The Italy of the USA 94

Last update 25 March, 2022 por Alberto Llopis

The Italy of the USA 94 was about to touch glory. The American World Cup was a facelift for an Italy that was devastated after the fiasco of not having won the title in its country. 1990. Four years had to pass, after the Soviet Union deprived him of participating in the Eurocopa de 1992, so that the Nazzionale was back in the competition. This time with more desire than ever to win and under the command of Arrigo Sacchi. Milan coach who at that time had won three European Cups in the previous years (1988-89, 1989-90, 1993-94) and that would have great representation in that '94 World Cup.

The runner-up of the USA World Cup 94

Italy made its debut in the World Cup in 1994 against Ireland. A group E match that the Irish would surprisingly win thanks to a goal from Ray Houghton in the eleventh minute of the first half.

A defeat that meant that in the next match Italy risked its life to advance to the second round, and he would do it facing Norway. A clash that would also be settled by the slightest difference, but this time favorable for the Italians thanks to the goal he scored in the 69th minute Dino Baggio.

De esta forma, Italy qualified for the next match, What would it be against Mexico?. A match that Arrigo Sacchi's men would begin by winning thanks to a goal from Daniele Massaro. Going to rest like this, close to victory. Sin embargo, The return to the field was difficult and in the minute 57, Mexico would score the equalizer.

With this result in group E there was a peculiarity and that is that everyone finished with the same number of points: four (and with the same goal difference, four points zero with the goal difference for everyone). Hence, finally, It was Norway that ended up being left out since they had only scored one goal and they had scored a goal. Mexico was classified like this, Ireland and Italy.

For the round of 16, Italy's rival would be Nigeria. A fired-up African team that started winning with a goal from Emmanuel Amunike in the 26th minute of the first half and seemed to never go out. Italy's dream seemed to be fading, but in just 10 minutes everything changed. In the 89th minute, Roberto Baggio scored the tie that would take them to extra time, and in the extension, in the minute 100, would kick the penalty that sentenced the 2-1. A great day for the team's top scorer.

In the quarterfinals the rival would be Spain. The match would begin with the Azzurri winning with a goal from Dino Baggio, But their joy would not last long as José Luis Caminero would tie the game at the beginning of the second half.. They were going into overtime once again, but there it was, also once again, Roberto Baggio, that would mark the tiebreaker three minutes from the end.

The Cup was getting closer and Italy was in the semi-finals against the Bulgaria de Stoichkov, Letchkov, Kostadinov, Trifon Ivanov and company. A very relaxed match for the Italians, especially in the first half after the usual goal, by Roberto Baggio, in the 20'. A goal that would become a double five minutes later. The Bulgarians tried to wake up in the following plays, and they seemed to do it after the penalty he hit Hristo Stoichkov in 44 ', but the clock was ticking and the score ended with a 2 a 1 for the blue one.

Italy thus reached a World Cup final for the fourth time. He returned to the final match in a final that would be against Brazil. Una Brazil by Carlos Alberto Parreira, against which the Azzurra had already run into 24 años atrás, en México 70. A match that ended without goals for the first time in history and was decided in a penalty shootout..

The hero of that '94 World Cup team had the result in his feet., Roberto Baggio, so nothing seemed to worry the Squadra Azzurra. It is unknown if that day 10 had walked under a ladder or had crossed paths with a black cat, but the truth is that that decisive shot went over the goal, leaving the score 3-2 in favor of the canarinha. An oversight that would end up crowning the Brazilian National Team four-time World Cup champion in the Rose Bowl de Pasadena.

Calling roll

Despite that blunder, Roberto Baggio He was considered the Moisés of '94 after becoming the top scorer for that team with five goals in seven games.. Although it is also worth highlighting other names such as Dino Baggio or Daniele Massaro.

But without any doubt, What caught the world's attention about that Italian team in '94 was the numbering. It is common to find numbers from two to eleven on goalkeepers or defenses with numbers of attacking players., but that an entire selection has numbers that disconcert journalists, fans and rivals is something unusual. Something utopian, but what Arrigo Sacchi would certainly do when placing the players in list order, something like at school.

The three goalkeepers that the team had wore the 1,12 y 22 in order of hierarchy. The captain 6, and the star of the team 10. The rest of the players would be assigned the number in order of position and last name..

The USA Italy squad 94

GOALKEEPERS:

1 Gianluca Pagliuca

12 Luca Marchegiani

22 Luca Bucci

DEFENSES:

2 Luigi Apolloni

3 Antonio Benarrivo

4 ​​Alessandro Costacurta

5 Paolo Maldini

6 Franco Baresi

7 Lorenzo Minotti

8 Roberto Mussi

9 Mauro Tassotti

MIDFIELDERS:

11 Demetrio Albertini

13 Dino Baggio

14 Nicola Berti

15 Antonio Conte

16 Roberto Donadoni

17 Alberigo Evani

FORWARDS:

10 Roberto Baggio

18 Pierluigi Casiraghi

19 Daniele Massaro

20 Giuseppe Signori

21 Gianfranco Zola