That Spain-Italy USA 1994: The nudge to Luis Enrique

Last update 19 November, 2024 by Alberto Llopis

If there is a game and a moment that marked a generation in the 90, It was undoubtedly that Spain-USE of USA 94. A game, that Spain could be taken but that ended up being eliminated by those who would later be runner -ups of the world after losing to Brazil the final on penalties. A duel whose image for memory, It was Luis Enrique's with a broken nose crying with impotence.

That Spain-Italy USA 94

He USA World Cup 94 It was revolutionary in many respects. It was the first where the referees began to wear colorful and players first brought the name on the shirt. The technical area and the figure of the fourth referee were established for the first time and above all, was the first time a World Cup was held in a country where soccer, It was not anywhere near the king sport in the country.

For the Spaniards USA 94 It will always be that of Codazo from Tassotti to Luis Enrique, that of Julio Salinas failure Frente in Italy, And also that of the World Cup where Spain could have come further before the golden age.

There was a 9 July 1994. Clemente's Spain came to the party of the quarterfinals against the Italians after an excellent victory over Switzerland in the second round by three goals to zero. The match was played and matched equally, full of tension of those who do not usually forget with the passage of time.

Julio Salinas's ruling and Tassotti's codazo to Luis Enrique

Dino Baggio advanced Italy and Caminero, the best Spanish player at the World tied one. In the absence of a few minutes Julio Salinas failed a clamorous opportunity against Gianluca Pagliuca To put the 2-1 and sentence classification. But ironically, Baggio was another, Roberto, that the next move would achieve the 1-2 definitive rating to the “azure”. The thing would not end there.

Spain turned against the Italian goal in search of an equalizer forced extra time when in the last minute of the match, The already veteran Italian defense Tassotti, He hit Luis Enrique in the nose. It was a penalty and expulsion, but the referee did not see it despite the already recognized image as Spanish player outside if bleeding and fractured nasal septum. A) Yes, Alexander Puhl He went down in the black history of Spanish football.

In those times, The VAR was science fiction as is evident. But with this tool the fate of Spain might have changed. Not only in this World Cup but 8 years of afternoon in Korea and Japan 2002. But that's another story.

Italy finally passed and reached the final where they lost on penalties to Brazil but that defeat hurt much and was forever like that missed opportunity. One more in the long story of ‘Casis’ of Spanish football in the World Cups. Something that Iniesta, Villa, Puyol, Xavi, Silva, Xabi Alonso, Pique, Cesc Fábregas, Sergio Ramos, Jesus Navas, Iker Casillas and Company were in charge of forgetting 16 years later in South Africa 2010. A wound that closed brightly thanks to a gold generation.