This is the 186thepisodeof my podcast,
'Soccernostalgia Talk Podcast’.
For this episode, I interview Brazilian Futebol fan Mr. Stanley Cunha@consuladogalonj as we discuss the
Brazil National Team under Paulo
Roberto Falcão in the years 1990-91
Mr. Cunha is the Brazilian Club, Atlético Mineiro’s Supporters Ambassador in New
Jersey,
For
compendium to the Brazil National Team matches under Paulo Roberto Falcão in the years
1990-91, see:
Ajax Amsterdam’s triumph
in the 1994/95 Champions League
When the 1994/95 season
kicked off, no one could foresee that Dutch Champions Ajax Amsterdam would not
only win the Champions League (undefeated) but would also retain the Dutch
league title undefeated.
Former Assistant Ajax
Manager Louis Van Gaal had been promoted on September 28, 1991 after Leo
Beenhakker had left his post to rejoin Real Madrid.
Photo
From: World Soccer, June 1995
(Louis
Van Gaal)
In a few years, he would
oversee the development of a young squad that would take Europe by storm during
the 1994/95 season.
After winning the UEFA
Cup in 1992, van Gaal led Ajax to win the Dutch Cup in 1993. That summer,
former Ajax Great Frank Rijkaard returned home after many years in the Italian
Serie A with AC Milan.
It was by the 1993/94
season that Ajax were ready and did capture the League title.
This enabled them to
embark on this unexpected and magical Champions League campaign.
Van Gaal’s side was led
by veterans, Captain Danny Blind and Frank Rijkaard.
The rest of the squad
included young stars such as the De Boer brothers (Frank and Ronald),
goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar, Clarence Seedorf, Edgar Davids, the Finnish Jari
Litmanen, Marc Overmars and the Nigerian duo: Finidi George and Nwankwo Kanu.
In this summer of 1994,
Van Gaal would launch an 18-year-old youngster into the first team, who would
be the revelation of the season at home and abroad, a certain Patrick Kluivert.
In addition, defender
Michael Reizger, who had returned from his loan at Groningen, established
himself as right-back ahead of veteran Sonny Silooy.
The Champions League
group phase started in September and the very first match on September 14th
was at home to AC Milan, the defending Champions League winners.
Ajax would stamp its
intent by defeating a struggling AC Milan (2-0) and make everyone take notice.
This would be the first of three encounters between the sides (more on that
later).
Photo
From: Ajax, De Complete Werken, Aflevering 27 AC Milan
(September 14, 1994,
Champions League, Ajax Amsterdam 2-AC Milan 0)
Photo
From: World Soccer, June 1995
(September 14, 1994,
Champions League, Ajax Amsterdam 2-AC Milan 0)
For matchday 2, on September 28th,
they defeated Greek side AEK (2-1) away from home to take an early lead in the
group.
Its next two encounters
in the group phase (Matchdays 3 and 4) were against the Austrians of Casino
Salzburg. On October 19th, in the away tie, Ajax came away with a
scoreless tie. This was followed by another tie against the Austrian side at
home (1-1) on November 2nd.
Photo
From: Onze-Mondial, Issue 74, March 1995
(November 2, 1994,
Champions League, Ajax Amsterdam 1-Casino Salzburg 1)
Photo
From: Onze-Mondial, Issue 75, April 1995
(November 2, 1994,
Champions League, Ajax Amsterdam 1-Casino Salzburg 1)
It was on Matchday 5
(November 23rd), that Ajax really showed its title winning potential
as they defeated AC Milan once more (2-0) in Italy.
Ajax finished off the
group phase on December 7th, at home against AEK (2-0) to win the
group and look forward to the Quarterfinals in Spring.
Photo
From: Onze-Mondial, Issue 71, December 1994
(November 23, 1994,
Champions League, AC Milan 0-Ajax Amsterdam 2)
By the midpoint of the
season, Ajax were running away with the League title and dominant in Europe.
Patrick Kluivert had
already gained his first cap for the Netherlands. Virtually, most members of
this Ajax team were in the Dutch National Team. Soon, Edwin van Der Sar would
be promoted to be the starting goalkeeper of the National Team as well.
The Finnish star Jari
Litmanen was scoring regularly and shining at the highest level. It was a
rarity in those day for a player from Finland to grab the headlines.
The only blemish in an
otherwise faultless season was Ajax’s elimination in the Dutch Cup at the hands
of Feyenoord. It would be Ajax’s only defeat in the entire season.
The Quarterfinal
opponents in March 1995 were the Croatian side Hajduk Split. On March 1st,
at Split, Ajax earned a scoreless tie.
For the return fixture at
Amsterdam, on March 15th, Ajax won (3-0) to advance to the
semifinals.
Photo
From: World Soccer, May 1995
(March 15, 1995,
Champions League, Ajax Amsterdam 3-Hajduk Split 0)
In the semifinals, Ajax
were paired with German giants Bayern Munich. In the first leg, at Munich, on
April 5th, Ajax earned a scoreless tie to gain the advantage for the
second leg.
In the second leg at
home, on April 19th, Ajax demolished Bayern (5-2) to decisively
qualify for the Final.
Photo
From: Onze-Mondial, Issue 76, May 1995
(April 5, 1995, Champions
League, Bayern Munich 0-Ajax Amsterdam 0)
Photo
From: World Soccer, May 1995
(April 5, 1995, Champions
League, Bayern Munich 0-Ajax Amsterdam 0)
Photo
From: Onze-Mondial, Issue 76, May 1995
(April 19, 1995,
Champions League, Ajax Amsterdam 5- Bayern Munich 2)
Photo
From: France Football, Issue 2559, April 25, 1995
(April 19, 1995,
Champions League, Ajax Amsterdam 5- Bayern Munich 2)
The Final was on May 24th,
1995, against …. AC Milan. By now, Milan had improved from its early season
slump. Despite winning twice against the Italians, Ajax were not clear
favorites for the Final.
Van Gaal, himself had
felt that any team that was playing its fifth Final in seven seasons should be
looked as favorites.
However, this Ajax had a
date with destiny as did Kluivert, who came on as a substitute during the
match. He would score the winning goal to cap off a dream season for him and
his club.
Photo
From: Onze-Mondial, Issue 77, June 1995
(May 24, 1995, Champions
League, Ajax Amsterdam 1-AC Milan 0)
Photo
From: Onze-Mondial, Issue 77, June 1995
(May 24, 1995, Champions
League, Ajax Amsterdam 1-AC Milan 0)
Photo
From: Onze-Mondial, Issue 77, June 1995
(May 24, 1995, Champions
League, Ajax Amsterdam 1-AC Milan 0)
Photo
From: Onze-Mondial, Issue 77, June 1995
(May 24, 1995, Champions
League, Ajax Amsterdam 1-AC Milan 0)
Photo
From: Onze-Mondial, Issue 77, June 1995
(May 24, 1995, Champions
League, Ajax Amsterdam 1-AC Milan 0)
Photo
From: Onze-Mondial, Issue 77, June 1995
(May 24, 1995, Champions
League, Ajax Amsterdam 1-AC Milan 0)
Photo
From: World Soccer, July 1995
(Ajax Amsterdam squad,
May 24, 1995, Champions League, Ajax Amsterdam 1-AC Milan 0)
Photo
From: Ajax, De Complete Werken, Aflevering 27 AC Milan
(May 24, 1995, Champions
League, Ajax Amsterdam 1-AC Milan 0)
Just a year before, no
one knew who he was. Now he was one of the most sought-after players in Europe.
Ajax won its first
Champions Cup trophy since 1973 and the days of Cruyff (22 years).
Rijkaard could retire in
style after winning the most prestigious European club trophy (against his
former side no less).
Ajax won 27 of their 34
League matches that season (tying the other 7).
An adventure like Ajax
was a rarity even then given the expenditures of teams from Italy, Spain, and
Germany.
This was simply one of the greatest seasons ever by
any club in Europe.
Photo
From: Ajax, De Complete Werken, Aflevering 27 AC Milan
France National Team
matches under Aimé Jacquet during the 1993/94 Season
February 16, 1994, Napoli-, Italy
0-France 1 (Youri Djorkaeff 44)
March 22, 1994, Lyon, France 3-Chile 1(Jean-Pierre Papin 7, Youri Djorkaeff 35, Corentin
Martins50 / Ivan Zamorano 10)
May 26, 1994, Kirin Cup, Kobe, France 1-Australia
0(Eric Cantona42)
May 29, 1994, Kirin Cup, Tokyo, Japan 1-France 4(Takafumi
Ogura 78 / Youri Djorkaeff 16, Jean-Pierre Papin 18,
David Ginola 53, 55)
Date: February 16, 1994
Competition: Friendly
Result: Italy 0-France 1
Venue: Napoli- Stadio San Paolo
Attendance: 15,000
Referee: Markus Merk (Germany)
Linesmen: -
Kick-off time: -
Goalscorers:
(Italy): None
(France): Youri Djorkaeff 44
Summary of goals:
0:1 (44th minute,
France): Ginola robbed the ball in the middle of the field and advanced
and then passed to the left to Youri Djorkaeff who shot past Pagliuca.
Lineups:
Italy:
1- Gianluca Pagliuca (Unione
Calcio Sampdoria-Genova)
2- Antonio Bennarivo (Associazione Calcio Parma)
6- Franco Baresi (Associazione Calcio Milan) (14-Lorenzo Minotti (Associazione Calcio Parma) 65)
5- Alessandro Costacurta
(Associazione Calcio Milan)
3- Paolo Maldini
(Associazione Calcio Milan)
8- Stefano Eranio
(Associazione Calcio Milan)
4- Demetrio Albertini (Associazione Calcio Milan)
7- Alberigo Evani (Unione
Calcio Sampdoria-Genova)