WORLD CUP USA ’94 / THE FIRST ROUND : Maradona Answers Critics With a Goal : Group D: Controversial superstar has old touch, Batistuta has a hat trick to propel Argentina to 4-0 victory over newcomer Greece.

They’re back. Argentina and Diego Maradona, a.k.a. Captain Lazarus, came storming back to the World Cup on Tuesday in better form and spirits than when they left it four years ago.

“I answered my critics on the field,” said the incomparable, incorrigible Maradona, diamond earring sparkling, drug and physical travails apparently just bad memories in a sweet moment of victory. “It was a very emotional goal for me. I had been waiting a long while for it.”

With game but outclassed Greece as their foil, the 1990 Cup runners-up scored early and often, cruising to a 4-0 victory in one opening-round game at which--at last--nobody talked about the weather. What heat? Under glowering, leaky skies, it was a why-didn’t-I-bring-a-jacket afternoon.

For a partisan but good-natured 53,486 in Boston’s suburban Foxboro Stadium halfway to Rhode Island, it came down to a struggle of the blue and white stripes. The difference was the blue; the Greek sea-dark, the Argentine sky-light--and all bright.

“We played a marvelous game,” Argentine Coach Alfio Basile said.

The usually affable Greek coach, Alkis Panagoulias said, not bothering to disguise his distress--or his anger, “I am very disappointed. I never expected my players to be afraid of the Argentines.”

It started badly quickly for the Greeks in their World Cup debut. And it got steadily worse.

In the second minute, the crowd still squirming on wet seats, a lightning Argentine counterattack produced a goal. Midfielder Diego Simeone shot a sideline pass to long-haired forward Gabriel Batistuta, known around the soccer world as “Archangel Gabriel” and “Batigol.”

“I beat two defenders and then there was only the goalie,” said Batistuta, who plays professionally for Fiorentina in Italy.

The early goal, which seemed to sap the Greeks as surely as it silenced their thousands of supporters, set the tone for a game that was played throughout at Argentina’s pace--tight control, no speeding. Greece managed eight shots to Argentina’s 21 and never seriously challenged. In a last-minute switch, Argentina replaced veteran Sergio Goycochea in goal with 28-year-old Luis Islas, who passed a quiet afternoon.

For Batistuta, the opening goal was only the beginning. He scored a hat trick on a gray afternoon, becoming the tournament’s leading scorer.

Batistuta scored his second goal, on a pass by defender Jose Chamot, at the end of the first half. After that, Greek goalkeeper Antonis Minou had no chance. He was cleanly beaten by Batistuta’s third goal, on a penalty shot at game’s end, after a hand ball.

It was Maradona’s goal, though, that will be on the replays.

At 33, he was the greatest question mark on a problematical team from a soccer powerhouse that has won the Cup two times.

Since 1990, when he carried Argentina to the final, Maradona has been suspended for cocaine use and bounced ingloriously from teams in Italy, Spain and Argentina. Many fans and soccer experts had written him off.

On Tuesday he returned, slimmer, uncertain at first but with that same awesome touch that has made him one of the most famous soccer players for more than a decade.

In the first half, Greek defender Panagiotis Tsalouhidis did everything to slow Maradona except tie his shoelaces together, and he earned a yellow card in the process.

“I gained confidence in the first half,” Maradona said.

And at the start of the second half, the Greek defense gave him a bit more room to maneuver. Big mistake.

At the 60th minute, midfielders Fernando Redondo and Simeone gave Maradona the ball just outside the penalty area. In the next instant it had somehow split through two defenders into a corner of the net after a left-footed blast.

“To answer the questions, Diego is in very good physical condition,” Basile said. “His touch is still magic and every day now he will be better.”

With five minutes to play, Basile calculatingly substituted for Argentina’s captain, and as Maradona trotted off the field the dejected Greek blues joined the ecstatic Argentine blues in saluting him.