Italy In USA 94

sides after which our two captains, Baresi for Italy and Bonner (goalkeeper) for Ireland exchanged flags and the game was on. I, naturally by then found myself in my seat and was fortunate, that I was in a part were Italians outnumbered Irish, which put me at ease that I should not have too much trouble. For instance as my brother-in-law did once; at a game in Spain 82 were he suffered a broken head, this despite his being from Madrid.

 

Italy started much as they had played up and till that point; with Baresi leading the team and organizing it from the back. All the while looking for Baggio’s offensive creativity to provide us with the same kind of magic he had displayed for Juventus, the previous year that earned him the title of FIFA player of the year. Ireland as always solid, in their mobile defense, and always a danger on the counter attack, in fact there game was typical of the one mostly practiced on the British Isles and with Jack Charlton (brother of Bobby Charlton) as their coach why should it come as a surprise.

 

Chances there were some for Italy though Ireland, had studied their game plan well and goals would not come easy, however one did relatively early.  It coming when Houghton lobbed our goalkeeper Gianluca Pagliuca at the 11 minute mark of the game to put Ireland a head 1-0. A perfect shot it was and in the net it went, after which Houghton did a roll over as all the Irish faithful celebrated and grew in confidence that they could beat the team that had not only eliminated them from the last world cup but had come in third place, along with having won three world titles.

 

The lines of battle were clearly drawn at that point, Italy would have to go forward while Ireland could simply wait in the midfield and take advantage of any loose ball to go on the counter and increase their lead. Baggio, was being well taken care of, as this was not only our greatest scoring threat but the key to our offense and Charlton knew it. The first half would end and still we were down 1-0 and the Irish grew more sure of themselves.

 

The second half came and by then Italy started to worry and go forward in attack with more desperation, though Ireland was still solid in their wall of defense, while chants from their supporters got louder as did their reason to believe this could be their day in the summer as Saint Patrick’s is theirs in the spring. It was actually half way through the second period that those of us who backed Italy could see that we might actually not only loose this game but not even end up getting on the score board. Chances we created but always the same result Bonner, and his defenders would not have anything put over on them or at least not on that day and in fact Ireland in the second half came closer to a second goal when they hit the post, than Italy did to a first.

 

The final whistle came, and so did the celebrations of the Irish, and did they ever want us to know they had gotten the best off us on that day. I, however for my part felt they played a good game but for Italy all was not lost. As they could still qualify, specially since many teams had lost their first match to go on not only to the second round but the finals as was the case with Argentina in 90 or Germany in 82, of course both these teams ended up loosing in the final but that was another issue. Italy could still do it but this would mean almost having to beat Norway, for a loss would really limit our chances though not completely for with the system at the time; 16 out of 24 teams qualified. This making it possible for the best four third place teams to make it and after all Uruguay and Bulgaria had both gone through to the second round in 86, on the strength of two draws and a loss. Hopefully, however it would not come to this for Italy as they would beat Norway but that is another game for that one had ended with the Irish on top by 1-0.

 

Italy’s fans were depressed but as I explained to someone on the bus back to New York that all it was; was a set back and not the end, which those around me eventually did see it as. I even remember passing by a pizzeria near my apartment, me living in Brooklyn at the time in a part of the city reserved mostly for Polish immigrants (Green Point) and seeing how dejected, all my fellow Italians (some Italian American, some born in the old country) were though perhaps more so because we had lost to a team we were expected to beat.

 

Italy at that point was down but not out, but from then on we would have to get serious and play hard! Norway who had eliminated England was not going to be easy and this we all knew so bearing this in mind we would have to be at our best to beat them. Norway, who had qualified after a very long absence from the world cup scene. This however was for another day though same stadium.

 

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USA 94 (Italy VS. Norway)

 

An article about Italy’s second match in USA 94, which saw hope come back to us who loved Italian football.

 

We had lost but we were not out! We were Italy, after all and we were not going to give up after only one defeat, specially since we had already won three world cups, been in the finals four times and been semifinalists six times. Our record demanded that we go out and show what we were capable of; this I knew and having settled this in my mind I set back and enjoyed the rest of the world cup before Italy’s second match.

 

The other games were very good and though there were no great surprises, I got to see some really nice play from Argentina; who soundly defeated Greece 4-0 but this one could more or have expected. They having Maradona, who was back in form after his year and a half suspension for cocaine but that was already in the past. Marardona, was still young at 33 or relatively so and his ball handling skills were still the best even if he had slowed down a step or two but then again speed had never been his greatest asset as a player. Of course; Argentina also had Batistuta, who scored a hat trick for Argentina in their 4-0 rout of Greece while the 4th goal was scored by Maradona, himself and did the camera ever capture his passion after his first world cup goal since the one he scored against Belgium in Mexico 86. It was almost as if he scored that goal just to prove to himself and his critics that he was not finished as far as football was concerned and in a way it was strange because the way he looked in to the camera will be more remembered than the goal itself.

 

As for the rest of the games; Brazil had won 2-0 but had not really impressed by beating Russia, who was playing as such for the first time after being the Soviet Union for so long. The United States in their second game beat Colombia 2-1, in a match that perhaps would have been forgotten if not for the tragedy that occurred afterwards. Andres Escobar, scored an own goal for the United States, because of which he was killed on his return to Colombia, by one of the cartels; who obviously had bet heavily on Colombia. This most likely the case though I have heard that one of the Colombian cartels even bet heavily against Colombia. All of which must have created great confusion on the Colombian team, as some players where even threatened before games not to do their best, while others to win at all cost.

 

In a way I also felt sorry for the USA, for they were playing in a world cup, which is the greatest honor which can be bestowed upon a national team and they were doing it as the host nation and yet most Americans seemed either oblivious to their efforts or simply did not care. The USA had played well against Switzerland in their 1-1 draw. This the team that qualified a head of Italy in their group and though this was more history; they had drawn 2-2 against Brazil, in the 1950 World Cup which Brazil hosted. Switzerland, would even go on two years later with basically the same team to hold England to a 1 all draw in the 96 Euro which England was playing host to. The USA, after drawing with Switzerland even beat Colombia, who some were predicting after their 5-0 trashing of Argentina to go all the way and yet, the people of the United States seemed not only not to take pride in their teams accomplishments; it was as if they just did not want to concern themselves with it. I for my part remember even reading about wild celebrations in countries like Austria, Peru, Argentina, Italy, Germany after world cup victories while those in the states almost did not react.

 

All of which made me feel bad for the Americans on that team; which would be the first American team to qualify for the second round since the one that had done so in the first ever world cup, played in Uruguay in 1930. It also being then that an American scored the first ever hat trick of the competition against Belgium; in a 3-0 US victory that would lead to the United States becoming the first and only CONCACAF team (so far) to reach the semifinal of a world cup.

 

My pity towards the American players was largely being caused by the fact that these players really seemed to be giving it their all in this, their big moment. Yet, it all seemed to be for a nation that was not even aware or did not even wish to be. I can even add that when the United States played Brazil in the round of 16 in Los Angeles, it was Brazilian fans who clearly outnumbered American fans and if one did not know the USA was playing at home; one could have sworn it was the other way around. For such was the lack of support the USA was getting on home soil.

 

Granted, their accomplishments were on the news of major networks but even they were given less time than other sports by commentators who anybody who knew anything about football (or soccer) could tell did not have a clue as to what