FIFA World Cup 1994: When the 1990 World Cup in Italy ended, football was at the threshold of a new era. West Germany had become champions. Maradona’s magic had not completely ended but the old shine was also not left. FIFA was now looking towards a new goal. Taking the World Cup to places where football was not popular but was not the center of life. With this thinking, America won the 1994 World Cup.
When the world felt this decision was meaningless
This decision seemed strange to many people at that time. Baseball and basketball ruled America. Football did not get the respect it did in Europe or South America. Critics thought the stadiums would remain empty. But FIFA was looking ahead. She wanted to establish football’s roots in the world’s largest consumer market. Subsequent events proved that this decision was one of the most important strategic decisions in football history.
America presented this event in an unmatched way. Which had big stadiums, modern broadcasting, corporate sponsorship, everything. Viewership reached record levels. A total of more than 35 lakh people came to the stadiums. An average of 69,000 spectators per match, a record that still remains unbroken. It was from this tournament that the rule of giving 3 points for a win started so that teams could abandon defensive play and play aggressive football.
New stories, new records on the field
Brazil had not won the World Cup since 1970 but now they had excellent attackers like Romario and Bebeto. Italy had Roberto Bazzio, one of the most skilful players in the world. Germany were the defending champions and Argentina still held on to Maradona’s name.
Amazing records were also made in the group stage. Oleg Salenko of Russia made a world record by scoring 5 goals in a single match against Cameroon. In the same match, Roger Milla of Cameroon scored a goal at the age of 42 and became the oldest goalscorer in the World Cup.
Maradona: One last shine, then a sudden end
But before the tournament started, the most talked about thing was Maradona. The 1986 hero and 1990 finalist were now at the tail end of their careers. His fitness was not the same as before and controversies had increased. Still, fans were hopeful that perhaps his magic would be seen for the last time.
He played well in the initial matches. Also scored a brilliant goal against Greece. Still remember his celebration while running towards the camera. It seemed perhaps the great hero had returned.
Then came the shock that shook the entire tournament. His sample was found positive in a doping test and FIFA expelled him. The world was stunned. Millions of fans could not believe it. The Argentine team was mentally broken. Maradona later always maintained that he had not taken anything prohibited, but the decision could not be changed. A drug named ‘Ephedrine’ was found in his blood. After the match against Nigeria, a nurse held his hand and took him for a doping test. That picture became the last moment of his international career.
Escobar: A goal that cost his life
This time Argentina was eliminated but the World Cup continued. Meanwhile, another tragic incident happened. Colombia’s Andres Escobar scored an own goal against America. Colombia was eliminated from the tournament. Escobar was assassinated upon returning home a few weeks later. This is one of the most painful chapters in football history. The Colombia team was playing under pressure and threats from the drug mafia and Escobar’s death shocked players around the world.
Brazil and Italy: two different paths to the final
On the other hand, Brazil was moving forward from strength to strength. Romario was in his best form and Bebeto was his perfect partner. Brazil defeated the Netherlands in the quarter-finals, Sweden in the semi-finals. Bebeto’s cradle-like celebration after the goal, which he did in the name of his newborn son, became one of the most popular moments of the World Cup.
Italy’s Roberto Bazzio was almost single-handedly leading his team and his goals took Italy to the final.
Final: No goals, just tension
July 17, 1994, Rose Bowl Stadium, Los Angeles. This was the first final in World Cup history that remained goalless after regular and extra time. Both teams were very careful. Didn’t want to make any mistakes. The decision was to be taken by penalty shootout. For the first time in history, the result of a final was decided in this way. Bazzio was playing with painkillers despite a leg injury, Italy was incomplete without him.
The Brazilian players took their penalties correctly. Italy’s ultimate responsibility was on Bazzio, if a goal had been scored then Italy’s hopes would have remained intact. The entire stadium stood holding its breath. Bazzio took a shot, the ball went over the goalpost.
who wins, who loses
Brazil became champions, their fourth World Cup after a long wait of 24 years. Romário became a national hero. Bazzio, on the other hand, was left on his knees, head bowed and face disappointed, in one of the most emotional images in football history. He was called “The Divine Ponytail” because of the Buddha image on his back and his hairstyle, and that one missed shot ruined his entire magical tournament.
Legacy: A country got football, a star left
The 1994 World Cup was historic for many reasons. This laid a strong foundation for football in America, paving the way for the formation of Major League Soccer. It brought the World Cup to the center of the entertainment industry, with corporate brands and broadcast technology coming to the fore on such a large scale for the first time. This World Cup also became a sad end to Maradona’s international career.
An era was ending, but football was ready to give birth to new heroes. Brazil was at its peak again, Europe was bursting with new talent. And the world was soon going to see a player who brought to the field the thinking of a chess player and the technique of an artist. His name was Zinedine Zidane.