Soccer Memories-Part 44 (The New Annoying Trends of Modern Football (Soccer))

 In the recent years it feels like I am becoming an old man, as I look with disdain to the changes on and off the field regarding the game.

Nostalgia is always strong for fans of my age and there is always a tendency from every generation to look at the past in rose-tinted glasses.

I can look through my old magazines from 70s and 80s and there is a common thread in fans and even players of past generation looking back at the good old times.

A common complaint is usually about commercialization ruining the game.

If only these players (if still living) could see the changes of these last years.

 

As for myself, I do not exactly remember the reference point where I started noticing changes that disturbed me.

For my own amusement, I have tried to make a list. These could be major changes or even minor banal things that somehow rub me the wrong way.

 

Free Kicks with one player laying down horizontally

If you have seen any matches in the last few years, you have surely noticed this new trend on free kicks. Behind the wall, one of the players lays down across horizontally, to prevent any ground level shots, when the players in the wall automatically jump up.

This is a minor thing, but somehow it looks strange to someone used to the Football of a different era.

 

Photo From: https://news.paddypower.com/football-news/2021/05/14/taking-it-lying-down-how-to-find-the-perfect-player-behind-the-wall/

Players interrupting a winning Manager’s press conference

A new trend from these last years, the tournament winning Manager is giving his press conference and his players barge in and interrupt the press conference and pour champagne on him, etc. I don’t remember when or how this started, but I definitely do not remember such a trend in the past.

Initiation of new players

An initiation ceremony for new signings is that they have to sing a song in front of all the teammates. Maybe this tradition has always existed, I am not sure. However, filming this initiation and releasing on social media is definitly new.

Ruining of the Ballon d’Or

France Football magazine’s Ballon d’Or used to be the pinnacle for individual awards for a player. The winner would be announced the day of the magazine’s release. One of the appealing aspects of the voting was some of the odd selections by certain jurors, which always made it interesting.

This was changed when it was decided in the 90s to have a chosen selection of 50 players that the jurors could only vote for.

The award ceremony become a gala event akin to the Academy Awards and now there are additional awards associated with it: The Young player, Yashin,Award, etc.

Photo From: France Football, Issue 3837, December 3, 2019

Messi vs. Cristiano Ronaldo debate

One of the many ridiculous debates of the Social Media age is the comparison between Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. Eager fans of each camp, young or old, will post the merits of one and denigrate the ‘shortcomings’ of the other. The truth is that we should be lucky that there are two players of exceptional quality who have marked their Generation.

Most of us lived in the age of Maradona and I barely recall comparisons of Maradona with other contemporaries in such a manner.

 

Devaluation of Magazines

I am from the generation that grew up with Football magazines. One of the greatest joys as a fan was rushing to newsstands in anticipation of the new issue of your Football magazine. This is an excitement that younger fans will never understand. At times, these magazines were the greatest source of knowledge and information. The internet changed this in the 90s and with the evolution of this medium and social media, magazines became secondary and not as influential as before. Nowadays, most people get their magazines on PDF and that’s not the same thing.

 

Photo From: https://www.facebook.com/Soccerretromag

The Expansion of UCL

I grew up in an era when European Cups were in knock-out format. There was such excitement with the Champions Cup, the Cup Winners Cup and the UEFA Cup.

Because of Economic reasons, the Champions Cup evolved into a Champions League. It grew to such an extent that the Cup Winners Cup was disbanded in 1999 and the UEFA Cup became a meaningless Tournament.

Personally, I felt something was not right during the 1999/00 season. This was the first season of the expanded Champions League with two Group phases and for the first time I felt too many matches were being played and it was getting difficult to follow and keep up like the old days. Alas, it seems like a Super League is on the horizon.

 

The Ruining of International Football

International Football was a favorite part of the game. We looked for anticipation for lineups, looking for new caps, etc. Friendly matches used to be exciting and fun to watch as much as qualifiers. Back then, you maybe had one match per month or so.

The expansion of the UCL took the shine of International Football. In addition, the increase in number of matches that Nations have to play has made it less interesting. Nowadays, some fans look upon with disdain to ‘International Breaks’, where Nations play up to three-four matches in the space of ten days or so, and look forward to the resumption of League play.

In addition, the creation of meaningless Tournaments like the ‘Nations League’ has further increased the slow death of International Football.

 

The Ruining of the Euros

The UEFA European Championships were once upon a time a quality Tournament only second in importance to the Word Cup. When the number of participants was increased to 16 for the 1996 Edition, it seemed like a fair balance. However, for the 2016 Edition, the number of participants was increased to 24 teams with predictable drop in quality. The 2020 Edition (played in 2021) was even more chaotic with venues spread across the continent and no actual host.

 

Team Group Photo in the Dressing Room

This new trend of a Group Team Photo in the Changing Room released in Social Media after an important win. This is a trend that is representative of the Social Media age, somehow you can’t imagine teams doing this in the good old days.

 

Photo From: https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/row-zed/cristiano-ronaldo-dressing-room-photo-10324269

The Walk of Honor

I could be wrong about this one, but from what I remember, the Walk of Honor, was a tradition in Spain, whereby the opposing Team would lineup and applaud the League Champions as they entered the field. It was a sign of respect and Fair Play. Nowadays, it seems everyone from the kit man on is given a walk of honor in various Nations. I repeat this is a topic I might be wrong about, but I have noticed this trend more and more in the last few years. (Please, no insults if am wrong, just correct me)

 

Children mascot holding hands with players and players high-fiving before matches

I grew up in an era where the two teams would enter the field and the captains would shake hands at the beginning. Then after the match was over, the players would exchange kits, etc.

I cannot pinpoint when this trend started but I think it was in the 90s. You have the two teams coming on the field with each player holding hands with a child mascot. Then like in a high school game you have the players in a row high-five and embrace one another before the match. It’s just a cheesy ploy from ‘the suits’ to show they believe in Fairplay, etc. Of course, five seconds later the same players are kicking the lumps out of one another.

 

Teams having a multitude of kits

Until the mid-90s, teams used to have a home kit and an away kit. I would say for up to 70-80% of their matches (please don’t hold me to this percentage), teams would wear their home kit and only in rare cases, the away kit would be worn. For example, a team like Juventus would have worn their away kit, for perhaps a handful of matches in a season. Naturally, all this changed when replica kits became a big business and teams started having three or more kits per season. In some cases, special kits were worn specially for a particular competition. To justify the existence of these kits, teams started wearing their away and special kits on more and more occasions. Needless to say, to maximize profits from sales, the designs had to change, in some cases, from season to season.

Photo From: World Soccer, April 1994

Over-exposure of Friendly pre-season matches

For most of my time as a Football fan, pre-season friendlies were meaningless matches not taken seriously.  In fact, I don’t even remember if they were covered in print, much less television (exceptions for Unicef charity matches, prestige friendlies, etc).

However, we now live in age where clubs’ Pre-season Tours in USA are dissected by analysts and covered as important events. This is bearing in mind, that the transfer ends by the end of August and many of the players will have moved on from their clubs anyway.

 

VAR

VAR was introduced to correct refereeing errors for the good of the game. Its use has been controversial and has only increased complaints from the public. In some ways, refereeing errors were considered as part of the game and were rare. These errors were sometimes discussion points about the history of the game. Irrespective of its intentions, its disastrous application has made the public reminisce of the pre-VAR days.

Johnny-Come-Lately Football (Soccer) fans

Football (Soccer) is a game that gets in your blood when you’re young. Therefore, most real fans of the game have a disdain for people who magically become Football fans as adults just because the game has become trendy now. Globally, most of these fans ‘become’ massive English Premier League fans (due to its marketing strength) with no knowledge of the history of the game and the clubs.

Hollywood Stars ‘liking’ Soccer

Similar to the complaint above, nothing angers real fans of the game more than watching celebrities jump on the bandwagon and start liking the game, etc. It’s even more annoying when you see Hollywood celebrities who never grew up with the game and have no concept of its history, suddenly, become fans and start wearing the kits and will even go to matches (when on promotional tours in Europe).

 

Conclusion

I am sure if I think hard enough, I can come up with other examples as well. Some of these examples are minor and really meaningless in the grand scheme of things. They are the result of Social Media trends and will probably run their course.

As a long-term fan I always look to the Football of the past with fondness. One has to accept that there is always an evolution to the game. I imagine, someone else in thirty years will look with Nostalgia with the examples that I cited.

 

The Soccernostalgia Interview-Part 36 (Interview with Spanish Journalist Mr. Albert Valor on Barcelona, 1985/86 season)

For this interview, I continue to look back at past Barcelona seasons and ask the opinions of knowledgeable Barcelona observers.

This will be a semi-regular and continuous series.

This interview is about Barcelona’s 1985/86 season.

The Interviewees is:

 

1- Spanish Journalist Mr. Albert Valor @PLF_2008

 

Mr. Valor’s contact info:

On Twitter: @PLF_2008

 

  

Soccernostalgia Question: Let’s start off by describing the state of the affairs. At the start of the 1985/86 season. Barcelona had finally won the League title for the first time since 1974. Barcelona’s English Manager Terry Venables was popular for the triumph and there was a backbone of a team for the next few years. What were the expectations of the fans and the press going into the season?

Soccernostalgia Pregunta: Comencemos describiendo el estado de las cosas. Al comienzo de la temporada 1985/86. Barcelona finalmente había ganado el título de la Liga por primera vez desde 1974. El entrenador inglés de Barcelona, Terry Venables, era popular por el triunfo y había una columna vertebral de un equipo para los próximos años. ¿Cuáles eran las expectativas de los fanáticos y la prensa al comenzar la temporada?

Albert Valor @PLF_2008 Response: I'm going to start by saying that I didn't live through that time, since I was born in the summer of 1986. From what I've been able to learn through consumption and documentation about Barcelona throughout my life, winning that league greatly increased the expectation of the hobby. As you say in the question, the 1974 League and that of Venables were the only leagues of the club in 30 years, something that would be unthinkable today. The Barcelona player had a much lower level of demand than today, but after feeling champion, the expectation for the following year was high. At the very least, they wanted to repeat the national success and, why not, win the European Cup.

Albert Valor @PLF_2008 Response: Voy a empezar diciendo que no viví aquella época, puesto que nací en verano de 1986. Por lo que he podido saber a lo largo de consumo y documentación sobre el Barcelona a lo largo de mi vida, ganar aquella liga aumentó mucho la expectativa de la afición. Como bien dices en la pregunta, la Liga de 1974 y aquella de Venables fueron las únicas ligas del club en 30 años, algo que en la actualidad sería impensable. El barcelonista tenía un nivel de exigencia mucho más bajo que hoy, pero tras sentirse campeón, la expectativa para el año siguiente era alta. Como mínimo, se quería repetir el éxito nacional y, por qué no, ganar la Copa de Europa.

Photo From: Mondial, new series, issue 68, November 1985

(Barcelona squad, 1985/86)

Soccernostalgia Question: Let’s look at the transfer activity in the off-season. Paraguay-born striker Raul Amarilla joined from Real Zaragoza and Angel Pedraza and Esteban Fradera were promoted to the first team. The departures included Periko Alonso (Sabadell) and Salva (loaned to Hercules). How did the public and press view the transfer activity? One would assume Venables was satisfied with the squad at hand?

Soccernostalgia Pregunta: Veamos la actividad de fichajes fuera de temporada. El delantero paraguayo Raúl Amarilla se incorporó procedente del Real Zaragoza y Ángel Pedraza y Esteban Fradera ascendieron al primer equipo. Las salidas incluyeron a Periko Alonso (Sabadell) y Salva (cedido al Hércules). ¿Cómo vieron el público y la prensa la actividad de transferencia? ¿Uno supondría que Venables estaba satisfecho con el equipo en cuestión?

Albert Valor @PLF_2008 Response: I understand that the coach's objective was to maintain the block that had won the League so comfortably. The template had worked well, so Venables thought a couple of tweaks were good. There were no big signings, but let's remember that the fan had recent memory of Maradona passing through the club, a great signing that did not win any important title.

Albert Valor @PLF_2008 Response: Entiendo que el objetivo del entrenador era mantener el bloque que había ganado la Liga con tanta holgura. La plantilla había dado buenos resultados, por lo cual a Venables le parecieron buenos un par de retoques. No hubo grandes fichajes, pero recordemos que el aficionado tenía reciente en la memoria el paso de Maradona por el club, un gran fichaje que no logró ningún título importante.

 

Photo From: Mondial, new series, issue 68, November 1985

(Terry Venables and President Nunez)

Soccernostalgia Question: Barcelona started off the season in a poor fashion and were off the pace in the early going. Why do you team the team that had won the title was struggling?

Soccernostalgia Pregunta: Barcelona comenzó la temporada de mala manera y estuvo fuera de ritmo al principio. ¿Por qué el equipo que había ganado el título estaba luchando?

Albert Valor @PLF_2008 Response: Here several factors were mixed. The first, that after winning the championship, the team fell into a certain complacency, and the level of demand was not the same (a fact that must be blamed more on the players than on the coaching staff, in my opinion. That meant that, inevitably, the team will focus on the European Cup and leave aside the League After overcoming two qualifiers against Sparta Prague and Porto (in both won in the first leg and lost in the second leg, going through the double value of the goals in opposite field), the team saw itself in the quarterfinals. From then on, the objective was the European Cup, a title that the club had never won. In addition, in the League they also had to count on Real Madrid: ‘El Quinta del Buitre’ began its reign.

 

Albert Valor @PLF_2008 Response: Aquí se mezclaron varios factores. El primero, que tras ganar el campeonato, el equipo cayó en cierta complacencia, y el nivel de exigencia no fue el mismo (un hecho que hay que achacar más a los jugadores que al cuerpo técnico, en mi opinión. Eso hizo que, inevitablemente, el equipo se centrara en la Copa de Europa y dejara de lado de Liga. Tras superar dos eliminatorias frente a Sparta de Praga y Porto (en ambas ganado en la ida y perdiendo en la vuelta, pasando por el valor doble de los goles en campo contrario), el equipo se vio en cuartos de final. A partir de ahí, el objetivo fue la Copa de Europa, un título que el club nunca había ganado. Además, en Liga también había que contar con el Real Madrid: la Quinta del Buitre empezaba su reinado.

 

Soccernostalgia Question: In the Champions Cup, Barcelona advanced and even eliminated Portuguese side Porto. Why the contrast in League vs. European play?

Soccernostalgia Pregunta: En la Copa de Campeones, el Barcelona avanzó e incluso eliminó al Porto portugués. ¿Por qué el contraste en el juego de Liga vs. Europeo?

Albert Valor @PLF_2008 Response: These situations have occurred on occasion. The European Cup has this. So, it was a shorter competition and one that, in turn, was more difficult to reach (only the champion of each country qualified). It was a forbidden dream, but when it came, you had to give everything. Barcelona was a level team and, furthermore, that title motivated them a lot. More than the League, which was soon out of reach due to the high level of points of the leader, Real Madrid.

Albert Valor @PLF_2008 Response: Estas situaciones se han en ocasiones. La Copa de Europa tiene esto. Entonces, era una competición más corta y a la que, a su vez, era más difícil llegar (solo se clasificaba el campeón de cada país). Era un sueño prohibido, pero cuando se llegaba, había que darlo todo. El Barcelona era un equipo de nivel y, además, aquel título le motivaba mucho. Más que la Liga, de la que se vio pronto fuera de combate debido al alto nivel de puntuación del líder, el Real Madrid.

 

Soccernostalgia Question: By November, Barcelona recovered its form and were just behind Real Madrid. However, Barcelona could not close the gap and fell behind, despite consolidating the second place position. By December, the title seemed Real Madrid’s and in the end Barcelona finished 11 points behind. Were Real too good that season, or were Barcelona just concentrating in Europe?

Soccernostalgia Pregunta: Para noviembre, el Barcelona recuperó su forma y estaba justo detrás del Real Madrid. Sin embargo, el Barcelona no pudo cerrar la brecha y se quedó atrás, a pesar de consolidar la segunda posición. En diciembre, el título parecía del Real Madrid y al final el Barcelona acabó 11 puntos por detrás. ¿El Real Madrid fue demasiado bueno esa temporada o el Barcelona solo se concentró en Europa?

Albert Valor @PLF_2008 Response: A mix of both. The ‘El Quinta del Buitre’ marked an era in Spanish football, winning five consecutive leagues between 1986 and 1990, something that has not been repeated (and that previously only Real Madrid had achieved between 1961 and 1965. Barça focused on Europe by inertia Seeing that the qualifying rounds were passing, it saw it as more feasible to be European champion than to fight against a team that was further and further away in the table.

Albert Valor @PLF_2008 Response: Una mezcla de ambas cosas. La Quinta del Buitre marcó una época en el fútbol español, ganando cinco ligas consecutivas entre 1986 y 1990, algo que no se ha vuelto a repetir (y que anteriormente solo había logrado el mismo Real Madrid entre 1961 y 1965. El Barça se centró en Europa por inercia. Viendo que iba pasando eliminatorias, vio más factible ser campeón de Europa que luchar ante un equipo que estaba cada vez más lejos en la tabla.

 

Photo From: Onze, Issue 125, May 1986

(Barcelona squad, 1985/86)

Soccernostalgia Question: In the Champions Cup quarterfinals, Barcelona eliminated the defending Champions Juventus of Michel Platini. Was there a belief afterwards that they were on their win the Champions Cup after this?

Soccernostalgia Pregunta: En los cuartos de final de la Copa de Campeones, el Barcelona eliminó al campeón defensor Juventus de Michel Platini. ¿Hubo una creencia después de que estaban en su victoria en la Copa de Campeones después de esto?

Albert Valor @PLF_2008 Response: Eliminating Juventus triggered the euphoria. At that time, Juventus was the best team in Europe. Current champion, it had in its ranks the Ballon d'Or, Michel Platini, the excellent Pole Boniek, a young Dane who would later dazzle in the World Cup in Mexico like Michael Laudrup, it was trained by a benchmark like Giovanni Trappatoni, it had level Italian players like Cabrini and Scirea… a great team, go. Leaving them on the road was the definitive signal for Barça to see paved the way to the first European Cup.

Albert Valor @PLF_2008 Response: Eliminar a la Juventus disparó la euforia. En aquellos momentos, la Juventus era el mejor equipo de Europa. Vigente campeón, tenía en sus filas al Balón de Oro, Michel Platini, al excelso polaco Boniek, a un joven danés que luego deslumbraría en el Mundial de México como Michael Laudrup, la entrenaba un referente como Giovanni Trappatoni, tenía jugadores italianos de nivel y raza como Cabrini y Scirea… un equipazo, vaya. Dejarlos en el camino fue la señal definitiva para que el Barça viera allanado el camino hacia la primera Copa de Europa.

 

Photo From: Onze, Issue 124, April 1986

(March 5, 1986, Champions Cup, Barcelona 1-Juventus 0)

Photo From: Onze, Issue 124, April 1986

(March 19, 1986, Champions Cup, Juventus 1-Barcelona 1)

Soccernostalgia Question: The semifinals against Swedish side IFK Gothenburg are part of Barcelona’s folklore. Barcelona were behind (0-3) from the first leg, In the return leg, the relatively little-used Pichi Alonso scored a hat trick and the match went into overtime and penalty kick shoot-out and Barcelona were through. There is the image of a young ball-boy Josip Guardiola on the pitch celebrating. This must rank amongst the most memorable matches of Barcelona history because of the Drama?

Soccernostalgia Pregunta: Las semifinales ante el IFK Gotemburgo sueco son parte del folclore barcelonés. El Barcelona iba perdiendo (0-3) desde el partido de ida. En el partido de vuelta, el relativamente poco utilizado Pichi Alonso anotó un hat-trick y el partido se fue a la prórroga y a la tanda de penaltis y el Barcelona estaba clasificado. Hay la imagen de un joven recogepelotas Josip Guardiola en el campo celebrando. ¿Este debe figurar entre los partidos más memorables de la historia de Barcelona debido al Drama?

Albert Valor @PLF_2008 Response: Definitely. The fans who were at the Camp Nou that day say that it is one of the most spectacular matches they have experienced at the Camp Nou on a European night, at the same level as the comeback in the Cup Winners' Cup against Anderlecht in 1978 (also coming back from 3- 0) or the most recent against PSG in 2017. The biggest difference is that that comeback against Göteborg led to a spot in the European Cup grand final. But yes, without a doubt, it is among the best European games in the history of the Camp Nou. It may be the most memorable.

Albert Valor @PLF_2008 Response: Sin duda. Los aficionados que estuvieron aquel día en el Camp Nou dicen que es uno de los partidos más espectaculares que han vivido en el Camp Nou en una noche europea, al nivel de la remontada en la Recopa frente al Anderlecht en 1978 (también remontando un 3-0) o la más reciente ante el PSG en 2017. La mayor diferencia es que aquella remontada frente al Göteborg supuso el pase a la gran final de la Copa de Europa. Pero sí, sin duda, está entre los mejores partidos europeos de la historia del Camp Nou. Puede que sea el más memorable.

 

Photo From: Onze, Issue 125, May 1986

(April 16, 1986, Champions Cup, Barcelona 3-IFK Gothenburg 0)

Soccernostalgia Question: Barcelona would lose the Copa del Rey Final vs. Real Zaragoza in April. Was there disappointment or was everyone just thinking of the Champions Cup Final?

Soccernostalgia Pregunta: El Barcelona perdería la final de la Copa del Rey contra el Real Zaragoza en abril. ¿Hubo decepción o todo el mundo estaba pensando en la final de la Copa de Campeones?

Albert Valor @PLF_2008 Response: As with the European Cup, Barça also focused on the Cup, a competition for which it is the club with the most titles historically. As with the continental competition, the team looked more likely to hoist a trophy as the qualifiers progressed. The Cup final was ten days after eliminating Göteborg and ten days before the European Cup final. It always hurts to lose a final, but at that time, the only thing that mattered to Barcelona was the final in Seville against Steaua.

Albert Valor @PLF_2008 Response: Como con la Copa de Europa, el Barça también se centró en la Copa, una competición de la que es el club con más títulos históricamente. Del mismo modo que con la competición continental, el equipo se fue viendo con posibilidades de alzar un trofeo a medida que pasaban las eliminatorias. La final de Copa fue diez días después de eliminar al Göteborg y diez días antes de la final de Copa de Europa. Siempre duele perder una final, pero en aquel momento, al barcelonismo solo le importaba la final de Sevilla contra el Steaua.

 

Soccernostalgia Question: The final at Sevilla vs. Steaua Bucharest seemed promised to Barcelona. After the loss in a penalty kick shootout (with all the attempts missed), there was a feeling of a curse on Barcelona since Bern in 1961. How was this loss viewed by the Catalan press and do you think Barcelona took Steaua lightly?

Soccernostalgia Pregunta: La final del Sevilla vs. Steaua Bucarest parecía prometida al Barcelona. Tras la derrota en la tanda de penaltis (con todos los intentos fallados), el Barcelona se sentía como una maldición desde Berna en 1961. ¿Cómo fue vista esta derrota por la prensa catalana y crees que el Barcelona se tomó a la ligera al Steaua?

Albert Valor @PLF_2008 Response: I don't know what it was like at the time, but today Steaua is spoken of as a sidekick, when at that time they were one of the best teams in Europe. The generation of Romanian players was very good. In addition, the Ceaucescu regime did everything on its part to make that team strong, since it served to project a good image of the country. After winning the final in Seville, Steaua reached the semi-finals in 1988 and the final again in 1989. So they weren't just any team. They did not have the name of Liverpool, Juventus or Bayern, and that made them more dangerous.

In addition, it is likely that yes, that after eliminating Juventus and coming back against Göteborg, Barcelona believed that the job was done. Also, the final was in Seville. It seemed everything was ready for Barça to pick up the cup, but…

Also, that disappointment, together with that of Bern 1961, made many young Barcelona fans believe that their team would never win the long-awaited European Cup.

Albert Valor @PLF_2008 Response: No sé cómo sería en la época, pero en la actualidad se habla del Steaua como una comparsa, cuando en aquellos momentos era uno de los mejores equipos de Europa. La generación de jugadores rumanos era buenísima. Además, el régimen de Ceaucescu puso todo de su parte para que aquel equipo fuera fuerte, ya que servía para proyectar una buena imagen del país. Tras ganar la final de Sevilla, el Steaua llegó a semifinales en 1988 y de nuevo a la final en 1989. Así que no era un equipo cualquiera. No tenía el nombre del Liverpool, la Juventus o el Bayern, y eso le hacía más peligroso.

Además, es probable que sí, que tras eliminar a la Juventus y remontar contra el Göteborg, el Barcelona creyera que el trabajo ya estaba hecho. Además, la final era en Sevilla. Parecía todo preparado para que el Barça fuera a recoger la copa, pero…

Asimismo, esa decepción, unida a la de Berna 1961, hizo creer a muchos jóvenes aficionados barcelonistas que el su equipo jamás ganaría la tan ansiada Copa de Europa.

 

Photo From: Onze, Issue 126, June 1986

(May 7, 1986, Champions Cup, Steaua Bucharest 0-Barcelona 0)

Soccernostalgia Question: Describe Bernd Schuster’s feud with Venables on the day of the Champions Cup Final that sidelined him for the following season/? Were there ongoing problems throughout the season between the two?

Soccernostalgia Pregunta:¿Describa la enemistad de Bernd Schuster con Venables el día de la final de la Copa de Campeones que lo dejó fuera de juego para la siguiente temporada? ¿Hubo problemas continuos a lo largo de la temporada entre los dos?

Albert Valor @PLF_2008 Response: Recently, in a BarçaTV program dedicated to the figure of Terry Venables, I was able to find out more about the famous disagreement between Schuster and the coach. Everyone knows that Schuster was substituted in the final against Steaua and that he didn't even stay to see the penalties. That he took a taxi and left the stadium. But it all started before. Apparently, during the 1985/86 season, seeing that Schuster no longer performed as well as in the past, the coach thought it appropriate to sell the German. He still had a lot of value in the market and there was money to be made for him to bring in some other young player with potential. Venables asked the president, but the president told him that at that moment, he couldn't sell Bernd. Schuster found out and was not amused. Since then, the relationship has never been the same. And everything exploded in Seville.

Albert Valor @PLF_2008 Response: Hace poco, en un programa de BarçaTV dedicado a la figura de Terry Venables, pude saber más acerca del célebre desencuentro entre Schuster y el entrenador. Todo el mundo sabe que Schuster fue sustituido en la final contra el Steaua y que no se quedó ni a ver los penaltis. Que tomó un taxi y se marchó del estadio. Pero todo empezó antes. Al parecer, durante la temporada 1985/86, al ver que Schuster ya no rendía igual que en el pasado, el míster creyó conveniente vender al alemán. Todavía tenía mucho valor en el mercado y se podía sacar un dinero por él para traer a algún otro jugador joven con potencial. Venables se lo pidió al presidente, pero éste le dijo que en ese momento, no podía vender a Bernd. Schuster se enteró y no le hizo ninguna gracia. Desde entonces, la relación ya nunca fue la misma. Y todo explotó en Sevilla.

 

Soccernostalgia Question: Which players maintained their standards from the previous season and which players do you think were disappointing?

Soccernostalgia Pregunta:¿Qué jugadores mantuvieron el nivel de la temporada anterior y qué jugadores crees que fueron decepcionantes?

Albert Valor @PLF_2008 Response: This is a question that I couldn't answer exactly. If I had to say some, I guess Julio Alberto kept it, for example. Also Urruti. Among those who were worse, I do not know ... maybe Schuster?

Albert Valor @PLF_2008 Response: Esta es una pregunta que no sabría responder con exactitud. Si tuviera que decir algunos, supongo que Julio Alberto lo mantuvo, por ejemplo. También Urruti. Entre los que estuvieron peor, no lo sé… ¿quizá Schuster?

 

Soccernostalgia Question: In the aftermath, Schuster was scapegoated along with Archibald as Venables signed Mark Hughes and Gary Lineker for the following season. How did the Catalan public view the treatment of Schuster and Archibald?

Soccernostalgia Pregunta: Posteriormente, Schuster fue el chivo expiatorio junto con Archibald cuando Venables firmó a Mark Hughes y Gary Lineker para la temporada siguiente. ¿Cómo veía el público catalán el trato a Schuster y Archibald?

 

Albert Valor @PLF_2008 Response: The Barça fan loved both of them very much. Schuster was controversial and, after leaving for Madrid, he was no longer seen in the same way, but during his time at the club he did win the affection of the fans with his charisma and his good work on the pitch. Archibald arrived the year Maradona left, and Venables requested his signing ahead of Hugo Sánchez. Time has left Archibald in a second or third place in the club's history, but the truth is that he was very important in the 1985 League. Perhaps his performance dropped in the second season...

Albert Valor @PLF_2008 Response: El aficionado azulgrana quería mucho a ambos. Schuster era polémico y, tras marcharse al Madrid, ya no fue visto igual, pero durante su etapa en el club sí se ganó el cariño de la afición con su carisma y su buen hacer sobre el césped. Archibald llegó el año en que se marchó Maradona, y Venables pidió su fichaje por delante del de Hugo Sánchez. El tiempo ha dejado a Archibald en un segundo o tercer plano en la historia del club, pero lo cierto es que fue muy importante en la Liga de 1985. Quizá bajó su rendimiento en la segunda temporada…

 

Soccernostalgia Question: Barcelona finished second in all the tournaments it participated (they did win the League Cup though). After so many near misses, the Catalan public must have been disappointed. How was the public reaction at the end of the season towards President Nunez and Venables?

Soccernostalgia Pregunta: Barcelona terminó segundo en todos los torneos en los que participó (aunque ganó la Copa de la Liga). Después de tantos cuasi accidentes, el público catalán debe haberse sentido decepcionado. ¿Cómo fue la reacción del público al final de la temporada hacia el presidente Núñez y Venables?

Albert Valor @PLF_2008 Response: When everything is lost it is a drama. Many people thought that Venables should have been fired at the end of that season. And it probably should have been. The following season, in which the team was again second in the League and did not go far in either the UEFA Cup (fourth) or the Cup (eliminated in the first round against Osasuna), showed that Venables' cycle was over. Not even bringing in British players like Hughes or Lineker managed to change the face of the team. Núñez still had credit among the fans, but he was also required to continue winning, which also had to change things so that the team returned to the path of success.

Albert Valor @PLF_2008 Response: Cuando se pierde todo es un drama. Mucha gente pensaba que Venables debió ser cesado al final de esa temporada. Y probablemente así debió ser. La siguiente temporada, en la que de nuevo el equipo fue segundo en Liga y no llegó lejos ni en Copa de la UEFA (cuartos) ni en Copa (eliminado en 1ª ronda contra Osasuna), demostró que el ciclo de Venables estaba acabado. Ni siquiera trayendo a jugadores británicos como Hughes o Lineker logró cambiarle la cara al equipo. Núñez todavía tenía crédito entre la afición, pero igualmente se le exigía seguir ganando, con lo cual debía cambiar también las cosas para que el equipo volviera a la senda de los éxitos.

 

Soccernostalgia Question: In closing, on balance, how do you personally rate this season as a whole?

Soccernostalgia Pregunta: Para cerrar, en balance, ¿cómo califica personalmente esta temporada en su conjunto?

Albert Valor @PLF_2008 Response: Seen coldly, the season meant reaching two finals. But both were lost to teams that the fans considered inferior. Perhaps it was not a bad season, but there was a catharsis in Seville that marked the beginning of the end of that project with Venables. Historically, Barcelona are not good at leaving the league aside to focus on the European Cup. It has never won it without also winning the League.

Albert Valor @PLF_2008 Response: Vista fríamente, la temporada supuso llegar a dos finales. Pero ambas se perdieron ante equipos a los que el aficionado consideraba inferiores. Quizá no fue una mala temporada, pero sí hubo una catarsis en Sevilla que supuso el principio del fin de aquel proyecto con Venables. Históricamente, al Barcelona no se le da bien dejar de lado la Liga para centrarse en la Copa de Europa. Nunca la ha

Compendium to World Cup Stories-Part f-Matches of Czechoslovakia National team (1990 World Cup Finals)

 

Czechoslovakia National Team Matches-1990 World Cup Finals

 

June 10, 1990, World Cup, Florence, Italy, Czechoslovakia 5-USA 1 (Tomas Skuhravy 25, 78, Michal Bilek 39 pen, Ivan Hasek 50, Milan Luhovy 90 / Paul Caligiuri 61)

June 15, 1990, World Cup, Florence, Italy, Czechoslovakia 1-Austria 0 (Michal Bilek 30 pen)

June 19, 1990, World Cup, Roma, Italy, Italy 2-Czechoslovakia 0 (Salvatore Schillaci 9, Roberto Baggio 78)

June 23, 1990, World Cup, Bari, Italy, Czechoslovakia 4-Costa Rica 1 (Tomas Skuhravy 12, 63, 82, Lubos Kubik 75 / Ronald González 54)

July 1, 1990, World Cup, Milano, Italy, West Germany 1-Czechoslovakia 0 (Lothar Matthäus 25 pen)

 

 

 

Czechoslovakia’s 1990 World Cup Finals squad:

1-Jan Stejskal (TJ Sparta CKD Praha)  

2- Julius Bielik (TJ Sparta CKD Praha) 

3-Miroslav Kadlec (TJ Viktovice)

4-Ivan Hasek (TJ Sparta CKD Praha)   

5-Jan Kocian (Fußball -Club Sankt-Pauli 1910 e.V.-Hamburg / West Germany)

6-Frantisek Straka (Borussia Verein für Leibesübungen 1900 e.V. Mönchengladbach / West Germany)

7-Michal Bilek (TJ Sparta CKD Praha)  

8-Jozef Chovanec (Philips Sports Vereniging Eindhoven / Holland)     

9-Lubos Kubik (Associazione Calcio Fiorentina-Firenze / Italy)    

10-Tomas Skuhravy (TJ Sparta CKD Praha)  

11-Lubomir Moravcík (TJ Plastika Nitra)

12-Peter Fieber (DAC (Dunajskostredsky Atleticky Club) Pol’nohospodar Dunajská Streda)

13-Jiri Nemec (ASVS Dukla Praha) 

14-Vladimir Weiss (TJ Internacional Slovnaft ZTS Bratislava)

15- Vladimir Kinier (TJ Slovan ChZJD Bratislava)

16-William Hyravy (TJ Baník OKD Ostrava) 

17-Ivo Knoflicek (Fußball -Club Sankt-Pauli 1910 e.V.-Hamburg / West Germany) 18-Milan Luhovy (Real Sporting de Gijón / Spain)

19-Stanislav Griga (Feyenoord Rotterdam / Holland)

20-Vaclav Nemecek (TJ Sparta CKD Praha)  

21-Ludek Miklosko (West Ham United Football Club-London / England)

22-Peter  Palúch (TJ Plastika Nitra)

 

Coach: Jozef Venglos

Team Captain: Ivan Hasek

Official Kit Supplier/Designer: Adidas

Photo From: Guerin Sportivo, No 24 (799), June 13-19,1990

(Czechoslovakia squad)

 

Date: June 10, 1990

Competition: 1990 FIFA World Cup-First Round, Group A

Result: Czechoslovakia 5-USA 1 

Venue: Florence-Stadio Artemio Franchi, Italy

Attendance: 33,266

Referee: Kurt Roethlisberger (Switzerland)

Linesmen: Aron Schmidhuber (West Germany), Marcel van Langenhove (Belgium)

Kick-off time: 17:00

Goalscorers:

(Czechoslovakia): Tomas Skuhravy 25, 78, M.ichal Bilek 39 pen, Ivan Hasek 50, Milan Luhovy 90

(USA): Paul Caligiuri 61

Summary of goals:

1:0 (25^th minute, Czechoslovakia): From the left side, Moravcik passed to Skuhravy who shot in.

2:0 (39^h minute, Czechoslovakia): Windischmann fouled Hasek in the box. Bilek scored from the ensuing penalty kick.

3:0 (50^th minute, Czechoslovakia): Chovenec’s corner from the right side was headed in by Hasek.

3:1 (61^st minute, USA): From the middle, Murray sent Caligiuri through who went around Stejskal to score.

4:1 (78^th minute, Czechoslovakia): Chovenec’s corner from the right side was headed in by Skuhravy.

5:1 (90^th minute, Czechoslovakia): Skuhravy’s pass from the right side, was shot by Kadlec but blocked by a defender Luhovy knocked in the loose ball.

Lineups:

Czechoslovakia:

1-Jan Stejskal (TJ Sparta CKD Praha)  

3-Miroslav Kadlec (TJ Viktovice)

4-Ivan Hasek (TJ Sparta CKD Praha)   

5-Jan Kocian (Fußball -Club Sankt-Pauli 1910 e.V.-Hamburg / West Germany)

6-Frantisek Straka (Borussia Verein für Leibesübungen 1900 e.V. Mönchengladbach / West Germany)

7-Michal Bilek (TJ Sparta CKD Praha)  

8-Jozef Chovanec (Philips Sports Vereniging Eindhoven / Holland)      

9-Lubos Kubik (Associazione Calcio Fiorentina-Firenze / Italy)    

10-Tomas Skuhravy (TJ Sparta CKD Praha)  

11-Lubomir Moravcík (TJ Plastika Nitra) (14-Vladimir Weiss (TJ Internacional Slovnaft ZTS Bratislava) 82)

17-Ivo Knoflicek (Fußball -Club Sankt-Pauli 1910 e.V.-Hamburg / West Germany) (18-Milan Luhovy (Real Sporting de Gijón / Spain) 76)

 

Coach: Jozef Venglos

Booked: Lubos Kubik 30, Miroslav Kadlec 61

Other Substitutes:

2- Julius Bielik (TJ Sparta CKD Praha) 

20-Vaclav Nemecek (TJ Sparta CKD Praha)  

21-Ludek Miklosko (West Ham United Football Club-London / England)

 

Team Captain: Ivan Hasek

Official Kit Supplier/Designer: Adidas

Uniform Colors: Red Shirts, White Shorts, Blue Socks

Note:

1- Tony Meola saved a Michal Bielek penalty kick in the 89^th minute.

 

USA:

1-Tony Meola

2-Steve Trittschuh

5-Michael Windischmann

15- Desmond Armstrong

6-John Harkes

7-Tab Ramos

20- Paul Caligiuri

14- John Stollmeyer (17-Marcelo Balboa 64)

10- Peter Vermes (Volendam / Holland)

11- Eric Wynalda

16- Bruce Murray (9-Christopher Sullivan (Raba ETO / Hungary) 78)

 

Coach: Bob Gansler

Booked: Tony Meola 39, Steve Trittschuh 44

Sent-Off: Eric Wynalda 52 (for pushing his opponent down)

Other Substitutes:

18-Kasey Keller

3-John Doyle

4-Jimmy Banks

 

Team Captain: Mike Windischmann

Official Kit Supplier/Designer: Adidas

Uniform Colors: White Shirts, Blue Shorts, White Socks

Note:

1-USA player club affiliations are unclear, for the most part, they were contracted to the US Soccer Federation.

Photo From: Guerin Sportivo, No 24 (800), June 13-19,1990

(June 10, 1990, World Cup, Czechoslovakia 5-USA 1)

Photo From: Guerin Sportivo, No 24 (800), June 13-19,1990

(June 10, 1990, World Cup, Czechoslovakia 5-USA 1)

Photo From: Guerin Sportivo, No 24 (800), June 13-19,1990

(June 10, 1990, World Cup, Czechoslovakia 5-USA 1)

Photo From: (Magazine Source unknown) / Contribution From a blog viewer

(USA squad, June 10, 1990, World Cup, Czechoslovakia 5-USA 1)

Photo From: se Lvickem na prsou-Authors O.Bartunek, J.Kalat

(Czechoslovakia squad, June 10, 1990, World Cup, Czechoslovakia 5-USA 1)

Date: June 15, 1990

Competition: 1990 FIFA World Cup-First Round, Group A

Result: Czechoslovakia 1-Austria 0

Venue: Florence-Stadio Artemio Franchi, Italy

Attendance: 39,000

Referee: George Brian Smith (Scotland)

Linesmen: Jamal Al-Sharif (Syria), Richard Lorenc (Australia)

Kick-off time: 17:00

Goalscorers:

(Czechoslovakia): Michal Bilek 30 pen

(Austria): None

Summary of goals:

1:0 (30^h minute, Czechoslovakia): Pfeffer’s back pass pounced on by Chovanec who was fouled by Lindenberger. Chovanec was injured in the process. Bilek scored from the ensuing penalty kick.

Lineups:

Czechoslovakia:

1-Jan Stejskal (TJ Sparta CKD Praha)  

3- Miroslav Kadlec (TJ Viktovice)

5- Jan Kocian (Fußball -Club Sankt-Pauli 1910 e.V.-Hamburg / West Germany)

20-Vaclav Nemecek (TJ Sparta CKD Praha) 

4- Ivan Hasek (TJ Sparta CKD Praha)    

7- Michal Bilek (TJ Sparta CKD Praha)  

8- Jozef Chovanec (Philips Sports Vereniging Eindhoven / Holland) (2-Julius Bielik (TJ Sparta CKD Praha) 31)

9- Lubos Kubik (Associazione Calcio Fiorentina-Firenze / Italy)    

10- Tomas Skuhravy (TJ Sparta CKD Praha)  

11- Lubomir Moravcík (TJ Plastika Nitra)

17- Ivo Knoflicek (Fußball -Club Sankt-Pauli 1910 e.V.-Hamburg / West Germany) (14- Vladimir Weiss (TJ Internacional Slovnaft ZTS Bratislava) 81)

 

Coach: Jozef Venglos

Booked: Lubomir Moravcík 56, Lubos Kubik 63

 

Team Captain: Ivan Hasek

Official Kit Supplier/Designer: Adidas

Uniform Colors: Red Shirts, White Shorts, White Socks

Note:

1- On June 16, 1990, FIFA announced that Lubos Kubik would be suspended for one match.

 

Austria:

1- Klaus Lindenberger (Fußball club Swarovski Tirol –Innsbruck)

2- Ernst Aigner (Fußball Klub Austria Wien)

3-Robert Pecl (Sportklub Rapid Wien)

4- Anton Pfeffer (Fußball Klub Austria Wien)

5- Peter Schoettel (Sportklub Rapid Wien) (13-Andreas Ogris (Fußball Klub Austria Wien) 46)

6- Manfred Zsak (Fußball Klub Austria Wien)

7- Kurt Russ (Wiener Sport-Club) (18-Michael Streiter (Fußball club Swarovski Tirol –Innsbruck) 46)

9- Anton Polster (Sevilla Fútbol Club / Spain)

11- Alfred Hortnagl (Fußball club Swarovski Tirol –Innsbruck)

14- Gerhard Rodax (Wien Admira Wacker Sportklub)

20- Andreas Herzog (Sportklub Rapid Wien)

 

Coach: Josef Hickersberger

Booked: Robert Pecl 22, Manfred Zsak 72, Anton Pfeffer 86, Michael Streiter 88, Ernst Aigner 90

 

Team Captain: Anton Polster

Official Kit Supplier/Designer: Puma

Uniform Colors: White Shirts, Black Shorts, Black Socks

Photo From: Guerin Sportivo, No 25 (801), June 20-26,1990

(June 15, 1990, World Cup, Czechoslovakia 1-Austria 0)

Photo From: Guerin Sportivo, No 25 (801), June 20-26,1990

(June 15, 1990, World Cup, Czechoslovakia 1-Austria 0)

Photo From: Onze-Mondial, Issue 31, August 1991

(Czechoslovakia squad, June 15, 1990, World Cup, Czechoslovakia 1-Austria 0)

Photo From: se Lvickem na prsou-Authors O.Bartunek, J.Kalat

(Czechoslovakia squad, June 15, 1990, World Cup, Czechoslovakia 1-Austria 0)

Photo From: Österreichs Fußball Länderspiele Chronik 1902 – 1993, Author: Anton Egger

(Austria squad, June 15, 1990, World Cup, Czechoslovakia 1-Austria 0)

Date: June 19, 1990

Competition: 1990 FIFA World Cup-First Round, Group A

Result: Italy 2-Czechoslovakia 0 

Venue: Roma-Lo Stadio Olimpico, Italy

Attendance: 73,000

Referee: Joel Quiniou (France)

Linesmen: Marcel van Langenhove (Belgium), George Smith (Scotland)

Kick-off time: 21:00

Goalscorers:

(Italy): Salvatore Schillaci 9, Roberto Baggio 78

(Czechoslovakia): None

Summary of goals:

1:0 (9^th minute, Italy): Donadoni’s corner from the right side was volleyed at the edge of the box by Giannini, and Schillaci headed in the ball.

2:0 (78^th minute, Italy): Baggio pciked up ball his own half after a one-two with Giannini, advanced went on to score.

Lineups:

Italy:

1- Walter Zenga (Internazionale Football Club- Milano)     

2- Franco Baresi (Associazione Calcio Milan)   

3- Giuseppe Bergomi (Internazionale Football Club- Milano)       

6- Riccardo Ferri (Internazionale Football Club- Milano)    

7- Paolo Maldini (Associazione Calcio Milan)   

10- Nicola Berti (Internazionale Football Club- Milano)     

11- Fernando de Napoli (Societa Sportiva Calcio Napoli) (8-Pietro Vierchowod (Unione Calcio Sampdoria-Genova) 65)

13- Giuseppe Giannini (Associazione Sportiva Roma)  

17- Roberto Donadoni (Associazione Calcio Milan) (4-Luigi de Agostini (Juventus Football Club-Torino) 51)

15- Roberto Baggio (Associazione Calcio Fiorentina-Firenze)

19- Salvatore Schillaci (Juventus Football Club-Torino)    

 

Coach: Azeglio Vicini

Booked: Fernado De Napoli 44, Nicola Berti 70

Other Substitutes:

12-Stefano Tacconi (Juventus Football Club-Torino)

14-Giancarlo Marocchi (Juventus Football Club-Torino)

20-Aldo Serena (Internazionale Football Club- Milano)      

 

Team Captain: Giuseppe Bergomi

Official Kit Supplier/Designer: Diadora

Uniform Colors: Blue Shirts, White Shorts, Blue Socks

Note :

1-In another source, Baggio is shown to be booked in the 44th minute instead of Fernando De Napoli.

 

 

Czechoslovakia:

1- Jan Stejskal (TJ Sparta CKD Praha)  

3- Miroslav Kadlec (TJ Viktovice)

15- Vladimir Kinier (TJ Slovan ChZJD Bratislava)  

20- Vaclav Nemecek (TJ Sparta CKD Praha) (2-Julius Bielik (TJ Sparta CKD Praha) 46)     

4- Ivan Hasek (TJ Sparta CKD Praha)   

7- Michal Bilek (TJ Sparta CKD Praha)  

8- Jozef Chovanec (Philips Sports Vereniging Eindhoven / Holland)     

14-Vladimir Weiss (TJ Internacional Slovnaft ZTS Bratislava) (19-Stanislav Griga (Feyenoord Rotterdam / Holland) 58)

10- Tomas Skuhravy (TJ Sparta CKD Praha)  

11- Lubomir Moravcík (TJ Plastika Nitra)

17- Ivo Knoflicek (Fußball -Club Sankt-Pauli 1910 e.V.-Hamburg / West Germany)

 

Coach: Jozef Venglos

Booked: Jozef Chovanec 26, Tomas Skuhravy 30

Other Substitutes:

21-Ludek Miklosko (West Ham United Football Club-London / England)

 

Team Captain: Ivan Hasek

Official Kit Supplier/Designer: Adidas

Uniform Colors: White Shirts, White Shorts, White Socks

Note:

1- Final cap for Julius Bielik (18/0) (1983-1990).

2- Final cap for Vladimir Kinier (10/0) (1984-1990).

3- In the 64^th minute, Stanislav Griga’s headed goal was ruled offside, but replays showed that it was valid.

Photo From: Guerin Sportivo, No 26 (801), June 27-July 3,1990

(June 19, 1990, World Cup, Italy 2-Czechoslovakia 0)

Photo From: Guerin Sportivo, No 26 (801), June 27-July 3,1990

(June 19, 1990, World Cup, Italy 2-Czechoslovakia 0)

Photo From: Guerin Sportivo, No 26 (801), June 27-July 3,1990

(June 19, 1990, World Cup, Italy 2-Czechoslovakia 0)

Photo From: Guerin Sportivo, No 26 (801), June 27-July 3,1990

(June 19, 1990, World Cup, Italy 2-Czechoslovakia 0)

Photo From: se Lvickem na prsou-Authors O.Bartunek, J.Kalat

(Czechoslovakia squad, June 19, 1990, World Cup, Italy 2-Czechoslovakia 0)

Photo From: (Magazine Source unknown) / Contribution From a blog viewer

(Italy squad, June 19, 1990, World Cup, Italy 2-Czechoslovakia 0)

Date: June 23, 1990

Competition: 1990 FIFA World Cup- Second Round

Result: Czechoslovakia 4-Costa Rica 1 

Venue: Bari – Stadio San Nicola, Italy  

Attendance: 47,000

Referee: Siegfied Kirschen (East Germany)

Linesmen: Armando Perez Hoyos (Colombia), Pietro d'Elia (Italy)

Kick-off time: 21:00

Goalscorers:

(Czechoslovakia): Tomas Skuhravy 12, 63, 82, Lubos Kubik 75

(Costa Rica): Ronald González 54

Summary of goals:

1:0 (12^th minute, Czechoslovakia): Moravcik cross from the right side was headed in by Skuhravy.

1:1 (54^thminute, Costa Rica): Oscar Ramirez’s free kick from the right side was headed in by Gonzalez.

2:1 (63^rd minute, Czechoslovakia): A header from the right side was headed in by Skuhravy at the far post.

3:1 (75^th minute, Czechoslovakia): Kubik scored from a free kick.

4:1 (82^nd minute, Czechoslovakia): Jozef Chovanec’s corner from the right side was headed in by Skuhravy.

Lineups:

Czechoslovakia:

1- Jan Stejskal (TJ Sparta CKD Praha)  

3- Miroslav Kadlec (TJ Viktovice)

4- Ivan Hasek (TJ Sparta CKD Praha)   

5- Jan Kocian (Fußball -Club Sankt-Pauli 1910 e.V.-Hamburg / West Germany)

6- Frantisek Straka (Borussia Verein für Leibesübungen 1900 e.V. Mönchengladbach / West Germany)

7- Michal Bilek (TJ Sparta CKD Praha)  

8- Jozef Chovanec (Philips Sports Vereniging Eindhoven / Holland)     

9- Lubos Kubik (Associazione Calcio Fiorentina-Firenze / Italy)    

10- Tomas Skuhravy (TJ Sparta CKD Praha)   

11- Lubomir Moravcík (TJ Plastika Nitra)

17- Ivo Knoflicek (Fußball -Club Sankt-Pauli 1910 e.V.-Hamburg / West Germany)

                  

Coach: Jozef Venglos

Booked: Ivan Hasek 56, Jan Kocian 56, Frantisek Straka 68

 

Team Captain: Ivan Hasek

Official Kit Supplier/Designer: Adidas

Uniform Colors: White Shirts, White Shorts, Blue Socks

 

Costa Rica:

21-Hermidio Barrantes (Municipal Puntarenas)

3- Roger Flores (Deportivo Saprissa)

4- Ronald Gonzalez (Deportivo Saprissa)

5- Marvin Obando (CS Herediano) (7- Hernan Medford (Deportivo Saprissa) 46) 

6- Jose Chavez (Deportivo Alajuelense)

19-Hector Marchena  (Deportivo Cartagines)

20- Mauricio Montero (Deportivo Alajuelense)

8- German Chavarria (CS Herediano) (9- Alexander Guimaraes (Deportivo Saprissa) 66) 

10- Oscar Ramirez (Deportivo Alajuelense)

14- Juan Cayasso (Deportivo Saprissa)

11- Claudio Jara (CS Herediano)

 

Coach: Velibor ‘Bora’ Milutiinovic (Yugoslavia)

Booked: Ronald Gonzalez 6, Hector Marchena 75

 

Team Captain: Roger Flores

Official Kit Supplier/Designer: Lotto

Uniform Colors: Red Shirts, Blue Shorts, White Socks

Photo From: Guerin Sportivo, No 27 (802), July 4-July 10,1990

(June 23, 1990, World Cup, Czechoslovakia 4-Costa Rica 1)

Photo From: Guerin Sportivo, No 27 (802), July 4-July 10,1990

(June 23, 1990, World Cup, Czechoslovakia 4-Costa Rica 1)

Photo From: Guerin Sportivo, No 27 (802), July 4-July 10,1990

(June 23, 1990, World Cup, Czechoslovakia 4-Costa Rica 1)

Photo From: se Lvickem na prsou-Authors O.Bartunek, J.Kalat

(Czechoslovakia squad, June 23, 1990, World Cup, Czechoslovakia 4-Costa Rica 1)

Photo From: Slave Nohy Pokracuji, Authors: Jaroslav Salek, Zdenek Salek

(Czechoslovakia squad, June 23, 1990, World Cup, Czechoslovakia 4-Costa Rica 1)

 

Date: July 1, 1990

Competition: 1990 FIFA World Cup- Quarterfinals

Result: West Germany 1-Czechoslovakia 0

Venue: Milano-Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, San Siro, Italy  

Attendance: 73,300

Referee: Helmut Kohl (Austria)

Linesmen: Michal Listkiewicz (Poland), Peter Mikkelsen (Denmark)

Kick-off time: 17:00

Goalscorers:

(West Germany): Lothar Matthäus 25 pen

(Czechoslovakia): None

Summary of goals:

1:0 (25^th minute, West Germany): Chovanec and Straka fouled Klinsmann in the box. Matthaus scored from the ensuing penalty kick.

Lineups:

West Germany:

1-Bodo Illgner (1. Fußball-Club Köln 01/07 e.V.)

5-Klaus Augenthaler (Fußball-Club Bayern München e.V.)

14-Thomas Berthold (Associazione Sportiva Roma / Italy) 

4-Jürgen Kohler (Fußball-Club Bayern München e.V.)

6-Guido Buchwald (Verein für Bewegungspiele Stuttgart 1893 e.V.)

3-Andreas Brehme (Internazionale Football Club- Milan / Italy) 

7-Pierre Littbarski (1. Fußball-Club Köln 01/07 e.V.)

10- Lothar Herbert Matthäus (Internazionale Football Club- Milan / Italy) 

15-Uwe Bein (Eintracht Frankfurt e.V.) (17-Andreas Möller (Ballspielverein Borussia Dortmund 1909 e.V.)  83)

13-Karlheinz Riedle (Sport Verein Werder Bremen von 1899 e.V.)

18-Jürgen Klinsmann (Internazionale Football Club- Milan / Italy) 

 

Coach: Franz Beckenbauer 

Booked: Jürgen Klinsmann 28 or 37

 

Team Captain: Lothar Herbert Matthäus

Official Kit Supplier/Designer: Adidas

Uniform Colors: White (Black/Red/Yellow Horizontal stripe) Shirts, Black Shorts, White Socks

 

 

Czechoslovakia:

1- Jan Stejskal (TJ Sparta CKD Praha)  

3- Miroslav Kadlec (TJ Viktovice)

4- Ivan Hasek (TJ Sparta CKD Praha)   

5- Jan Kocian (Fußball -Club Sankt-Pauli 1910 e.V.-Hamburg / West Germany)

6- Frantisek Straka (Borussia Verein für Leibesübungen 1900 e.V. Mönchengladbach / West Germany)

7- Michal Bilek (TJ Sparta CKD Praha) (20-Vaclav Nemecek (TJ Sparta CKD Praha) 67)

8- Jozef Chovanec (Philips Sports Vereniging Eindhoven / Holland)     

9- Lubos Kubik (Associazione Calcio Fiorentina-Firenze / Italy) (19-Stanislav Griga (Feyenoord Rotterdam / Holland) 79)

10- Tomas Skuhravy (TJ Sparta CKD Praha)  

11- Lubomir Moravcík (TJ Plastika Nitra)

17- Ivo Knoflicek (Fußball -Club Sankt-Pauli 1910 e.V.-Hamburg / West Germany)

 

Coach: Jozef Venglos

Booked: Lubomir Moravcík 11, Michal Bilek 15, Frantisek Straka 37, Ivo Knofilcek 88

Sent-Off: Lubomir Moravcík 72

 

Team Captain: Ivan Hasek

Official Kit Supplier/Designer: Adidas

Uniform Colors: Red Shirts, White Shorts, Blue Socks

Note:

1-Hasek (twice) and Bilek headed away West German efforts at the goal-line.

2- Moravcik was sent off for kicking his shoe in the air in disgust at a refereeing decision.

3-Final cap for Stanislav Griga (34/8) (1983-1990).

4-Final cap for Frantisek Straka (35/0) (1983-1990).

 

Note:

ASVS=Armadni Stredisko Vrcholoveho Sportu

ChZJD=Chemických Závodov Juraja Dimitrova

CKD=Ceskomoravska Kolben Danek

IPS=Inzenyrske a Prumyslove Stavby

OKD=Ostravsko-Karvinske Doly

TJ =Telovychovna Jednota

ZTS = Zavody Tezkeho Strojirenstvi

ZVU=  (engineering and manufacturing company)

Photo From: Guerin Sportivo, No 28 (803), July 11-July 17,1990

(July 1, 1990, World Cup, West Germany 1-Czechoslovakia 0)

Photo From: Guerin Sportivo, No 28 (803), July 11-July 17,1990

(July 1, 1990, World Cup, West Germany 1-Czechoslovakia 0)

Photo From: Guerin Sportivo, No 28 (803), July 11-July 17,1990

(July 1, 1990, World Cup, West Germany 1-Czechoslovakia 0)

Photo From: France Football, Issue 2334, January 1, 1991

(West Germany, July 1, 1990, World Cup, West Germany 1-Czechoslovakia 0)

Photo From: se Lvickem na prsou-Authors O.Bartunek, J.Kalat

(Czechoslovakia, July 1, 1990, World Cup, West Germany 1-Czechoslovakia 0)