Come June 11, 2010 and a stupendous fireworks is expected to rock Johannesburg. And why not, Africa gets its first ever chance to host the FIFA world cup. While the entire world is eagerly waiting for the kick start of another breathtaking one month of joy, tears, agony, rivalry and sportsmanship, I would like to pause for a moment and take a tour to previous four world cup tournaments which I have witnessed with my eyes.
FIFA went to USA for the first time in 1994 hoping that it would lead to growth of interest of this game in USA. Though team USA’s performance did not soar very much in the subsequent tournaments, attendance at the grounds skyrocketed and broke all the records since 1950. Major surprise of the tournament was the absence of Britain from tournament for the first and only time till date and major setback was the end of Maradona’s career due to failing a drug test. Biggest surprise however on the field was power packed performance of Bulgaria. Led by joint golden shoe winner of the tournament, Hristo Stoichkov, they eventually made it to the semifinals before being defeated by Italy. Italy on the other side survived a few narrow chances in the group stages before Roberto Baggio lifted the spirit of the team by his extraordinary ability to goal at the crucial moments. Between Italy and the world cup stood the Brazilians who had a smooth run till the finals. Both these teams were eyeing their fourth world cup win. Both the teams made several scoring chances but could not produce a result in the scheduled 90 minutes and additional 30 minutes. For the first time in history, the winner was to be decided by penalty shoot out. After 4 rounds of penalty shoots, the score read Italy: 2, Brazil: 3 with Italy to strike their 5th one first. I recall Roberto Baggio taking this one for Italy and what happened then is a history. He missed the goal bar by several inches and Brazil had clinched their 4th title. They owed this title to a wonderful team effort and dream run of Romario.
World cup moved to France for the second time in 1998. For the first time, 32 teams were playing the finals. This tournament also marked the conception of the golden goal rules and extra time play for stoppage times. Greatest surprise on the field this time was the way Croatia made their way to the semi-finals. Suker for them rose to the occasions more than once and eventually took away golden shoe award. Though they could not surpass rejuvenated hosts in the semis, they did manage to beat Dutchs to end third in the competition. Brazil as usual was on roller coaster ride with best forwards of the game doing the maximum damage against the oppositions – none other than the duo of Rivaldo and Ronaldo. Unfortunately for them, Zinedine Zidane had other plans for the final night at Paris. He scored no goals (except one in penalty shoot-out against Italy in quarter finals) in the tournament till this game and did not use his feet either in the finals to score the goals. Two strong headers and the game went begging away from Brazil handing over France their first title.
As Zidane’s heroics began to sink in, world cup made its way to Asia for the first time and in the process became first tournament in the history to be hosted by two countries – South Korea and Japan.
To be continued…
FIFA went to USA for the first time in 1994 hoping that it would lead to growth of interest of this game in USA. Though team USA’s performance did not soar very much in the subsequent tournaments, attendance at the grounds skyrocketed and broke all the records since 1950. Major surprise of the tournament was the absence of Britain from tournament for the first and only time till date and major setback was the end of Maradona’s career due to failing a drug test. Biggest surprise however on the field was power packed performance of Bulgaria. Led by joint golden shoe winner of the tournament, Hristo Stoichkov, they eventually made it to the semifinals before being defeated by Italy. Italy on the other side survived a few narrow chances in the group stages before Roberto Baggio lifted the spirit of the team by his extraordinary ability to goal at the crucial moments. Between Italy and the world cup stood the Brazilians who had a smooth run till the finals. Both these teams were eyeing their fourth world cup win. Both the teams made several scoring chances but could not produce a result in the scheduled 90 minutes and additional 30 minutes. For the first time in history, the winner was to be decided by penalty shoot out. After 4 rounds of penalty shoots, the score read Italy: 2, Brazil: 3 with Italy to strike their 5th one first. I recall Roberto Baggio taking this one for Italy and what happened then is a history. He missed the goal bar by several inches and Brazil had clinched their 4th title. They owed this title to a wonderful team effort and dream run of Romario.
World cup moved to France for the second time in 1998. For the first time, 32 teams were playing the finals. This tournament also marked the conception of the golden goal rules and extra time play for stoppage times. Greatest surprise on the field this time was the way Croatia made their way to the semi-finals. Suker for them rose to the occasions more than once and eventually took away golden shoe award. Though they could not surpass rejuvenated hosts in the semis, they did manage to beat Dutchs to end third in the competition. Brazil as usual was on roller coaster ride with best forwards of the game doing the maximum damage against the oppositions – none other than the duo of Rivaldo and Ronaldo. Unfortunately for them, Zinedine Zidane had other plans for the final night at Paris. He scored no goals (except one in penalty shoot-out against Italy in quarter finals) in the tournament till this game and did not use his feet either in the finals to score the goals. Two strong headers and the game went begging away from Brazil handing over France their first title.
As Zidane’s heroics began to sink in, world cup made its way to Asia for the first time and in the process became first tournament in the history to be hosted by two countries – South Korea and Japan.
To be continued…
Posts
2 comments:
Oh; a lovely trip down memory lane. You're obviously a football fan with a gift for writing. As you write about successive world cups, I'll go a bit earlier and leave a comment or two about earlier world cups, before your time. I remember the 1978 world cup as the first one I followed. No TV those days, of course and only radio. Holland, the dominant team of the decade against Argentina playing at home. Maradona had not yet come. I was rooting for Holland as they lost narrowly to Germany in the previous finals and had invented total football. But Mario Kempes and Leopold Luque , with the home advantage were not to be denied. heartbreak for Holland again.
@ Ramesh - Oh yeah, I am a avid football fan... Thanks for sharing your memories of this festival!
Still remember Baggio's penalty miss in 1994 though I was in eighth standard then. As for Holland, what could one say, they have always been in contention to win one. I thought they always played good football, but still a lot far.
Post a Comment