Here are five names to have at your fingertips about the 15th World Cup, hosted by the USA and won by Brazil.
Silverdome. Some soccer purists around the world objected to a WorldCup in a country without a great soccer history — a nation that didn’t even have a national pro league. U.S. media, on the other hand, wrote much about the violent soccer fans they expected.But it was a peaceful, friendly festival. More than 3.5 million attended the 52 games — 1 million more than the previous best-attended World Cup and still a record today, even though the last fourWorld Cups had 64 games. The host played its first game, a 1-1 tie over Switzerland, at the Pontiac Silverdome, on natural grass crated in for the first World Cup game played in an indoor stadium.
Oleg Salenko. Russia exited in the first round but Oleg Salenkoshared the Golden Shoe with Bulgaria Hristo Stoichkov on six goals. Five of Salenko’s goals came in a record-setting performance in Russia’s 6-1 win over Cameroon. Another record was setin that game as Roger Milla, 42, became the oldest player to score a World Cup goal.
Previous Editions of “Five Names”:
Switzerland 1954 |
Earnie Stewart. The USA had not reached the second round of a World Cup since 1930. It faced pre-tournament favorite Colombia in its second game at the Rose Bowl in front of 93,000fans. In the 35th minute, John Harkes hit a low cross that Andres Escobar stabbed into his own net. Early in the second half, Alexi Lalas smacked the ball into the Colombia net but the AR raised hisflag for offside, although TV replays proved he had been onside. In the 52nd minute, Tab Ramos sent a perfect pass for a streaking Earnie Stewart to finish for the decider of a 2-1 victory. Colombiamidfielder Gabriel Gomez was kept out of the game after receiving death threats and Escobar was murdered outside a Medellin nightclub upon his return to Colombia.
Romario. Brazil coach Carlos Alberto Parreira dropped Romario, whom heconsidered undisciplined, before qualifying play but brought him back for the decider against Uruguay, against which Romario scored twice in the final 20 minutes to keep Brazil’s streak alive asthe only team reach every World Cup. At USA 1994, Romario paired up front with Bebeto and they scored four and three goals, respectively, as Brazil reached the final in quest of a record fourth WorldCup title. On the way, Brazil eliminated the USA with a 1-0 round of 16 victory on the Fourth of July. Romario now serves in Brazil’s congress.
Carlos Alberto Parreira. Italy reached the final thanks to RobertoBaggio’s heroics. But the final was a dour ending to a good tournament – the goal average jumped back to up to 2.71 after 2.2 in 1990 — with Brazil winning on PKs after a 0-0 tie. Baggiosent his penalty kick high over the crossbar. Brazil was deserving champion but played with much less flair than while lifting its previous three World Cup titles. “I did it my way,” saidParreira, who was on the coaching staff of Brazil’s 1970 World Cup-winning team and was head coach at World Cups in 1982 (Kuwait), 1990 (UAE), 2006 (Brazil again) and South Africa (2010). Hecoached MLS’s MetroStars in 1997.
