The depth of forwards in Italy in the 90s was crazy. I didn’t really appreciate them at the time because I was a Baggio fanboy and was rooting for him to win out in the national team
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I was looking at the 1990 squad last night for world cup.
It’s without doubt the greatest squad of playing depth in world cup history.
The fear factor stopped them from fully reaching it’s potential.
Tbf at that time pitches like that weren’t s rarity at all. Players were used to playing on different, irregular surfaces since they were little kids. Especially in poorer countries.
Players nowadays could barely walk on those pitches I imagine, not their fault, they’re used to perfect pitches basically.
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I think Germany and England had the better midfielders though. We had our joint best player in Barnes injured, who we didn’t give enough creative licence to anyway if truth be told. Hoddle was out too. And Gascoigne was peaking.
Meanwhile Germany’s midfield was the best it’s been in my life time.
Then you had the Napoli fans cheering for Maradona against Italy in the World Cup, which is quite funny. Maradona amped it up by telling Napoli fans the rest of the year the northern Italians call you African. There was Napoli versus Milan viralry too.
The other funny thing I heard about that world cup is that the England players would supposedly change the formation and tactics Bobby Robson gave them.
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Isn’t it true England went into that WC not expecting to achieve anything?
Surprising by today’s standards.
I also wonder if England were favourites to get out of their WC qualifiying group in 1993. The disappointment was tangible, but Norway and Holland were strong.
It was a strange WC. Germany deservedly won it but regressed with each succeeding round.
England performances were all over the place. Belgium was a coin toss. Cameroon lucky. Germany unlucky largely on a Shilton mistake that he never gets called out on.
The final was awful and won on a dive for a German penalty.
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Dead ball specialist
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I’m not sure but BBC’s childrens Newsround said going into it the 3 best players in the world were Maradona, John Barnes and someone else I forget. Linekar was 1 of the best strikers in the world and Gascoigne was world class going into it and probably the joint player of the tournament. Beardsley and Waddle were top class too. Des Walker looked like one of the top defenders of the tournament. Fullbacks aren’t my thing but my next neighbour hated Paul Parker for heading a home goal against Germany. And Terry Butcher was a bit of a legend in qualifying for playing on with a cut open head.
Remember before the '85 ban. English clubs won 7 out of 9 European Cups. Liverpool probably won at least 1 other World Cup if not for the ban. During the 85-86 season Liverpool fans trolled Everton fans by haning up Steaua Buchurest. Basically saying you would of won the European Cup if not for the ban.
Not winning the World Cup is likely a result of either having longer seasons or Britain not being 1 nation. Some of Liverpool and Everton’s best players were Scotish or Irish. If you were true unionists you’d have a world cup @Electrifying @Calum
We also treated flair players like Hoddle and Barnes quite poorly while jizzing over passion merchants like Robson.
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What a menace Ronaldo was. Cannavaro did a great job marking him for the most of the game, but one moment he misjudges the pass and Ronaldo absolutely destroyes them.
On the other side also pre injury Del Piero and Vieiri. Quite an epic match.
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I watched both videos just the other day. The quality is ridiculous.
R9 at his peak was just ridiculous nobody could run with the ball at the speed he could. So strong, insane dribbling, amazing finisher. Just completely reinvented the wheel of what a number 9 should be doing.
I think when you look back at the last 30 years of football - outside of Lionel Messi - I don’t see that anybody was as good as peak R9 in terms of just outright quality. CR7 is a phenom who’s career is out of this world but I’d take R9 as the better actual player any day of the week.
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You can elevate that argument as well as defending was at a much higher level than the last ten years imo.
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one of the most complete forwards of all time. Just a joy to watch.
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Gotta agree.
He and Jean Pierre Papin together were a fearsome duo.
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Did you see much of Savicevic then? I’m too young to have properly watched him but from what I can see and what my dad tells me is there’s no better dribbler in the history of the sport, and that if he could’ve just been more clinical with his passing and finishing he’d be up there as one of the best ever.
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Oh definitely. Fantastic player and met the high expectations desired of him.
Seen his goal in the 94 European Cup final?
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Yeah of course! Almost on par with van bastens for the Netherlands
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You know you’re good when your goals are nicknamed after you
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he was incredible. Looked the same for about 20 years, similar to Maldini but even moreso, he was just always 30 years old in his face.
Also forgot how shit inter’s attendance was back then, I know it’s “only” leverkusen, but they were a top team back then, regularly doing well in the knockout stages including a couple of finals.
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He played on till his late 30’s didn’t he?