PARIS Dec 31 Brazil's popular fourth World Ci-p win and Diego । Maradonas 15 month tian for failing .i drugs test made 1994 a bitter-sweet year for inlet national football, writes AFP Brazil, though never as entertaining as the 1970 World Cup winning side, were for most people the best team at USA -94.
Their 3-2 penalty shootout win over Italy, following a goal less draw after extra time, proved a dramatic. If hollow climax.
Brazil keeper Taffarel walked to the east end goal of Los Angeles Rose Bowl with Italian, opposite number Gianluca Pagiiuca at the beginning of the shoot otil. They agreed fate would decide who won the title, and wished each other luck. (
Roberto- Baggio skied Italy's fifth kick over the bar to send Brazil's players on a dance of triumph around the pitch under the binning sun
perhaps Juftice had been
mouth Incidents in World Cup final bistort Mauro Silva shoi al Pagiiuca who dropped the ball. saw It bounce off a posi and back into his hands.
Baggio hit over the bar and Aidair cut oft a Massaro break, but Brazil s disciplined defence was mostly tidy and professional till the final whistle
The Brazilians also won two ' other FIFA awards — as the most entertaining team and the most fair play
The players also dedicated their triumph to another Bra zilian hero, racing driver Ayr ton Senna, who died after crashing on May ! at Imola
However, one blemish must be noted on Brazil s record.
Leftback-cum-ieft winger Leonardo was banned for the matches for elbowing Amr rican Tab Ramos, who fractured his skull Just above his left ear. in their fourth of July match.
And Italy's Mauro Tassottl had a record six-match ban after an incident during the quarter final against Spain
Argentina managed to grab I heir share of the limelight
done. Brazil made lh^ final with few hiccups, but Baggio seemed to be continually coming lo Italy's rescue.
Arrigo Sacchi's men were facing a humiliating exit from the second round by Nigeria when Baggio equalised with Just two minutes left. The 1993 footballer of the year then hit the winner In extra time.
Another strike, also two minutes from time, earned Ita 2-1 win over Spain In th garter finals.
Baggio was again the herMn he semifinals with boi Boals in a 2-1 win over who had Just knocked out (e defending champions Ger any.
owever. Brazil had the tx-Ger of the final in open play. Romario had two chances and inidflttder Mazfnho arid Bran co could also haVe scored in the first 45 mtnufe*.
I,ta!y had a single chance in the first half when Franco Barest, back in the side three weeks after a knee cartilage oj cation, put Daniele Massaro th «Sugh.
a Jaggio. held back by a ham injury, was unable to
Tie second han ^,->ne of most remark.iBL goal
earlier In the tournament, with the most notorious scandal in World Cup history
Maradona's failed drugs test, after a 2-1 win over Nigeria in the first round, was the sort of shock which coach Alfio Basile could have done without
After receiving his suspension. Maradona did not rnince his words about the game's world governing body. FIFA.
They killed me." said the former national skipper. "I'm completely dead both as a man and a player, but I think. I'm finished with soccer anyway."
Barely four months after. Maradona was back — coaching Argentine club Deportivo Man-diyu and claiming he wanted to play for Boca Juniors, where he began his career, when the ban finishes next September.
FIFA said he had taken a "cocktail of amphetamine stimulants" to Improve concentration and physical capacity.
Maradona's dietician Daniel Cerrlnl. a former bodybuilder, was under suspicion as he had givtn drugs to his charges In the past. Cerrini. who blamed his command of English, claimed he had mis-read package labels at an American More and purchased substances ban-
tied on the list by accident Maradona, who had been in fine form, was the first player to fail a drugs test in the final* since Spain's Ramon Aldere tested positive in 1986. also for taking ephedrine But Al dere was not punished because ft was ruled a doctor made an error in formulating a cold cure
Scotland s Willie Johnston was sent home from the Ar gentina finals in 1978 after failing a test
The tournament did. how ever, witness a number of World Cup firsts
Its final was the first to be decided on penalties LIS/, v Switzerland was the first match indoors, and Pagiiuca became the first goalkeeper to be sent off in the finals — during Italy * game against Nor
Oleg Salenko became the first man to score five goals in a match in Russia s 6-1 demo lition of Cameroon
In the same game Cameroon's Roger Milla already at 42 the oldest player to com-pete In the finals also became
the oldest scorer.
Germany's Stefan Effenberg was the first player to be sent home for a gesture to the fans after a match against South Korea. And Germany were Involved In another first when Bolivia's Marco Etcheverry became the first player to be sent off tn an opening match against the 1990 winners.
Saudi Arabia v Morocco In New York was the first all Arab clash. And the Saudis, who won 2-1. were only the second Aslan side to win a game in the history of the tournament North Korea had beaten Italy 1-0 in 1966.
New World Cup regulations including dismissals for tackles on behind, giving priority to attackers in off-side situations and stretcherlng off injured players for treatment, were a major success.
The standard of refereeing was for the most part much better than the two previous finals except for one glaring mistake.
Switzerland's Kurt Rothli-sberger was sent home In the wake of the statement by FIFA president Joao Havelange that gross errors would be punished that way.
Germany beat Belgium 3-2 in the second round, but
Belclum were denied a clear penalty in the 76lh minute Thomas Helmer clearly pulled down Josip Weber in the penalty area, but Rothhsborger waved play on
On a tragic note, came the shooting of Andres Escobar days after the Colombian de fender scored an own goal against the United Stales pee cedliui In* ivxuiuy - rxeiiliial first round elinunation
The killing, the motive for which will almost certainly never be known stunned the footballing world
Back on the lioj Bulgaria created the shock of the lour nament with their 2-1 win over Germany never worst than final lists since 1982
Ironically Yordan Lechkov who plays his club football for SV Hamburg, headed the win ner Hristo Stolchkov recently voted European-footballer of the year for his services to Bulgaria and Barcelona had cancelled out Lothar Mattha-eus penalty.
German coach Berti Vogts said: "We made two serious mistakes — the wall was badly organised on Sloichkov s free kick and then Hassler should not have been the man marking Lechkov — and they punished us for them.'
The World Cup aftermath was not all smiling and good cheer for Brazil
Celebrations on their return were marred by a scandal in voh-lng stale President Itamar Franco the head of the Brazilian FA and the Finance Minister
The Finance Minister quit after Franco overruled him to allow Brazil's 18 tons of excess baggage through at Rto Airport.
"Everyone not only (he middle class and the poor, must pay taxes So must fool bailers, said Lopes Filho in disgust.
About one million dollars In duty should have lieen paid on Items Including 18 television sets, computers, refrigerators, fax machines, laser printers, microwave ovens, dishwashers and even a horse saddle.
Mario Zagalo was later appointed Brazil's coach after Carlos Alberto Parrelra had Joined Spanish club Valencia
Zagalo won the World Cup aS a player in 1958 and 1962. was coach In the 1970 winning side, nnd was Parrelra's assls tant this year. He is expected to continue the less popular yet successful disc iplined de fenslve style favoured by Parrelra.
Ronaldo. PSV Eindhovi n s six-mlllion-dollnr signing, and Ariel Orleg.i are set lo star Ui I hat rveiil lor Brazil and Argentina respec lively.
Michel Platini. co-pre»ldeni of the French 1998 World Cup organiser, vowed their expanded tournament — from 24 to 32 places — would be even belter than the US version.
We are organising the greatest World Cup ever." Pla Uni said. "It will cost 1.5 bll lion dollars. Wo know we can not match the attendances at USA 94. but we do believe we can make the 1998 event a great feast of football.