Cannes Premieres Captivating Film About the Iconic 1986 World Cup Showdown: England Vs. Argentina
EXCLUSIVE: The upcoming World Cup in Mexico City is set to captivate fans worldwide, but it faces the formidable challenge of rivaling a historic match held 40 years ago. In 1986, England and Argentina clashed in the quarterfinals, a game that has become a defining moment in World Cup history. This iconic encounter, featuring legendary performances and unforgettable goals, will receive renewed attention in the documentary The Match, premiering today at the Cannes Film Festival.
Directed by Argentinian filmmakers Juan Cabral and Santiago Franco, the documentary offers an exclusive first look in its trailer.
The 1986 World Cup quarterfinal match between England and Argentina.
-Courtesy of THE MATCH by JC & SF
The 1986 quarterfinal featured two of football’s greats: Gary Lineker for England and Diego Maradona for Argentina. However, the match’s significance extends beyond the players; it is set against a backdrop of geopolitical tension, as Britain had recently engaged in conflict with Argentina over the Falkland Islands.
“It’s only football. Period,” Maradona stated in pre-game interviews. Yet the political climate loomed large over Azteca Stadium in Mexico City, where the match took place.
Despite their Argentinian roots, the directors approach the history with balance, featuring interviews with surviving members of both teams, including Lineker, while Maradona, who passed away in 2020, is notably absent.
Franco was not born at the time of the match, while Cabral still recalls that day vividly.
“I was in third grade. My grandmother used to take care of me in the afternoon because my parents were working. And I remember one day I got back from school; it was 2 p.m. And my grandmother was watching TV, a football match. And I was like, ‘That’s strange. My grandmother watching football, that’s not normal,’” Cabral reflects. “And she says, ‘This is the World Cup.’ ‘What is the World Cup?’ [I ask]. ‘The best players from each team from each country play against the best players of another country.’ And my mind exploded like, ‘Oh, so we can play a game around the planet, like a championship.’ And it was really mind-blowing for me.”
Gary Lineker in ‘The Match’
-Courtesy of THE MATCH by JC & SF
Narrated by Lineker and Jorge Valdano, an integral member of Argentina’s 1986 squad, the documentary employs a unique visual storytelling technique. It reassembles the teams in a neutral setting in Spain, where players are filmed in a stylized manner. Cabral points out that the cinematography aims to present them “like Clint Eastwood.”
Franco elaborates on the production’s vision, stating, “We thought about that space as a special place where the match will live forever. That space in black and white where we shoot, we show the images [on screen] and the footage of the match. It’s like kind of a museum, a place when we do an homage of the match.”
Maradona’s legendary contributions to the game, including the controversial “Hand of God” goal, play a significant role in The Match. However, the documentary also highlights the collective memories of players such as Oscar Ruggeri, Peter Shilton, John Barnes, Jorge Burruchaga, Ricardo Giusti, and Julio Olarticoechea, alongside Lineker and Valdano.
“It’s a choral piece,” Cabral explains. “We really wanted people in the audience to feel compelled to ask, ‘Why am I watching this? What’s going on? But I cannot get enough of this.’ It should be like history, but at the same addictive.”
‘The Match’ poster
-Courtesy of Labhouse/Industria del Milagro/Buena Vista International
As the World Cup approaches, England and Argentina are again seen as strong contenders for victory, alongside Spain and France. Argentina enters the tournament as the defending champion.
“It’s part of our culture in a way. In Argentina, the soccer — football — is so important,” Franco emphasizes. “It’s part of our everyday conversations and it’s part of who we are. This particular team of 1986 and especially this match was iconic and incredibly significant for us. That’s the essence we want to convey in this documentary.”
The 40th anniversary of the England vs. Argentina match is set for June 22. Following its premiere at Cannes, Cabral and Franco will screen The Match in Argentina on May 22.
Franco acknowledges the documentary’s timely release: “We want to do the premiere [in Argentina] before the World Cup starts. Once the tournament begins, the eyes of football fans around the world will not veer from the pitch.”
The trailer for The Match is available above.
