVE affiliate marketing. The very lucrative and last form of selling is called affiliate marketing.

For Regular Websites, contents must be more like a shopping site like pictures, description of products, benefits, prices, guarantee…Tips for marketing :• Add a Opt in list by offering something interesting and free to your visitor • Add testimonials • Add Guarantees • Add bonuses • Add Special Offer Prices • Add Affiliate program • Live Help or Support 6. In this article, I will show you how to use article marketing, link exchange and affiliate marketing to promote your products or services: Article Marketing One-way of driving laser targeted traffic to your site is article marketing. Of course Affiliate marketing has a lot of potential.

This is a very good way to be assured of the quality of the affiliate marketing program. “Affiliate Marketing” Web design Software Now I am not talking about a stupid web building software. Make sure you post the link to your affiliate in this signature and you’ll be marketing away in mines. It can literally be your marketing vehicle to gain exposure, build an email list and even crank in affiliate commissions along the way.

Taking panic pills can do you more harm than good. In another article I presented three reasons for and against taking panic pills. The conclusion was that you should try to avoid panic tablets if possible. So why could this be?

Are you using panic pills right now to help you with getting rid of panic attacks? If you are, can you think of what made you decide to take them? Was it simply the doctor who prescribed them, and you obliged in taking them, without thinking? Or was it because you just felt so bad that you didn`t know what else to do? Or maybe you have never been aware of other methods that might help with solving panic or anxiety attacks?

As a psychologist I am interested in getting people to learn how to manage panic attacks by themselves. It is well-known that panic or anxiety can be managed without panic medication. However, it is understandable that you would feel pretty worried, to say the least, when you experience panic and that you want to solve your panic problem as soon as possible. Therefore, going to your GP is a normal reaction, for example to get yourself checked out. But what do you do when panic pills are prescribed? Do you automatically take them? Without thinking?

Let me explain my main concerns I have about this. I hope you can use them to help you decide if you should take panic pills.

1. It is really important that you learn the truth about panic attacks. This is that they are not harmful, that the symptoms feel bad but can be `survived` and that you can learn to control them by yourself, with some help perhaps. This lesson is much harder to achieve if you take panic pills because you might be teaching your subconscious mind that you need pills, that you cannot do it by yourself, or that it is a problem with your body and not with you. I do understand that you might need it to even feel able to start using other coping methods. However, please realise that you are in danger of teaching yourself the wrong message.

2. My second concern is about dependency, or in some cases downright addiction. If you feel better after taking medication, you are very likely to want to take it again. This is totally normal, but can be harmful. Taking your panic pills can simply become a habit, and we all know that habits are very hard to break. So if you prefer to be in control yourself, it is perhaps better not to allow yourself to develop this habit and start learning about other coping methods instead.

There are effective psychological methods that teach you how to manage panic attacks. A newer, and very effective approach is mentioned below. So don`t rush into taking medication, but try to take control yourself.

I look forward to sharing more information with you on panic and anxiety in the future. But if you want to learn immediately about this new programme designed to solve panic attacks effectively, you need to check this out: Your New Life Starts Here

Dr. Jan Banis has a doctorate in clinical psychology and has worked with people suffering from anxiety for years. He has written an article on physical panic symptoms that you can read here: 3 Tips to Combat Physical Panic Symptoms

Here`s how to lose weight. You may have given up hope and think weight loss is Brutal and takes forever. This simply isn`t the case. There are 100`s of different ways to lose weight you just haven`t found what was right for you. But it seemed like the more I looked, the more confused I became about exactly how to lose weight. Read this now if you want a faster weight loss that is right for you.

If you have been doing any research at all into weight loss – I`m sure you know what I mean! If you take everyone`s advice, you need the high protein, low carb, low calorie, protein free, high fiber, 10 hour workout in 30 seconds, $200 a day exercise program planner. Plus pre-packaged meals and roller blades for good measure! Then you`ll be able to lose 30lbs a day, feel better than you ever have and so on. The bad news? 99% of all that is just very glamorous advertising hype, designed to get you hooked on a repeating monthly subscription to something!

Faster Way to Lose Weight

Drink lots of protein shakes each day.

This does many things for you. First, it gives you a lot of protein. This is good because protein speeds up your metabolism and suppresses your appetite. I`m not saying to totally drop eating foods, just use a few protein shakes here and there throughout the day as snacks.

Ideally, something like 3 meals and 2 protein shakes would work great. Maybe that`s not possible for you. Just remember this. You can pre-make your protein shakes the night before or in the morning.

Put them in shaker bottles. Then carry the shaker bottles with you depending on how long you`ll be away from home. This is perfect for the office. Just shake it up when you`re ready to start drinking it.

Protein shakes have few carbohydrates in them… at least the ones with a good source of protein powder. You shouldn`t have anymore than 6 grams of carbs in a serving of protein powder. The fat content is usually minimal as well. It`s pure protein for the most part. I`m sure you know that most of the popular weight loss diets focus on you eating a lot of protein.

This is no different. This is actually a great diet for busy people. Lots of your bad snacking I`m sure comes from impulse eating. You`re hungry so you eat whatever is available. Well, with protein shakes and shaker bottles, it`s available and healthy.

And finally – educate yourself! With these tips, you can lose weight. But with education, you can lose weight faster and easier.

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Italian car manufacturer Alfa Romeo, which is under the Fiat Group, has produced an excellent, fashionable and sporty car in the Alfa Romeo Brera. The car belongs to the fine products that the Italian carmaker has boasted since 2006. Now, Alfa Romeo is releasing the updated model of the Brera with features that are truly Alfa – great performance in great style. The upcoming latest version of this elegant car is sure to fascinate and win the admiration of car enthusiasts around the world.

From its looks alone, you can see that the 2009 Alfa Romeo Brera is a fabulous Italian grand tourer. The sporty and sexy design of the car is very captivating. From its classic-looking bonnet design to its large striking rear lights, the Brera is simply marvelous. You will surely love its design and would want to show the entire world that you own one. It is the kind of car that will not last more than eight hours in your garage. You would definitely want to get on and drive the car all around the city and show to everybody with a little feeling of boastfulness for having this bulky yet lovely automobile.

The grand tourer`s design is impressively unique. Sporting a harmonious blend of shape and volume, the car turns out to be completely attractive and promises a powerful performance. It is a sure head-turner on the roads, be it on the city streets for a short drive or along the highways for cross-country travel. With the Brera`s strong and attractive style coupled with a powerful engine, the car is the perfect vehicle for the modern sophisticated car owner of today.

Going inside the Alfa Romeo Brera, you feel the sophistication of its interior design and the luxurious comfort it offers. The interior revolves around the driver`s seat. You can sense the sporty impression of the car with its soft seats and cool styling highlighted by the neat arrangement of instruments, all creating a feeling of comfort and convenience. Almost every design in the instrument is round, conveying simplicity and ease of use. The seats are sporty and come with built-in head restraints. On an optional basis, the seats can be equipped with electric adjustment controls to provide more comfort to the passengers.

Coming with its luscious appearance is its powerful engine. The Alfa Romeo Brera is powered by a choice of a JTS direct injection engine or a Twin Phaser petrol engine. Both engines are powerful and capable of accelerating the car from zero to 62 miles per hour in 6.8 seconds at a 260 bhp output with 238 lb-ft of torque. Such power can be maximized using the six-speed manual transmission.

The Alfa Romeo Brera will be a sure high-performing car specifically designed both for long-distance travel and inner city driving. So whether you want to have an adventure with friends in the countryside, or a romantic date with your partner on a lush, fancy hotel, the Brera will not disappoint you. Whatever the situation may be, the car will surely deliver in style and fashion for contract hire users.

Darrell F writing about the Alfa Romeo Brera contract hire and also Alfa Romeo leasing deals.

You may procrastinate on writing articles because they take up too much time. You may stumble along because you are not the greatest writer. Possibly you don’t like to write. Or worse you don’t know the first thing about finding material to write on.

Well, there is help if you truly want it. You can download software capable of assisting you. There is a software program called Article Submitter. Go to a search engine type in article software and read up on the various software available. You are on your way to writing awesome articles.

Personally, deciding on a topic is always the greatest hurdle. If you have read any of my articles you know I always follow the gurus when I need specific information. As usual I dive into my archive files to understand how Charlie Page, Shawn Casey, Perry Marshall, or Joe Vitale might tackle it. (Tip: get these guys newsletters and books). Joe Vitale has written a vast collection of books. Don’t be afraid to dig a bit and research…that’s exactly what you have to do!

Ok, so you are searching to find a topic. If you don’t want to come up with a totally unique one, search other authors articles by way of Google, MSN, or Yahoo search engines. Locate a topic from an article already written, rewrite it and improve on it. By improving I mean get the most current information on the subject and add your own two cents. (Warning: copying another persons work is plagiarism). Even if an article doesn’t have a specific copyright on the page, an article always has an implied one.

Ok, you have found a subject to write about. Go to a search engine and type in your article’s subject. If your topic is, let’s say, email marketing or solo ads. Go to a search engine like: Yahoo, Google or MSN, and type in email marketing or solo ads. Thousands of links will appear relating to your topic. You will be able to find tons of articles to choose from. One good website to visit when searching for articles or article ideas is goarticles.com.

You might also want to check-out what the experts say about your topic. If your topic pertains to email marketing, simply type in Charlie Page, Shawn Casey, Joe Vitale or Perry Marshall into any search engine. You will find what these gurus have written on the subject. These people have made thousands of dollars on the internet. They know their stuff! Sign up for their newsletters. Most of them have hard cover you can purchase from Amazon or other book sellers.

It’s also a good idea to check out forums relating to your subject. You can learn what the general public and even other internet marketers are wanting or needing to learn about your topic. Of course MSN and Google have group forums but they’re not the only ones. In my experience I’ve found Yahoo groups to be the most active. Besides finding out what concerns people have dealing with you’re topic, you can also find great subjects to write new articles on. I always do!

Expect to spend some time researching your topic. Once you have enough info, select what you need, and start writing. Now, you have your first draft done. What I do at this point is walk away from it for an hour or so. Why? Well, this way the next time I’m viewing it I am able to be more objective. This always helps me to find any possible mistakes, and get a better idea of what the reader sees upon reading it.

It’s important that your article doesn’t have a lot of grammatical errors and that it makes sense. Sometimes what makes sense to us doesn’t always make sense to the reader. Don’t worry over this, being perfect it not the objective. Writing an article that gives someone information they didn’t know before reading it, is!! Do this and you will always have a reader for any article you write.

I for my part will never forget a conversation I had while in Ecuador with Vito Munoz (one of the top local sports announcers in Guayaquil) who claimed in the presence of my Spanish brother-in-law as well as mine how Maradona had been cursed by first his greatness. First by having to play for Menotti; a trainer who got sentimental over his players to the point of not seeing them for what they were but what they had been. Second by having to play for a “bunch of clowns” like Barcelona (my brother-in-law being from Madrid and a Real fan did not object) to which I added and again by Menotti. Third by being forced to play for SSC Napoli; a team that was limited not only in the quality of their players but in the funds that might buy them, meaning Maradona would be a great player on a mediocre team.

In all this there was a glimmer of hope for Maradona and that was that he was on team which would adjust themselves to his style of play; something which neither Argentina or Barcelona had been willing to do. As for Argentina they were now being coached by Carlos Bilardo, who from the start build his national squad around Maradona. First by getting rid of those players who though useful in wining Argentina’s first title in 78 were now “over the hill” in what could be considered a purge. Passarella however was allowed to remain on the condition that he would accept that his captain’s ban would go over to Maradona, which he did with reluctance.

Eventually the world cup would return. To be played in Mexico and once again Maradona would be playing for Argentina but this time things were different. He would have a team designed to play around him with players who looked up to him unlike in 82 were he was put in to a team who had been playing for over 6 years as a unit. A team in which he simply was the odd man out. Second Maradona was now under the guidance of Bilardo; who in my opinion was simply a better coach then Menotti.

Argentina started the World Cup in the same group as Italy, Bulgaria and South Korea. South Korea was first and though the Koreans did play better then I would have originally given them credit for they were no real match for Argentina. The score showed more or less what transpired as Argentina won 3 to 1 with relative ease and comfort; while Maradona had basically a field day passing the ball off to his new teammates Valdano, Ruggeri and Burruchaga.

Where Argentina’s first game was of little concern to me his second game was not as now he was facing Italy, the nation of my ancestors. I however could see that Italy was rebuilding and were not going to be a factor in this world cup given the fact that many of those players who had been vital in winning the cup 4 years before were past their prime. It was basically a case of the next generation players; like Roberto Baggio being too young while players like Rossi simply being past his prime. This factor plus the fact that Italy had only managed a draw with Bulgaria told me not to expect too much from Italy however me always being an Italian supporter still cheered them on.

The game against Argentina however started well for Italy. Altobelli putting us in the lead through a well taken penalty (any penalty that scores is well taken) only to have Maradona, himself (this time not passing off) equalize after 34 minutes of play with a brilliantly struck ball after a well timed run. One to one was the score at half time and such would the game end with Bruno Conti cracking one off Argentina’s post in the second half which would have changed a lot had it gone in but such is football and life.

In Argentina’s next match they would go to clinch qualification in to the next round and first place by defeating Bulgaria 2-0 in a game that saw little entertainment other then a few nice plays by Maradona. In this group it was Italy and Bulgaria who managed to qualify to the next round along with Argentina. As a footnote I might add that I believe Bulgaria set a record in that world cup; for being the team to play the most world cups (5) and matches (16) without wining a single game.

Next for Argentina was Uruguay; a team that was back in the world cup for the first time since 74 and had beaten Argentina in the final of the first world cup played in Uruguay in 1930. This match saw Maradona, take his level of play higher and though he did not score he really showed a lot by hitting the cross bar on a free kick, passing the ball to an open Burruchaga who really should have scored and even having a goal disallowed. This goal disallowed however contrary to what many believe; was not because of a hand ball by Maradona but a foul he committed when he pulled the jersey of a Uruguayan player after having passed the ball. As for the score it would end with a 1-0 victory for Argentina on a goal scored by Pasculli.

Next for Argentina was England, a team that had started slowly loosing one zero to Portugal after which they would go on to draw 0-0 against Morocco before getting in to the form that saw them soundly defeat both Poland and Paraguay by 3-0 each. Having scored 5 out of their 6 goals it was Gary Lineker, who was considered their biggest threat. Of course, hanging over this match there was still the issue of Argentina’s elimination from the world cup in 1966 and the Malvinas (a.k.a. The Falklands) as they were called in Argentina.

The game started with tight marking on both sides that would dominate the first half as well as a yellow card for Fenwick for a really clumsy tackle on Maradona. The second half however witnessed Maradona break the dead lock with a goal that would be labeled by the Argentine press as the “hand of God” and not Maradona, himself. Maradona started on what had become one of his trade mark runs from the left side of England’s defense and as he entered the box he passed it off. His pass however was intercepted by Terry Butcher who in attempt to clear the ball sent it back, in between a charging Mardona and a Peter Shilton desperate to get to the ball. Maradona jumped for the ball with clear intensions of fisting it in which is precisely what he did before Shilton could get to the ball. It was a goal, the referee saw “no hand ball” and despite English protests the goal stood. Many will say Maradona cheated and this even he admitted many years later that he did but if we look at the run (perhaps on youtube) he made we can see some really nice dribbling, literally going through defenders but however some were not so appreciative of this goal. Peter Shilton; one of the best goal keepers I have ever seen in his farewell match from football requested Maradona not play because of this goal.

Only three minutes would pass before Argentina would score their second goal for the day and again it would be Maradona and what a goal it was! I for my part will not attempt to say anything about this second goal by Maradona on that day as I do not believe I can say anything that has not been already other then what impressed me the most about it. Maradona had gone past two or three English defenders and was about to enter the box where he encountered, the last defender. Fenwick; who tried to apply the rule that has been installed in the mind of every player who defends. This rule being “the player or the ball but never shall both get past”. This meaning if one can not stop the ball then stop the player by what ever foul available. Fenwick tried and those who see it in slow motion will see how he tried to both trip and hold Maradona by his Jersey; only have Maradona do what to me seemed the impossible. Maradona doing three things in one motion; first he jumped over Fenwick’s out stretched leg, second he with his left hand removed Fenwick’s arm of his shirt and third and most importantly he kept control of the ball while going through. After which he would go around Shilton (who really should not have bought that faint) and score one for the record.

Another thing that is note worthy about this goal which I have never heard mentioned is that; this run by Maradona did not really come on a counter attack as many such runs do. For instance Owens’s against Argentina in 98; where England’s counter caught Argentina’s defenders out position in what became basically a race to the goal. Contrary to that one, England had had time to settle back in their defensive positions after having lost the ball and were generally waiting for Maradona; most likely to pass off to Valdano.

England being a footballing nation with tradition and a bitter rival of Argentina would not give up so easily; specially having Gary Lineker on their team and after bringing on Barnes and Waddle. England went forward and got one back via a Gary Lineker header but it would not be enough as 2 to 1 is how it would end. In that game Maradona would go on to perform another gem of a play and though no goal came as a result it is still worth a second look. He got the ball in midfield and by almost jumping on the ball went by two English players and in a one two passed the ball back to Tapia who hit the post. England however was not far from getting a second when another Gary Lineker header almost found the mark. Gary Lineker, I might add finished the world cup as top goal scorer with 6 goals in 5 games and none of them being penalties and his career without ever getting as much as a yellow card.

Argentina were now in the semifinal; two games from taking it all, for the second time in the last 3 world cups while much to my disappoint Italy had lost all chances of repeating as champions as France had seen to it that they would not. The semifinal would pit Argentina against Belgium; the team that had beaten them four years ago but this was a completely different team as the only ones who remained from that defeat were Maradona and Passarella. This being the case though the later would not be playing due to an injury sustained in the 1st match against Korea.

The first half saw Argentina dominate but not score and Maradona play amazingly well in spite of having veteran Belgium defender, Gerets and others literally follow him all over the field. As for Maradona; he in a play that sticks out in my memory from this first half hit the crossbar off a free kick for the fourth time in two world cups, making me believe in jest that may be he practiced the frustrating art of hitting the post. Not surprisingly the rebound was picked up by Valdano who scored though had it was disallowed for a clear hand ball; as perhaps it is only Maradona who could get away with it.

The second half would be more of the same Maradona; going at the Belgium defense until he finally scored. A filtering pass through Belgium’s defense would find Maradona, who on the run managed to flick the ball over Pfaff (goalkeeper) and in to the net for Argentina’s first. Maradona however was not finished and on a second run would score Argentina’s second and the one that would make it almost impossible for Belgium to come back. This second goal was in my opinion at least just as spectacular as the one he had scored against England as on that occasion; he instead of moving forward moved both diagonally and forward while going in between at least 4 Belgium defenders before beating Pfaff for the second time that day.

Belgium in all honesty had their chances and perhaps might have scored one or even two on that day but the truth is that Maradona was just too overwhelming, even to the point of having Jean Marie Pfaff congratulate him after the game in an exhibition of gallantry. Belgium like England had played well defensively but against a great player on a great day there is little that could be done, and who knows what might have been if that ball had not hit the crossbar but gone in? Or if Valdano had not send in to the crowds that pass Maradona gave with an almost empty goal?

In football most people only remember plays that ended in goals but if ever there was a great play it was the one that preceded Valdano’s miss. Maradona had a long pass given to him on the right and some how managed to get to it before it went out of bounds and then with an opposing player coming up on him in an attempt to sweep him. Maradona, literary jumped over him like a hurdle while passing the ball around him and catching it on the other side. After this Maradona went down the flank going past another defender till he was almost at the goal line which prompted Pfaff to come off his line; only to have Maradona pass the ball of to Valdano; who by all accounts should have made it 3 for Argentina.

The final came and who but Germany should meet Argentina in the final. Germany however was not the favorite to win despite having made it to (this one included) 3 out of the last 4 finals however they are never easy to beat. This Bilardo, knew full well as he also was aware that on that day Germany would have Maradona covered to the point where he would be limited to doing very little if anything at all; which was the case. Beckenbaur (Germany’s head coach at the time) had Matthaus follow Maradona just about every where on the field along with other players used to assist in the marking Maradona.

Argentina however in spite of Maradona being so closely marked went up 2-0; being that other players were given more freedom such as Brown and Valdano, who got on the score board. Germany however are known for not giving up and coming back as they had done so many times in their history and that day would not be the exception. First it would be Rummingge, to pull one back, as he did against France four years before. His effort would be followed by Rudi Voeller in getting the equalizer. At that point it was clear that the momentum had shifted over to Germany and I must admit that I thought they could win. As for myself personally I can not claim to have been pulling for them or not; as to me only Italy counts.

Germany kept on attacking and it was then that Maradona showed a quality which to be honest I never knew him to have; of a leader. True he had been an outstanding player though at times erratic in his form but till that day he had never been what I would call a leader on the field and it was then while not being on his best form and with team now facing the threat of Germany going up 3 to 2 that he stepped up and delivered a great pass to Burruchaga. It was a ball filtered through the German defense to Burruchaga; who was left one on one with Schumacher and made no mistake when putting the ball in to the net for Argentina’s third and winner.

Argentina was world champion for the second time in three world cups and now Maradona was no longer being hailed as arguably the greatest player of his day but of all time. He had won the world cup and was on top of the football world along with his country but there was more to it then that as far as I could see. Maradona was great; this my mind held little room for doubt but what was great about him? This is question I was able to understand for myself if for no one else.

Football for the most part up until I saw Maradona play in that world cup had come down to a few things which I have already mentioned in this article however Maradona went beyond these elementary things. For Maradona’s greatness was not limited to being able to be at the right place at right time or being able to hit the ball just right at any given moment or make a move or two that would free himself just enough to get off that shot but something that went beyond that. Maradona had the ability to do everything and then some and that some being controlling a ball like no one ever had. He would actually go through players with skill alone, where so many options did he have at his disposal to pass a player that it was the defender, how ever many there might be were bound to get passed or have to resort to committing a foul. This being the case and the only way to stop Maradona as it could be said that his body was ideal for the sport he practiced much like Jordan’s was for basketball. Maradona, stood at 168 cm and was stocky, perhaps such features would not have lend themselves to making him a great basketball player but for football they proved to be ideal as his low center of gravity made it difficult to knock off the ball when he had it plus his short legs made him very fast in short sprints.

It was after the 86 world cup that I spent the whole summer that followed Argentina’s win thinking if anybody ever had been that good and I could not think of anybody who had. Beckenbaur was serene and kept his cool organizing his team but was never brilliant though he did do the simple things well like bringing the ball up field and managing to make a pass but other this he had never come close to doing what Maradana had done in that world cup. Pele, was great in his time, scoring over a thousand goals but his time was one when the average game ended with a score of 5-3 and just about anybody could score as teams played with 5 forwards going up against 2 defenders. Also Pele played at time when a good ball controller was one would could bounce the ball on his knees and head and do it many times where in Maradona’s time this was something just about anybody could do.

Maradona had dominated Mexico 86 like nobody ever had in a world cup much like he had done in the Youth World Cup of 79 but those had not been the top professionals but youths, now it he had done the same to the great players of the day. I remember thinking back then that he should not have been allowed to play in such a tournament given he had already played with an adult national team but what could be done now. Should another league be created for him after what he had shown in Mexico 86?

His statistics had been good but in all reality five goals (one which even should have been disallowed) and five assists was not really all that impressive. Specially when considering for instance that Muller had scored 10 goals in 6 games in the world cup in 70, Fontaine 13 goals (in 6 games) in the world cup in 54 and Kocsis 11 goals (in 5 games) in the world cup in 54 but with Maradona it went beyond numbers. I do not always agree with Cossell but I would have to when it comes to statistics not always reveling the whole story. So many great plays that did not always lead to a goal though perhaps should have will not be written down in the books but never forgotten by those who saw them. Maradona had five assists and who knows how many he would have had, had he had Batistuta instead of Valdano; who was a fair player but nothing exceptional. With regards to his other teammates; in all truth none of them were all that great as their careers in their respective clubs would show, so it can not be really said that he was surrounded by great players. Pele, for instance having Garrincha, Santos, Didi and Vava in 58 and later in 70 Jairzinho, Tostao, Carlos Alberto and Rivelino. It can not even be claimed that Argentina like Italy in the previous world cup won thanks to having a well balanced team. This had not been the case but of Maradona simply winning for them, as if handing them the title.

After that world cup up until the world cup in 1990, Maradona was considered the best in the game, by far! Him going on to lead SSC Napoli in winning the Scudeto for the first time in their history in 1987 and again in 1990. It was during his time in SSC Napoli that he also lead them to victory in the “Copa Italia” in 1987, Italian Super Cup in 1990 and above all the UEFA cup in 1989, while for himself he was top goal scorer of the Serie A in 1988.

As for “Italia 90”, this would end in disappointment for Argentina who would go on to loss the final 1-0 to Germany; in a game that will be mostly remembered for being possibly the worst played final in the history of the world cup. Maradona however got Argentina to the final despite not playing his best football and playing in a world cup that was mostly limited to very defensive play. As for Maradona in what was Italia 90, he again got away with another hand ball against the Soviet Union that prevented them from scoring. Maradona however in this world cup that saw very little of brilliant play will also be remembered for a run through four Brazilian players after which he despite being pulled down by the last one managed to get off a perfect pass with his right foot (something rare for him) to Caniggia. It was this player who scored the goal that would give Argentina a 1-0 victory. As for scoring in Italia 90; this Maradona did not do though he would put in a fine performance unfortunately for me against Italy in Napoli which would see my dreams of seeing Italy win the title at home end. Maradona converted his penalty kick and Serena missed from the same penalty spot. It was perhaps even a difficult situation for most Italian fans in Napoli because on the one hand Italy was playing and on the other hand so was the only man who had ever managed to give their loved Napoli any kind of title. This making it hard for them to decide for whom to cheer for which perhaps might have lead to less support for Italy then they normally would have gotten at home.

Maradona after having problems with cocaine and being suspended for a year and half would come back to play in the World Cup USA 94. This after helping Argentina qualify with a goal in his country’s 1-0 qualifying victory over Australia in Buenos Aires after having drawn at 0 in Melbourne. USA 94 however would only see Maradona play two games in which he scored one against Greece in what would be an Argentine 4-0 rout, after which he would provide two almost perfect passes to set up goals against Nigeria; whom Argentina would beat 2 to 1. At that moment it seemed much to my fear that Maradona and Argentina were back in form. Fortunately however this would not be as Maradona, after the game against Nigeria was suspended from the world cup for using a banned substance.

After USA 94, Maradona was nearing the end of his career which saw him play several more years in Argentina till his retirement in 98 and perhaps again Maradona was loved as he was ending his career and even those like myself who had always seen him as an enemy now looked back and realized what a great one we had been privileged with. Of course, the younger generations may watch him on youtube but I was fortunate enough to see him play live. This being the case though I would have been happier if he had played for Italy in the same way that Camoranesi (Camoranesi also being born in Argentina but obtained Italian citizenship due to being of Italian descent) does today.