Hosts: United States
Winners: Brazil
Competing teams: 24
Where were England? At home once again after being cheated out of qualification in Holland!
Taking the World Cup to one of the last remaining footballing outposts was always a risk for FIFA and while the host country did its job by putting on a flawless tournament, events on the pitch mostly failed to live up to the hype.
A woeful opening game between Germany and Bolivia was hardly the start the tournament needed, but for a while things picked up as the goals began to fly in.
However, the tournament structure, which again saw only eight teams eliminated in the opening group phase, meant there were some surprise results but few shock exits.
The hosts did well to qualify past the first phase, however their crucial 2-1 win over Colombia was overshadowed by events after the game when Colombian defender Andres Escobar, whose own goal gave the US the lead in the game, was shot dead on his return home.
Cameroon could not match their heroics from Italy and went home without winning a game, but Nigeria kept the flag flying for Africa finishing top of a qualifying group which included Argentina and surprise package Bulgaria.
Argentina began the tournament with a 4-0 win over Greece, but the match proved to be Diego Maradona’s final appearance at the World Cup after he was sent home days later having tested positive for a banned drug.
The Republic of Ireland scored one of the shock results of the first round when Ray Houghton’s long-range effort gave Jack Charlton’s side a 1-0 win over Italy in New York, while Saudi Arabia beat both Morocco and Belgium to make the second phase.
There were plenty of goals again in the second phase, Germany edging out Belgium 3-2, Romania ending broken Argentina’s campaign by the same scoreline, but few matches live long in the memory.
Ireland’s hopes came to an end in Orlando when goals from Denis Bergkamp and Wim Jonk gave Holland a 2-0 win, while on American Independence Day, the USA’s tournament ended after they lost narrowly to Brazil.
Italy, who needed extra time to see off Nigeria in the second round, booked their semi-final place with a 2-1 win over European neighbours Spain, while Dallas witnessed the match of the tournament as Brazil threw away a 2-0 lead against the Dutch before Branco’s free-kick nine minutes from time took the South Americans through.
The match saw Brazilian strikers Romario and Bebeto both hitting the target and the start of the now much overused baby celebration.
Sweden were surprise semi-finalists after they knocked out Romania on penalties, while Bulgaria scored a huge shock by beating Germany 2-1, Yordan Letchkov’s flying header providing a lasting memory.
Sadly the tournament seemed to take a step backwards in the semi-finals with Brazil beating Sweden 1-0 thanks to Romario, while two goals from Roberto Baggio helped Italy to an unconvincing 2-1 win over Bulgaria.
The final, played in front of over 94,000 people at the Rose Bowl in Los Angeles, proved yet another anti-climax with Brazil and Italy failing to muster a goal between them over 120 minutes.
The shootout proved a nightmare for the Italians with talisman Baggio missing a third kick for his side to hand Brazil their first World Cup win in 24 years.
Did you know? Oleg Salenko broke a World Cup record when he scored five goals in a single game in Russia’s 6-1 demolition of Cameroon in the group stages.
