A date to remember: 15 years ago Brazil won it’s 4th World Cup Title
Ana | Jul 17, 2009 | Comments 2
I was 10. I barely remembered 1990’s World Cup (except for the fact that Argentina kicked Brazil out). Brazil hadn’t won any World Cup title since 1970 and all I could relate to were my grandfather’s stories of when he was in Mexico ans saw Pele, Rivellino, Jairizinho and Tostão put on a show to win Brazil’s third World Title.
Brazil was desperately in need of a title. 24 years without seeing the amarelinha shine was something of personal sadness to every Brazilian. And that year’s squad, with Parreira as coach and Zagallo as assistant, was a defensive one (which made everyone doubt its effectiveness), but also one with the star of Romário shining in the attack and key players such as Bebeto (who was in perfect tune with Romário), Branco (who came off the bench to save Brazil on a mind-blowing free kick against Netherlands), Dunga and Mauro Silva (who would stop everyone at the midfield), Jorginho (who was very effective on the right), and goalie Taffarel (who although got criticized and made some mistakes, saved Brazil on the final against Italy).
Romário was unstoppable. He won that World Cup for Brazil from the qualifiers until the last match against Italy. Brazil was the first country ever to win four World Cups and that was something to be extremely proud of. The match against Italy was pure nervousness and after Roberto Baggio missed the final penalty kick, I could hear screams of joy and see tears on everyone’s eyes: Brazil was again World Champion.
In Brazil, during World Cup time, we forget all our shitty and nasty politicians, all the corruption, all the violence and all the mess and focus on the one thing we know we are specially good at: football. During matches, you cannot see one soul in the streets. Business close, schools cancel classes. We expect to see our players giving their blood on the pitch and that team did just that.
15 years ago, I realized that World Cups are the most special thing on the face of the earth and that football is the most amazing sport that exists.
The team: The team: Taffarel, Jorginho, Aldair, Marcio Santos and Leonardo; Mauro Silva, Dunga (C), Mazinho and Zinho; Bebeto and Romário.
Reserves: Zetti (G), Gilmar (G), Cafu, Ricardo Rocha, Ronaldão, Branco, Raí, Paulo Sérgio, Muller, Ronaldo and Viola.
Coach: Carlos Alberto Parreira.
Assistant coach: Mário Jorge Zagallo.
the matches:
Brazil 2 x 0 Russia
Brazil 3 x 0 Cameroon
Brazil 1 x 1 Sweden
Brazil 1 x 0 USA
Brazil 3 x 2 Holland
Brazil 1 x 0 Sweden
Brazil 0 x 0 Italy
Bebeto scores and takes hosts US out of the competition (look at Lalas!)
Check out the young Ronaldo!
Baggio misses the penalty: Brazil champions!
Brazilian squad - 1994 World Cup
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Filed Under: 1994 World Cup • Featured • Football History • Football Videos • World Football
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this last picture, of the squad, was taken in the first game.
later in the cup, Ricardo Rocha (number 3) got injured and was replaced by Aldair (13).
Rai, 10, was replaced by Mazinho (18) for technical issues (which is sad)
and Leonardo, 16, was suspended, giving his place to Branco (6).
not to mention that Marcio Santos (15) was in the starting line up because days before the cup started , Ricardo Gomes got injured, being replaced by Ronaldao in the roster. Also, the only reason Aldair joined the squad is that Mozer, the defender, got injured before the cup.
And finally, to end the discussion about numbers, Cafu, number 14, played the final as Jorginho got injured.
Paulo Sergio, Muller and Viola also played the cup. I believe the only guys who didn’t play were goalies Zetti (12), Gilmar (23) and the young Ronaldo.