Image : http://www.flickr.com
It was the summer of 1994 and the date was the 18th June, a day in which Italy would play its first World Cup match against the Republic of Ireland. I for one would not only observe but also still on the Giant's Stadium in the Meadowlands, as I had gone through the trouble to get a ticket, not only, but on Ireland Italy Norway will take in the next game too. Was in relation to the game against Norway, that was a relatively easy task as interest notso high because there are not many Norwegian Americans in New York or New Jersey, as Irish Americans are in these states. But I had done it and would sit at Giant's Stadium, hopefully watch beat Ireland to Italy, as she had done four years earlier in "Italia 90".
Until I am there, it will be completely lost four years after the tragedy again on penalties to Argentina in 1990, and is not qualified with the European Nations Cup in 1992thanks to the then already dissolved the Soviet Union, and Italy did not play in. This would be basically in Italy first game in a major tournament since that night so long ago in Naples against Argentina. I mean, after all that really counts, a game for third place in each tournament as competitive.
Many were the changes in Italy, which now by Arrigo Sacchi, the man who had been virtually invincible, and Milan, or at least had to get to the finals been expected, the coachU.S. 94th Roberto Baggio, who had also to our star player after Italia 90, would surely be every game from him yet by many at the time when probably the greatest player of his generation is considered, along with Romario in Brazil and Argentina's Batistuta. Italy, of course, the other solid players, some of which are new to the team, Dino Baggio (no relation to Roberto) and Daniele Massaro, of AC Milan and Signori of Lazio.
Of course, as with any teamstriving to win a World Cup, Italy were also the players who were returning from the previous tournament as the experienced Maldini and Baressi. Both players come from AC Milan who won that year's edition of the European Cup, now known as the Champions League. What's remarkable restraint, which really does not exist, since most were healthy, or at least enough to ask even if some of the world, why Italy scorer of the lastdo not play world cup, Schillaci, but that was mainly due to his poor form in the years before the World Cup. All in all, there was good reason for many fans in Italy think that was her team in the USA 94, what had they managed to do in Italy and 90 to win the World Cup.
But all in all there were also other factors, and one of them is that Italy was the team of Roberto Baggio and overly dependentThe form he showed on any given day, basically what it was that Italy was as good or as bad as was Roberto Baggio. Another point was that even though Italy had qualified in the World Cup had without too much difficulty, they are not really too impressive, coming in seconds to Switzerland in their group.
This is a team, they barely managed a 2-2 draw against while playing at home, and had even lost by 1-0 on their return game. I myself remember aparticular qualifying game in Italy, was forced, in the context of a practical snow in Scotland, which ended 0-0 to play. Roberto Baggio, after literally be the field after a collision with a Scottish player, who would both in the same ball, coming down was performed. Qualifying was definitely had prevailed not so easy but Baggio and businesses, and even a win in their last qualifying match against Portugal, at home, as if a draw is enough toBring them to U.S. 94th
I, for (as far as my life went on) no more I found myself in the John Hancock mutual funds department, was released a few weeks earlier, but not before a couple of bets with some of the Irish-Americans at work which, of course their money on the greens of Ireland, while I am so not on azzurri Italy. But in retrospect I would miss about my work in all honesty have several days on the job, what would be a first for me had been his (not even one day off is taken) for over a year at John Hancock, as important as the work that is football and a World Championship in that it turns out first. I can imagine that a lot of Americans who do not play the football do countries grow, a stance like mine may seem odd, if not irresponsible, but so many around the world is about football. Some even go to extremes to give to their work and spend their life savings to go to the gamesto cheer their team to victory.
As for Ireland, they were definitely not a bad team, capable of firmly for defense with big, strong player to shoot the ball with both feet, and not unskilled, either. Ireland, however, did not have many good players on the bench and were in their offensive game to pieces, which mostly went down the flanks to the establishment of the limited air ball in the box, a header or a lucky bounce. This sometimes referred to as remote from their goalkeeper kickshad been the case with their binding goal against the Netherlands in Italia 90th
I know that in all affected this very special day for me, never forget the pride I have when creating the blue shirt of the Italian national football team, to show my support for "La Squadra Azzurra" too. I, a fan had bought a small Italian flag in that part of Manhattan as "Little Italy" know where I would go watch the final. I was even a little worried that I may end up withsurrounded by a group of Irish fans who are not likely to lose too friendly. All of that made me hopeful in an Italian section, but I would have little control.
As for the rest of the world cup, and until that time only two games had been the first game ends with a surprisingly difficult victory over Bolivia 1:0-played for Germany, while the second was not a unique attraction, other then it was The first World Cup --Be game ever played in an indoor stadium. The second game was played on the day of the one I was always willing to go to in and with a 1-1 draw between the U.S. and Switzerland finished in qualifying, Italy had all they could handle.
In my excitement, I also started thinking how it would be the first game I had ever seen, living between two national teams that are not only not in a friendly, but a World Cup game to do so. I had never seen beforeas much as a qualifier of any kind, not even the European Cup, so for me it was a great thing to be able to see the nation of my ancestors in action against Ireland. These take on added significance in New York City, as many are either Irish or Italian descent and not always friendly to each other.
I'm basically in the spirit of the game when I bought my ticket, but how it actually all around me, which came out when I get thePort Authority Bus Terminal and saw all the flags, of which half of the Irish and the other Italian. Of course, I saw in the vicinity of those who were the Italians, as this was a day to be among them quotas. The mood was definitely at the right place for an international football match and when I looked, I could also see fans with painted faces, the Irish application of their national colors orange, green and white, while the Italians red, white and green.
Once at the Port Authority, I did not catch any problems with the busto Giant's Stadium, where the game would be played. When I took the bus, I'd say it was evenly divided between Italian and Irish supporters, and it becomes clear who is responsible for the team on the basis of the colors on the banners they carried. But all in all it was remarkable to see that most of the fans weather for Ireland or Italy do not really Americans descended from one or the other, with most Italian fans even speak Italian. Something that I then noticed when I tried to speak,few in Italian, to answer at least recognize what language it was, even though she could not understand or even less.
For all that I need to say much to the credit of the organizers of this tournament, there was no violence of any kind from both sides, although occasionally hear racial or ethnic arc from either side with the Italians as an arbitrator for the Irish as "Micks too. This fact that many Irish Mc letters in their surnames, while the Irish did not react so well his jobItalians "wops" These three letters stand for "with papers", as many Italians first came to America illegally, and as the expression says, without papers. However, these "verbal taunts" for the most part been limited, and not, or at least that I to degenerate into physical violence.
After a short bus ride, we, I and my fellow Italian fans, Giant's Stadium and then entered the river was everywhere, today we would see who's bragging rights inthe City of New York. Had the Irish or Italians? This is what we soon learn, and if Italy was slightly Favorite, suggests this will not automatically win at all costs.
The national anthems were played and in all honesty I remember was not played, which were sung first, but it did not matter, because both with the same passion from both sides, after which our two captains exchanged Baresi of Italy, and Bonner (goalkeeper) for Ireland Flags and the game was on. I of course by thenI found myself in my seat and was fortunate that I was in a part outnumbered Italians, Irish, made me aware that I should not have too much trouble to share. For example, as was my brother-in-law once in a game in Spain 82, he suffered broken a head, despite his being from Madrid.
Italy started much as they had played until that point, with Baresi led the team and the organization it from behind. The whole time on the lookout for offensive creativity Baggio deliver usthe same kind of magic he had for Juventus, the previous year, giving him the title of the FIFA player of the year shown. Ireland, as always, solid in their active defense, and always a danger on the counterattack, in fact, there is one game was typical for most of the British Isles, with Jack Charlton practices (brother of Bobby Charlton) as a coach, why should it surprise .
There were few chances for Italy but Ireland had their game plan well and study objectiveswould not be easy, but it has a relatively early. It comes when throwing Houghton our goalkeeper Gianluca Pagliuca to the 11-minute mark to put the game Ireland a head 1-0. It was a perfect shot and it went in the net, according to the Houghton has a role, as celebrated all over the Irish faithful, growing in confidence that she could, the team that had just eliminated them from the last World Cup was reached, beat third place, having won with three worldTitle.
The lines of battle were clearly drawn at this point would have been Italy, around us while Ireland could just wait in the midfield and get all the loose ball to go on the counter and to expand their leadership. Baggio, has been well served, as this not only our biggest threat, but scored the key to our offensive and Charlton knew. The first half would end and we were still down 1-0 and in the Irish grew confident.
In the second half and came throughItaly then began to worry and move us in the attack with more despair, even though Ireland still firmly in their wall of defense, while the songs became louder than their followers reason to believe this could end the day in summer, when Saint Patrick's is not them in the spring. It was actually midway through the second period, those who supported us, Italy was able to see that we really just can not lose the game but not even end up getting on the scoreboard. Chance that wecreated, but always the same result Bonner and his attorney had nothing to bear on it, or at least not in this day and indeed Ireland in the second half came closer to a second goal when they post, then Italy has to a premiere .
The final whistle came, and so the celebration of the Irish, and whether or not they want us to know they had best get there, we on this day. But I for my part, felt they played a good game, but for Italy, not everything was lost. How could theyyet considered, especially since many teams had lost their first game, not only in the second round, but lost the finale as it is the case with Argentina in 90 or in Germany, 82, of course, both teams ended in the past, but that was another issue. Italy could still do it, but that would mean almost beat to Norway, would really reduce our chances for a loss, though not completely with the system at the time, qualified 16 out of 24 teams. These make it possible for the bestto make four teams in third place, and after everyone had gone, both Uruguay and Bulgaria into the second round in 86, on the strength of two draws and one loss. We hope it would not come, however, to suggest that for Italy, as it were Norway, but that's another game, one must with the Irish on top by 1-0 is over.
Italy's fans were sad, but as I have someone back by bus to New York that was all it was a set back and see not the end, the people around me, and finallythan. I myself remember passing by a pizza place near my apartment, subject to me in Brooklyn at the time in a part of the city mainly for Polish immigrants (Green Point) and see how depressed all my fellow Italians (some spaghetti -born) Americans in some of the old home but perhaps more so, because we had lost a team we were expected to beat.
Italy at this point but he was not out, but from then on we have to get serious and play hard to get! Norway had abolishedEngland will not be easy and we all knew that against this background that we should do our best to beat them. Norway, who had qualified for a very long absence from the World Cup scene. However, this was for another day even though the same arena.
