U.S. 94, Semifinal (Italy vs. Bulgaria)
Author: Gianni Truvianni
It was the summer of 1994 and found myself in the United States, where all the action happens in the world of football and again as in the previous World Cup held in 1990, Italy had qualified for the semifinals. But it was four years later and how we have suffered to return to your we were in the World Cup on our own soil? It was a thing we know, fans of Italy and of course, its players, who were forced to survive stressful 5 Games, one of which included over time.
We also lost one match and a draw, taking into account four goals, our goalkeeper was sent off and Zola, our captain had been Tasotti surgery and was suspended for throwing an elbow that led to his suspension for the remainder of the tournament. All this is in contrast to Italy 90, which had sailed into the semifinals, winning all matches in the process, and without giving Mush sole or requiring overtime or any person have difficulty entering the red or yellow cards. No doubt they reach the semifinals in Italy, 90 were been much easier in this World Cup 94 but no matter where we made the hard way.
I my opinion, all these difficult times were even better for the team and its players. As it was more difficult, not only mentally, but as a unit, I learned to stay together when things are difficult. Maybe it was the failure to have a very difficult to come out of Italy mentally prepared when things went wrong against Argentina, especially after the equalizer and overtime. However, this is another World Cup, where Italy has been tested and Bulgaria would be the last obstacle before the final, but we knew we could win if we have learned to Ireland there was no such thing as a sure victory. It is certain not to underestimate the Bulgaria, especially with players like Kostadinov, Balakov, Leckov and Stoickow. The last of these players have scored five goals in the competition until this point, addition to being one that has clearly motivated the rest.
On game day, I I put my shirt Italian faithful, one of the Nazionale di Calcio (soccer team) and I took the Italian flag, to clarify that I was a follower of "The Azzurri Scuadra, all my hopes and my dreams will pull against Bulgaria to win and advance to the final. The Italians were everywhere for the Port Authority, apparently from supporters Bulgaria numbering at least 4 to 1 or even more.
Indeed, the atmosphere was a bus station, without much room for doubt in my mind was a great display of Italian pride and bigotry of which almost was not just our national sport, but most of the countries.
The trip to the giant stadium on the prairie was that I had used to this weather, already twice, but this time, we would be playing for the right to be the grand final, held once every four years. All this makes it easy to see why this would be for me one day that will stay with me forever, especially taking into account other factors. In the history of the World Cup, despite all the nations that play football as a sport whose main number over 100, ten countries have never made a final, with one of these countries as Czechoslovakia, and stay there.
Getting to once again complain of Bulgaria, and all it takes an exceptional game, probably their best player ever in the name Sofia Stoickov and held until the end. Naturally, at the expense of Italy and probably our greatest player of all time, Roberto Baggio, who while not as talented as his majesty "Diego Maradona" was what I would say that 80 per cent% of what makes it a great one to have much of this legend that has been beyond anything in what might be called the natural ability. Yes, Italy, the team had to be there, but we won, it was for a game and anything can happen.
It was more of a feeling that I entered the stadium and took my place which was literary in the last line, but this is the Giants Stadium, which was not an athletics track, helped me see things are not so bad and what I achieved I always watch it later. The reason I now must save the game on my VCR, DVD players that have not yet been invented, let alone those that might record. I was in a way that I was part of the history of Italian football, something I could tell my kids that should never have one that was there when Italy Bulgaria in the game "World Cup USA 94".
Once seated, I looked around and looked like a sea of flags, and were all in red, white and green, if not all Italians as the flag of those who are our worthy opponents of the day also the same color. That being the case, even if the flag of the bands Bulgarians are horizontal instead of us who have been vertical. Flags of all types are also available, from the fans who came from Italy itself for those like me who has represented various aspects of the vast community of Italy, which has spread worldwide.
The hymns rang and no mark, which came First, my mind does not shake the image of the virtual – foot stadium especially for the Italian national anthem "Fratelli Italia D" or "Brothers of Italy". This is what we were not all that have supported Italy were born in the old country, but what matters for our roots are there and what he did and say that the words "Brothers of Italy, Italy a trail, which was exactly what happened. Voces, thousands and thousands Mameli shouted words that were music in honor of Italian patriotism, even claiming "Siam pronti is dead" (We are ready to die), which of course would not be the case that day, regardless Italy weather conditions won or not, but the feeling was the same for this game as crucial.
After the emotional reaction to sing the anthem, the game started and as I did, I realized that people around me, but the shirts were Italian or Italian, or descendants of those who also occurred, but no matter, because they too supported the same or is claimed. In fact, the American variety is White Anglo-Saxon, that the tournament took the flag Italian.
As for the game, Italy started strongly dominating Bulgaria, of course, was a danger to himself and not just the threat of attacks against which Stoickov speed and talent are more than capable of making us pay to use, but Italy would have a lot of energy, with the exception of not being able to maintain this pace throughout the match. Italy eventually gets tired, especially given the tremendous heat of the day, then this will be the turn of Bulgaria to dominate. Italy, however, summer sensational play, but if he had the following objectives and carried themselves in their efforts. Baggio and company are not several times, but Mihailov (Bulgaria Goalkeeper) remained steady as the rest of Bulgaria, or at least until Baggio pulled one of the best games I've seen in a game that I have witnessed firsthand, which is taken picture with two defenders and a corner with a curling shot past goalkeeper diverted Bulgaria solid to get on the 1-0 lead. A major goal of a player equal quality, which can be viewed by those not yet on YouTube, like the other highlights of the semifinal.
The cries of order have been incredibly strong and why were others, as Italy was a head 20 minutes into the game? We've been drinking, but vain was something he could not afford to be because had been in the front against Argentina and the Netherlands, the previous games in the world court that could lead us to the end and yet both times weaker. Italy has continued his attack, a bullet struck the woodwork as Bulgaria, have become so close, but it was not long when five minutes after Our first goal was the second to make the score 2-0. Roberto Baggio found the mark in a game, but won both the offside trap and goalkeeper Bulgaria once again put us in a more impressive. He was ecstatic about the followers of Italy, who had taken a big step in what would be the way to the end and how it may feel like you cried Our second objective, perhaps with pleasure, even more than the first.
The game continued however and more in Italy has lost its dominant position in the field, whether from fatigue, heat and especially Bulgaria, who had come so far in this World Cup to leave. Not only had they won their first World Cup match, but hit two previous winners of the World Cup, so it was expected to not only shoot after of just two goals, that is precisely what did not. Kostadinov, especially Leckov Stoickov became more dangerous, because our defense was forced to tighten the belt which would be a bit of Bulgarian attacks. This, after all was a game where only one could win or lose, the points do not matter, nor how is lost, and lost by two goals was the same as making a hundred, which led to Bulgaria Braving the wind, All Out Attack desperate to find her.
Bulgaria has sent almost everyone before their game more difficult as they have imposed their presence in our area was contaminated by our goalkeeper in the box. No sooner was she which Stoickov but must take and score. Bulgaria still lost, but now only 2-1 with always rely on the Assembly why it is inconceivable that a second and an equalizer would come his way? Italy was not affected by time but that was half the fortune ended two minutes after the first goal of Bulgaria who controlled the game and could produce a tie for things.
The break saw tifossi Italy celebrate, but not too much to Bulgaria was more than capable of scoring in 45 minutes still to come and no one even the game up, but two, he can send his way to the end and back to Italy in the misleading and almost fool's game, which was held in the third.
The second half began, but the rest seemed to take some of the Bulgarian attack, if not past time and the game became more level. Italy and Bulgaria has worked mainly in the second half, two tired he is in favor of the Azzurri who was driving. The second half however, is not without controversy when the ball hits the hand Costacurta in the table in a move that would have meant a second penalty of Bulgaria, was not considered by the arbitrator accidental. But the ball struck the hand of the player in question when he was near his body, unlike when it does with the players that his side arm, that always gives a free kick or penalty, depending on where the crime occurs regardless of weather conditions is its intention or not.
Italy, however, a ball and tough it was and remains a leader of us, "Fratelli D Italia" feel more in the final. Finally moved to another level to see things more closely and managed to be very close to the action for the last ten minutes. Italy, however, did not leave this game as easy and if they started the problems the game was nearing its end. The first occurred when Costcurta received his second yellow card, which means not playing in the final but was not too bad, because if there is something that Italy had good defenders and that to spare.
Loosing Costacurta final loss was acceptable or easily Apolloni Mussi could take place, but Roberto Baggio was a different story, which had been basically our star player, who had won the last three games us, scoring five goals in the process. This man would be a big flop and what should Occasionally we expect the final whistle, Baggio, but is injured. Baggio left limping from the field and even by his own power, but with the assistance of trainers in what must have been a severe concussion. We were worried, but not for the game the final, but still, however, expected to end the game, who came to Italy a 2-1 lead.
It felt like the glory extraordinary when fans from Italy. We would like to play the final, Baggio some injured, and two of our key defenders are not eligible due to a card yellow, but still we did. How do we begin to celebrate this moment with hugs and kisses, as if all we had won the lottery in a sense that we, as men and women alike spent crying Italy, Italy.
For my part, never forget to take a photograph of two Bulgarian supporters were brother and sister, and Bulgaria U.S. did, and proudly waving his flag after the disaster. Why would be shame to lose in a game officer in a semifinal, especially for a team that had never won a World Cup match before U.S. 94. I welcome his country, is not only good performance in that game, but the World Cup as they have really given a good account of themselves despite the expectations of many who are not even the first round.
But Italy had won and that we could not get out of the way would be final. Italy had done, but there was another obstacle that most likely that Brazil, but later for us, the fans were delighted to Italy despite having to do our best outfield player made. This near the end of game, but we realized it would not be such a big problem, like Baggio, would be the end, regardless of what we had to inject because it is a fact that football not a matter of life or death, but even more important.
He was on the bus home I made a comment that drew attention many and may have caused a small riot, if less than the civilians were present. My words were "Loro sono East" (which are next), when I saw two men wearing the yellow jersey of Brazil, who were actually Brazilians claiming he did not want animosity toward us. As I also explained to my will that my statement was not made in malice, but with the intention of noting that Brazil, which have already played against Sweden, then most likely our next opponent and final U.S. 94.
Our conversation was friendly, ie, mining and other Italians of several of these Brazilian fans, who also could see that the Italy-Brazil final would be another classic. Naturally, they tend to produce as it was in Spain 82 and France 38, while certainly more similar what happened 70 in Mexico or Argentina 78, but in all this discussion, no one loses sight of the enemy, they were not rivals, but in a contest not to decide a trophy and not the nation that was better because I would do even worse.
My name is Gianni Truvianni, I am a author who writes with the simple aim of sharing his ideas, thoughts and more than I am with those who are interested to read may be something new. Also I am the author of the book " target = "_blank"> Opera New York, the Society is now available at Amazon.
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To About the author:
My name is Gianni Truvianni, I am an author who writes with the simple aim of sharing his ideas, thoughts and more so than I am with those interested in reading can be something new. I am also the author of the book "New York City Opera, the Society", which is now available at Amazon.
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