58

58^th Minute, Gheorghe Hagi, Romania v Argentina, World Cup 1994 2^nd Round

Context

Romania competed in the first three World Cups, winning just the once in the five matches they played across the tournaments. They then only qualified for one World Cup (in 1970) over next five decades before having their strongest spell in their history during the nineties where they qualified for the World Cup and made It out the group stages three times in a row.

They lost to Republic of Ireland on penalties in the second round of the 1990 World Cup but they recovered from this disappointment to qualify for the 1994 World Cup with a dramatic win in Cardiff against Wales where they were thankful for Paul Bodin missing a penalty.

Romania were placed in the same group as hosts USA. Alongside them were fellow European side Switzerland  but they would open with a fantastic win against Colombia who were seen as a dark horse to win the World Cup. They had been second best until Răducioiu gave them the lead. Romanian keeper Bogdan Stelea then pulled off two incredible saves to deny Rincon and Valencia and an inspired Hagi scored a wonder/fluke goal to put Romania two goals clear. Valencia finally found a way past Stelea but Răducioiu scored again to seal the game for the Romanians in the second half. It was seen as an upset and then the Romanians let the success get to their head as in their next game against Switzerland they were thrashed 4-1 by Roy Hodgson’s side. Their final group game was against the USA where they beat the hosts 1-0.

That win was enough to give them the group and they faced Argentina who were reeling from losing Diego Maradona to a failed drug test. The game got off to a flying start in front of over ninety thousand people in hot and sunny California.  Two goals by Ilie Dumitrescu sandwiched between a Batistuta penalty put the Romanians two goals to one up inside the first twenty minutes.

 

 

The Goal

Just before the hour mark “The Maradona of the Carpathians” finishes off a brilliant counter attack to put the Romanians two goals ahead.

 

What Happened Next?

Romania won 3-2 and in the next round Romania played Sweden in a thrilling quarter final where Romania for the second World Cup running lost on penalties.

 

Extras

Hagi artwork by MiniBoro

http://miniboro.com/13420.html

A 12-year-old Landon Donavon was present in the crowd in the Rose Bowl that day and it inspired him to become a professional footballer.

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/soccerinsider/2010/12/landon_donovans_inspiration_ro.html

59

59^th Minute Jairzinho, Brazil v England, World Cup 1970 Group Stage

Context

England were World Champions and Brazil were searching for their third World Cup. Many thought this England side was actually better than the side that won in 1966 whilst the Brazilian side went on to be considered one of the greatest sides of all-time.

It’s a match famous for Bobby Moore’s brilliant tackle on Jairzinho when he was running at him at full pace. Gordon Banks producing an amazing save to deny Pele scoring with head. And also…

The Goal

A beautifully worked goal, the ball makes its way from one side of the box to the other with Tostao, Pele and finally Jairzinho all involved…

 

What Happened Next?

Brazil won the World Cup for the third time and kept the Jules Rimet Trophy. The Jules Rimet trophy has been missing since 1983 when it was stolen from CBF’s headquarters in Rio de Janeiro. It’s believed it was melted down and sold for its value in gold.

England blew a two goal lead against West Germany in the quarter finals and didn’t qualify for a World Cup again until 1982.

Extras

The 1970 team was better than 1966 is a bit of a myth…? Good article below…

http://www.wsc.co.uk/the-archive/963-Football-myths/3717-england-1970-better-than-66

Full Match here…

60

60^th Minute, Eduardo Antonio “Tony” Laing, Honduras v Northern Ireland, World Cup 1982 Group Stage

Context

Honduras qualified for the 1982 FIFA World Cup for the first time by winning the CONCACAF Championship in 1981 as hosts, which was a full sixty years from the moment they made their debut in International football.

Qualification gave the Hondurans the chance to make themselves famous for something other than the “Football War” with El Salvador in 1969 where rioting between the two sets of fans sparked a war which only lasted for one hundred hours yet 3000 lives were tragically lost. The tensions between the countries remain and their matches are often fiery. El Salvador actually made it to the 1982 World Cup in Spain as well but their adventure would start with a 10-1 defeat to Hungary and not get much better.

Expectations were low as the World Cup in Spain approached and few Hondurans could afford to make the transatlantic trip. Their first match was a daunting one, they had to face hosts Spain in front of a 50,000 screaming locals, but they silenced the partisan crowd after only eight minutes as Hector Zeyala gave them the lead. It took a Spain penalty with twenty-five minutes remaining to peg them back. The 1-1 result shocked the world and the next test for Honduras was against Northern Ireland.

After just ten minutes Honduras fell behind to a scrappy goal but they were unlucky not to be level at half-time as they missed two excellent chances including Betancourt smashing one against the underside of the bar. Honduras rode their luck at times too but grew in confidence as the game went on.

 

The Goal

Right before the hour mark Honduras win a corner and Tony Laing heads home and celebrates with his team mates piling on top of him…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5GhFDlDcBcE#t=47

 

What Happened Next?

Either side could have snatched victory late on but it finished 1-1. Honduras played Yugoslavia in the final match in the group knowing a victory would see them qualify for the next group stage. Both sides had glorious chances for victory but the Yugoslavians won a penalty in the 88^th minute which they converted. Honduras were out but with their pride very much intact.

Tony Laing earned a move to Greece for a season on the back of these performances. Many members of the Honduras squad went on to have spells in Spain too shortly after this World Cup with a few making a decent career for themselves.

Honduras would have to wait until 2010 to compete again at a World Cup where they suffered disappointment. They faced a tough group in South Africa and failed to score in their three games against Chile, Spain and Switzerland.

Honduras have qualified for the 2014 edition and have a slightly more favourable group this time. They will play Switzerland again alongside France and Ecuador.

 

61

61^st Minute, Miroslav Klose, Germany v Costa Rica, World Cup 2006 Group Stage

Context

In June 2000 Germany was given the right to host the 2006 World Cup, it was the first time since unification they would host a tournament but at the time German football was facing a real low after exiting Euro 2000 in the group stage. German legend Rudi Völler took over the reins but they then suffered a shocking 5-1 defeat at home to England in 2001 for qualification to the 2002 World Cup but recovered to qualify and go all the way to the World Cup final and it looked like Germany football was on the up again. However in Euro 2004 they repeated their performance from four years earlier and went out at the early again without winning a match which cost Völler his job. Enter Jurgen Klinsmann who decided to inject some more youthful players into his ageing side. Germany had mixed results before the tournament and despite the competition being in Germany expectations weren’t particularly high.

In their opening match they faced Costa Rica and Philipp Lahm struck an unstoppable after just three minutes to put them on their way. Paulo Wanchope silenced the Munich crowd minutes later with a well taken equaliser. Germany responded with Klose converting from close range to put them back into the lead.

The Goal

Sixteen minutes into the second half Germany’s constant attacking intent pays off…

What Happened Next?

The nation grew with confidence and Germany made it all the way to the semi-finals where they played Italy in one of the most memorable World Cup matches of recent tournaments. It was a tight, enthralling encounter but neither side could find a breakthrough. Extra-time for the second game in succession proved to be too emotionally and physically draining for the Germans and Italy seized the initiative, scoring two goals in the final minutes to knock out the hosts.

Miroslav Klose’s five goals were enough to win the Golden Boot and Germany claimed third place. Klose scored four goals in the South Africa in 2010 which put him second in the all-time list of World Cup goalscorers behind Ronaldo. He needs two more to become top scorer in World Cup history but Germany have a tough task in Brazil and Joachim Löw’s side will meet the USA managed by Klinsmann.

 

62

62nd Minute, Denmark v West Germany, 1986 World Cup Group Stage

Context

International football in the mid-eighties is remembered with great fondness. It had Maradona at his peak, Platini and that great France side at theirs, a strong West Germany and an entertaining Brazil. In addition, the era also had Denmark with their iconic shirts, fun-loving fans and some of the finest attacking play the world has seen.

Danish football had intially suffered due to the decision of the Danish FA not to allow professionals to play for the national team until 1971. Their progress was slow and they didn’t qualify for a major competition until the 1984 European Championships in France where they suffered defeat in the semi-finals against Spain on penalties after impressing in qualifying and in the group stage. They took confidence from the fact they had thrashed Yugoslavia and beat a decent Belgium side though.

In qualification for the World Cup in Mexico in 1986 they were behind in games away to Norway and Republic of Ireland but ended up winning both 5-1 and 4-1 respectively. They topped the group ahead of a good Soviet Union side that was to reach the same stage as Denmark in the World Cup.

As the World Cup approached, there was talk of them being a dark horse for the competition, their forward duo of Michael Laudrup and Preben Elkjaer-Larsen was feared by many defences and considered the best in the world by some. In their first game of the competition they edged out Scotland 1-0 before stunning the South American champions Uruguay 6-1 with what is considered one of the greatest World Cup displays of all-time from any side. Laudrup and Elkjaer were unplayable that day, aided by a first half sending off, their fast and dynamic play left the South Americans bewildered.

Denmark faced West Germany knowing a draw would be enough for them to go through as group winners but from the start it was clear that Denmark wanted to beat their Northern European rivals. Denmark were on top and had a goal ruled out but by the midway point of the half Germany began to see more of the ball and create the better chances. Just as it looked like the Danes were struggling captain Morten Olsen surged from his own half into the penalty box to win a penalty, which Jesper Olsen coolly converted to give the Danes a lead just before the break. Elkjaer was taken off and replaced with John Erikson during half-time as a precaution. Erikson wasn’t in the same class as Elkjaer but he had a decent record in front of goal and he proved to be a problem for the West German defence that afternoon. Germany started the second half on top and they should have been level but they let two glorious chances go begging and the dazzling Danes were to punish them.

The Goal

Just after the hour mark Denmark mounted an attack of their own which starts with a chipped goal kick… (3:17)

 

What Happened Next?

Denmark won 2-0 but playmaker Frank Arnesen was needlessly sent off late on, a moment of madness he lived to regret. They faced Spain in the second round full of confidence and after their sparkling performances in the group stage they were favourites to progress to the quarter finals. They took a first half lead through a Jesper Olsen penalty and many expected them to wrap the game up but Spain hit back before the break when Jesper Olsen played a poor backpass allowing Emilio Butragueño to steal in and score. Then Danish dreams soon turned to nightmares in the second half. With thirty minutes remaining, just after Denmark went a goal down, manager Sepp Piontek decided to throw on John Erikson in the hope another striker will find them an equaliser but it ended up giving them a big problem as they totally lost control of midfield and Spain run riot with Butragueño claiming four goals in a 5-1 thrashing. The result didn’t make much sense, Denmark had only conceded one goal in their previous three games and that was just a consolotion for Uruguay in the 6-1 rout.

Spain would get the better of Denmark again in Euro ’88 and Denmark lost out to Romania in qualification for Italia ’90. Denmark did famously win the European Championships in Sweden after having originally not qualified in 1992 though and it remains their finest moment.

John Eriksen scored goals in the Swiss league after this World Cup before retiring. His retirement was to be a very sad affair as he suffered from Alzheimer’s disease and saw out his final days in a Swiss nursing home. He sadly passed away in 2002 at just 44 years of age.

Extras

They say never judge a book by its cover but we’ll make an exception for this one…

Some excellent footage of the Danish national team and their supporters in Hero, the official film of the 1986 World Cup

Denmark 6 – 1 Uruguay – Full Match

 

63

63rd Minute, Diego Maradona, Argentina v Belgium, 1986 World Cup Semi Final
Context
Diego Maradona had been hailed as the best player in the world by many but it wasn’t until June 1986 he proved it and put himself among the greatest players of all-time with a series of quite incredible performances for Argentina. A very young Maradona had been left out of the 1978 squad  and he was kicked constantly in the 1982 World Cup before earning himself a red card in retaliation to seeing his side capitulate against fierce rivals Brazil.

Maradona was captain of La Albiceleste for the 1986 tournament in Mexico and was the target of some heavy tackling once again but unlike in Spain he was offered some protection from the referees this time. He led his side to a 3-1 victory in the opening game against South Korea before making sure his side came from behind to draw against Italy in the second game in the group with Maradona producing a great finish for the goal. They won their final group game against Bulgaria as the number 10 produced a brilliant piece of wing play to set up Burruchuga to head home.

In the knockout phase they brushed aside Uruguay with more magic from El Diego on show before what would prove to be his most famous match in football. The game against England showcased the dark and the brilliantly bright side of Maradona. His first goal against England has become known as the Hand of God and his second as The Greatest Goal of All-Time. Lineker pulled one back for England but Argentina held on to advance to the semi-finals where they faced Belgium who were having their best World Cup ever.
In the first half Maradona teases the Belgium defence time after time but can’t quite find a way through. He does manage to smash a half volley off the bar which Valdano followed up to seemingly put the Argentinians in the lead but it was ruled out as Valdano had clearly used his hand. Belgium tried to hit Argentina on the counter attack during the game and had two glorious chances to capitalise but poorly timed passing and runs let them down.
A few minutes into the second half Maradona makes a perfectly timed run between two defenders to somehow poke home an incisive pass from Burruchaga to give Argentina a deserved lead.

The Goal
Minutes later Maradona confirms Argentina’s place in the final with another awesome display of power, pace and dribbling as he leaves the Belgium defence bamboozled whilst finishing with aplomb.

What Happened Next?
Argentina beat West Germany 3-2 in the final, winning it with just six minutes to go when Maradona produces a wonderful pass for Burruchaga to run onto and finish. It had looked like the Argentines had blown it having let a two goal lead slip.
Diego Maradona and Argentina couldn’t quite defend their title four years later in Italy, losing to the West Germans late on in the final.
Extras
Artist impression of Maradona’s goal by Germán Aczel

Hero 1986 World Cup Official Film – best football film ever…

Argentina v Belgium – Full Game

64

64^th Minute, Nils Liedholm Sweden v Mexico, 1958 World Cup Group Stage

Context

Two years after Sweden won the Olympic Games in London the Swedish FA lobbied FIFA at the 1950 World Cup in Brazil to give them the World Cup eight years later, the lobbying paid off as they won the right to host the biggest football event on earth. The next task for the Swedish FA was to find a coach and a team worthy of competing, a task made difficult as for a number of years as they banned professionals from playing for the national side but in 1956 they wisely changed that rule as they realised their amateurs had fallen behind the standards of the professional game worldwide. On the coaching front they turned to Englishman George Raynor who had coached Sweden to gold in 1948.

Sweden’s star players played for clubs in Italy’s glamorous Serie A including captain Nils Liedholm who was the captain of Milan. He was excellent on and off the ball with a wide range of passing and played mostly as an attacking midfielder for both club and country. Nils was part of the side that won gold in London in 1948 and ten years later at nearly thirty-six years of age he was looking to lift the most important prize in football in his own country. 1958 was a big year for Liedholm, he helped Milan reach the European Cup final where they lost out to Real Madrid in extra-time and just had ten days to recover from that disappointment to face Mexico in the opening game of the World Cup.

Sweden faced Mexico in the first match of the competition and were attacking from the start whilst the Mexicans struggled to get any kind of control in the game. A superb piece of play in the box from the captain Liedholm gave him space to cross to Agne Simonsson who poked home, the local crowd were overjoyed with what they were saw from the hosts.

The Goal

Sweden continued to press for more goals in the second half and with just under half an hour remaining winger Hamrin wins a penalty which Liedholm steps up to convert to make it two nil but the referee orders him to re-take it but that’s no problem for Nils who smashes it home.

 

What Happened Next?

Sweden won 3-0 and their success continued all the way to the final, grabbing impressive wins against the USSR and West Germany in the knockout stages to set up a dream final against Brazil who had been the darlings of the Swedish crowds too. Pele and Garrincha proved too much for the Swedes in the final despite them taking an early lead through Liedholm. During the match the Swedish players and fans kind of just accepted their fate as runners-up and Brazil earned the applause and adulation of the hosts. It proved to be Sweden’s best ever performance in a World Cup.

Liedholm retired from international football after the final and played for Milan for three more years. His management career proved nearly as successful as his playing one. He won numerous trophies with Milan and Roma but suffered heartbreak again in the European Cup when his Roma side lost on penalties to Liverpool in the 1983 final. He died in his home in Italy in 2007.

Extras

Some good footage of Liedholm for Milan here…

Full Match – Sweden 2 – 5 Brazil – World Cup Final 1958

65

65^th Minute, Johan Cruyff, Netherlands v Brazil, 1974 World Cup 2nd Group Stage

 

Context

Before the 1974 World Cup the Netherlands had only two World Cup matches to their name. They lost in the first round of both the 1934 and 1938 World Cups. They would have to wait thirty-six years before competing in football’s greatest competition again but when they did, they showed the world they had revolutionised the game. During the sixties a transformation took place in the Dutch game which led to the two leading clubs in the country produce an array of talent. Feyenoord and Ajax were fierce rivals but their rivalry sparked the constant improvement of the national game over a decade which eventually led them to become a world force in the seventies. The style of play which became known as Total Football was pioneered by Ajax coach Rinus Michels who in turn was influenced by the Austrian Wunderteam of the 1930’s and the dazzling Hungary side of the 1950’s. John “Jack” Reynolds is the man credited with laying down the foundations of the system with various spells with Ajax over three decades but Michels certainly took it further and perfected it with playmaker Johan Cruyff at the centre of everything for Ajax and the national team in the early seventies.

By the time the 1974 World Cup had come around the Ajax and Feyenoord sides had dominated European club football from 1969 to 1973 which made the Netherlands one of the big favourites for the cup. They got off to good start, working their way past a tough Uruguayan defence to win by two goals, both scored by Johnny Rep but they couldn’t score against Sweden in their next game which finished level. Their last group game was in Dortmund and their fans had travelled in great numbers to cheer them on, dressed in their now famous orange shirts, and they were rewarded with a stunning display and a 4-1 victory.

The Netherlands topped the group and went on to comfortably beat Argentina and East Germany in the second group round meaning they just needed a draw against Brazil in their last group match for a place in the final. The Brazilians had to win and the match went down in history as one of the most violent.The Brazilians were a shadow of the glorious 1970 side in Mexico and became frustrated once the Dutch gained control of the match. Brazil’s roughhouse tactics were an attempt to break the Total Football game of the Dutch and the first half ended 0-0. However five minutes after the break Oranje finally made their class count and found a breakthrough when Neeksens combined with Cryuff for 1-0.

 

The Goal

The Netherlands’ movement and pace was too much for the Brazilians again as Resenbrink crosses to Cruyff to seal a place in the World Cup final and the three time European Football of the year looked to be heading for his crowning glory.

 

What Happened Next?

That game against Brazil was heavily criticised for its dirtiness but despite being on the end of some heavy challenges the Dutch came through with their best players still intact. In the final they took the lead in the second minute but it ended in heartbreak as the hosts West Germany fought back to win 2-1.

Johan Cruyff continued to win trophies in club football with Ajax and Barcelona as both a coach and a manager.

Extras

Brazil v Netherlands 1974 – The Violence!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cfuD282WiWM

The famous Cruyff turn

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CYtzf7YD8oY

http://society6.com/miniboro/Johan-Cruyff-My-Turn_Print#1=45

14 (appropriately) minutes of Cruyff

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kIAVTd3jVe8

66

66th Minute, Pele, Brazil v Wales, 1958 World Cup Quarter Final
Context
Brazil’s heartbreak of the 1950 World Cup wasn’t healed in a disappointing showing in Switzerland in 1954. Hopes were high going in to the 1958 edition that Brazil could finally pick up the Jules Rimet trophy.They prepared hard for this World Cup and took with them a large backroom staff to help with everything mental and physical.
Brazil were comfortable winners in their first match against Austria but in their second they laboured to a 0-0 draw against England whilst Pele and Garrincha sat on the bench. Pele was thought to be too young and Garrincha too stupid to handle high pressure games but both were selected for the game against the USSR against the advice of the team’s psychologist.
Pele and Garrincha made a mockery of the psychologist’s report and both produced moments of magic. Garrincha turned his marker inside out all game and smashed a shot against the post in the first half. Pele combined brilliantly with Vava for Brazil’s second goal of the match. The Brazilians were through to the quarter finals where they faced Wales.
The Welsh were appearing in their first World Cup and they were proving a tough nut to crack. Wales gained draws against Sweden, Hungary and Mexico. Sweden won the group and Wales faced Hungary again to decide second spot and the chance to face Brazil in the quarter finals. The Welsh came from behind to win 2-1 but suffered the blow of losing their best player John Charles who the Hungarians targeted in both games. John Charles was a versatile player, a world class defender and attacker and some feel Wales may have beaten Brazil with him in the side. The Wales defence including Mel Charles, the brother of John, held firm against the talents of Canarinho for over an hour.
The Goal
Pele produces a brilliant bit of magic to finally break the Welsh resistance in the 66th minute.

What Happened Next?
Brazil and Pele got better and better, producing football of the incredible quality in the semi-final and final, winning both games 5-2. Their Swedish hosts gave them an incredible ovation despite them being on the losing side in the final, this Brazilian team had really dazzled the Swedish audience. It remains the only World Cup won in Europe by a non-European team. Pele was injured for the majority of the 1962 victory but in the 1970 triumph he was the star yet again.

Extras

A good article here by Ed Malyon on Pele’s exploits for Santos
http://www.thefootballramble.com/indepth/entry/the-night-pele-shook-the-bombonera

An interview with Mel Charles on the Wales v Brazil game
http://www.theguardian.com/football/2009/jun/20/wales-last-world-cup-game

Pele Number 10, Brazil World Cup top with Toffs

http://www.toffs.com/brazil-1970-world-cup-pele-10-retro-football-shirt

67

67^th Minute, Francios Oman Biyik, Cameroon v Argentina 1990 World Cup Group Stage

 

Context

 

As we saw in yesterday’s entry, African football had been stifled by FIFA for decades and it wasn’t really until the last twenty years we’ve seen significant process. In the eighties the North African sides earned some respect with solid if not spectacular performances culminating in Morocco becoming the first African side to win a World Cup group in 1986. Nevertheless the one team that really made the football world sit up and take notice of African football, and in particular West African football, were Cameroon in the 1990 World Cup in Italy.

 

Cameroon faced the reigning World Champions Argentina in the opening game of Italia 90. Despite their success in Africa’s premier competition two years earlier, little was expected of them. As the teams got ready to kick off, Diego Maradona is seen juggling the ball on his shoulder and motivating his team. They weren’t to know that they were about to play one of the hardest games of their lives.

 

Once the game was underway Cameroon soon showed they were not going to be overawed by the occasion and confidently knocked it around. Maradona was causing them problems but he was also fouled cynically on numerous occasions and the Cameroonians picked up numerous yellow cards eventually leading to the red card of Kana-Biyik early in the second half. Eight minutes later Cameroon won a free-kick and what happened next made me really fall in love with football, I can still remember watching it as a six-year-old.

 

 The Goal

 

“One brother sent off, the other brother scores, AMAZING!” Unforgettable commentary from Barry Davies on this one and a quite incredible leap from Omam-Biyik to head home.

 

 

What Happened Next?

 

Cameroon were reduced to nine men after their infamous triple attempted foul on Claudio Caniggia which ended in Massing’s boot flying off but the The Indomitable Lions still managed to hold off Argentina. Cameroon beat Romania in their second match which meant they qualified for the second round despite being thrashed by the USSR in their last group game. They beat Colombia in extra-time in the second round and were desperately unlucky to lose to England in the quarter finals.

 

Unfortuntely Cameroon were never able to better this performance despite successfully qualifying for the FIFA World Cup numerous times since. The Biyik family continues to produce professional footballers with Kana-Biyik’s son currently on the books of a club in France.

 

Extras

 

Full Match

Quality BBC montage of Cameroon’s 1990 World Cup campaign, broadcast before QF with England