WHEN England and the US face each other for their opening World Cup match on 12 June, expect to hear English commentators refer yet again to Diego Maradona’s infamous “hand of God” goal, which contributed to England’s defeat by Argentina in 1986. It turns out that Argentina had another advantage that year: they played every game at altitude while their rivals all had to switch (see “The altitude factor”). In South Africa it will be different, as whoever wins will have played games at sea level and at altitude. The potential for divine intervention remains unchanged.
To continue reading, today with our introductory offers
Advertisement
More from New Scientist
Explore the latest news, articles and features
Technology
Technology is changing our perspective on nature – at every scale
Comment
Inside the emerging science of healthspan extension for pets
Advertising
Life
Has the answer to life's origins been hiding in our cells all along?
Features
ÎçÒ¹¸£Àû1000¼¯ºÏ
Sperm have been made magnetic to allow IVF inside the body
News
Popular articles
Trending New Scientist articles
1
Sperm have been made magnetic to allow IVF inside the body
2
Has the answer to life's origins been hiding in our cells all along?
3
Fully autonomous drones have killed human soldiers for the first time
4
Have we finally worked out how Venus flytraps snap shut?
5
Vaping after quitting smoking is linked to lung cancer
6
We may have finally solved cosmology's chicken-or-the-egg problem
7
Are useful and error-free quantum computers only two years away?
8
Inside the start-up aiming for a giant leap in robot intelligence
9
What is a ‘normal’ memory slowdown, and when should I worry?
10
Half the world's reservoirs could be clogged up with dirt by 2060