FIFA Confederations Cup-Part Four (1995 King Fahd Cup)

After the first few Artemio Franchi Cups and the 1992 King Fahd Cup, the framework of a future Confederations Cup was taking shape and the 1995 would be the final preliminary step.

While the 1992 event had involved four nations, this one would involve six from the existing Confederations.

Along with the Saudi Arabian hosts, Denmark (1992 Euros Champions), Argentina (1993 Copa America winners), Nigeria (1994 Champions of Africa), Japan (1992 Asian Champions) and Mexico (1993 CONCACAF Gold Cup winners) took part.

For the first time teams were separated in Groups in a round robin format.

All the matches would be staged in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia during a one-week period (January 6^th through January 13^th).

In Group A, the hosts Saudi Arabia were grouped with Denmark and Mexico.

Group B consisted of Argentina along with Nigeria and Japan.

The favorites were needless to say the European and South American champions of Denmark and Argentina.

Argentina had recently appointed Daniel Passarella as National Team manager and he had rejuvenated the squad with the 1996 Olympics and the 1998 World Cup in mind.

The newcomers included the likes of Javier Zanetti, Sebastian Rambert and Roberto Ayala among others. Passarella had nevertheless hung on some of the old guard such as Batistuta and Chamot.

Richard Möller-Nielsen’s Denmark did not include a full strength squad and many key players such as Peter Schmeichel, Lars Olsen, Thomas Helveg, Flemming Povlsen, Kim Vilfort and John Jensen were missing.

The Laudrup brothers (Michael and Laudrup) were present for much needed experience, but most of the squad were up and coming home-based players hoping to make their way into the squad.

The Competition kicked off on January 6^th at King Fahd International Stadium (as every match would).

For the first match in Group A, Saudi Arabia took on Mexico. There was some controversy in the Mexican camp. Mexico had just signed a kit deal, which prevented goalkeeper Jorge Campos from wearing his usual fluorescent strip. As a sign of protest he wore all black strip in this match.

Mexico defeated the hosts (2-0) with a brace from Luis García, who had come on in the second half.

Photo From: Onze-Mondial, Issue 73, February 1995

(January 6, 1995, Confederations Cup, Saudi Arabia 0-Mexico 2)

Photo From: Onze-Mondial, Issue 73, February 1995

(January 6, 1995, Confederations Cup, Saudi Arabia 0-Mexico 2)

In the 65^th minute, a corner from the right side by Jesus Ramón Ramírez reached Garcia, unmarked on the far left side, and he scored.

In the 82^nd minute, Luis Garcia doubled the lead. On the left side, Garcia Aspe fed Garcia and he scored after a one-two combination with Ignacio Ambriz.

Two days later, on January 8^th, Saudi Arabia hosted Denmark and lost once again (0-2).

Denmark included debutants such as Jacob Laursen, Michael Schjønberg and Bo Hansen (second half substitute).

Michael Laudrup was rested and in his place his younger brother Brian skippered the side.

Brian Laudrup would break the deadlock in the 43^rd minute.  He scored after going on a solo run and shooting from a closed angle (as the Saudi defense probably anticipated a cross).

Second half substitute Morten Wieghorst doubled the lead in the 89th minute.

A long throw-in from Michael Schjønberg from the left side reached a Danish teammate who laid it on for Wieghorst to score.

Photo From: Onze-Mondial, Issue 73, February 1995

(Brian Laudrup, January 8, 1995, Confederations Cup, Saudi Arabia 0-Denmark 2)

Two days later on January 10^th, Denmark and Mexico faced off for Group leadership as both teams had identical records.

Jorge Campos was back to wearing his fluorescent jersey. After his protest in the previous match, the Mexican authorities had relented and authorized Jorge Campos to wear his usual strip.

Michael Laudrup was present to Captain the Danes and Carsten Hemmingsen would make his International debut for Denmark.

Danish goalkeeper Lars Høgh would be replaced due to injury by Mogens Krogh in the 28^th minute.

Mexico took the lead in the 70^th minute, once again through Luis Garcia. A long cross from inside the Mexican half forced Mogens Krogh to come out of his box. Since he could not use his hands, he headed it out. The loose ball reached Garcia, who lobbed it over Marc Rieper (the last Danish defender).

Photo From: Onze-Mondial, Issue 73, February 1995

(January 10, 1995, Confederations Cup, Denmark 1-Mexico 1)

With only two minutes remaining, Denmark leveled the score. Brian Steen-Nielsen crossed from inside the Danish half towards Marc Rieper who headed it across the goal for Peter Rasmussen to head home.

The score remained unchanged and a penalty kick shoot-out was required to determine a winner. Denmark came out winners (4-2) in the shoot-out as both Luis García and Marcelino Bernal missed their attempts.

Denmark advanced to the Final and Mexico were to play in the Third place match.

In Group B, Nigeria and Japan faced one another on January 6^th and it was an easy win for the Africans (3-0).

The Nigerians took the lead in the 5^th minute. Amunike’s corner from the right side was headed across. Instead of clearing one of the Japanese defenders deflected it into the goalmouth area and Samson Siasia side footed it in.

They doubled the lead in the 54^th minute. Oliseh’s free kick from the right side was delivered to the far left post and headed in by Mutu Adepoju.

In the 64^th minute, Daniel Amokachi won the ball in his own half and went through to goal and after a one-two with Okocha; he scored from a narrow angle.

Photo From: Onze-Mondial, Issue 73, February 1995

(January 6, 1995, Confederations Cup, Japan 0-Nigeria 3)

Two days later on January 8^th, the Japanese faced Argentina and it was an even more of a one sided affair as the Argentines won (5-1).

Sebastian Rambert opened the scoring in the 31^st and Ariel Ortega doubled Argentina’s lead just before halftime. Both goals were created by passes from the left side by Jose Antonio Chamot.

Photo From: World Soccer, April  1995

(January 8, 1995, Confederations Cup, Argentina 5-Japan 1)

Photo From: El Grafico Number 3927, 1995

(January 8, 1995, Confederations Cup, Argentina 5-Japan 1)

Photo From: El Grafico Number 3927, 1995

(January 8, 1995, Confederations Cup, Argentina 5-Japan 1)

A minute after the restart Gabriel Batistuta scored Argentina’s third after he headed in a rebound after Rambert’s shot was only parried by the Japanese goalkeeper Shigetatsu Matsunaga. In the 53^rd minute, Jose Antonio Chamot received a ball on the left side and moved up through the center and shot from just inside the box and scored Argentina’s fourth.

Three minutes later, Kazu Miura pulled one goal back for Japan by scoring from low shot on a free kick.

Gabriel Batistuta completed the rout with his second goal in the 85^th minute from a penalty kick awarded for a foul on him.

On January 10^th, Argentina and Nigeria faced one another with only goal difference separating the two (Argentina: +4, Nigeria: +3).

Despite ending scoreless, it was a match with many chances and Nigeria took the game to the Argentineans in the early going.

Argentina had more chances in the second half but the match was balanced.

The scoreless result allowed Argentina to advance to the Final and Nigeria were to play in the Third place match.

Photo From: France Football, Issue 2565, June 6, 1995

(Sebastian Rambert, January 10, 1995, Confederations Cup, Argentina 0-Nigeria 0)

The Third Place and the Final took place on January 13^th.

First Nigeria and Mexico stepped onto the field to face one another for the Third Place Match.

Mexico took the lead in the 20^th minute. A free kick from the right side into the box was headed and then punched out and reached Ramón Ramírez who volleyed it in from just inside the box.

Nigeria tied the match in the 31^st minute. A free kick from the right side was deflected out by the Mexican defense and then lobbed back in the box. Jorge Campos was unable to hold the ball as Amunike was pressuring him. Daniel Amokachi picked up the loose ball and scored into the undefended net.

Photo From: Onze-Mondial, Issue 73, February 1995

(January 13, 1995, Confederations Cup, Mexico 1-Nigeria 1)

The score remained unchanged and the match had to be decided with a penalty kick shoot-out. This time Mexican were luckier and won on a (5-4) shoot-out.

After Emmanuel Amunike had missed Nigeria’s fifth attempt, Claudio Suárez scored his attempt and Mexico won.

Afterwards Argentina and Denmark faced one another to decide the winner.

For Argentina, Jorge Ruben Jimenez made his debut for the National team replacing Hugo Perez in the lineup.

Denmark took the lead in the 10^th minute through a penalty kick by Michael Laudrup (after Christian Bassedas had fouled Jes Høgh in the box).

Shortly thereafter Michael Laudrup was injured and had to be substituted in the 26^th minute by Morten Wieghorst.

New stand-in skipper Brian Laudrup set up Denmark’s second goal in the 74^th minute, by crossing from the left side touchline for Peter Rasmussen to score.

Photo From: France Football, Issue 2545, January 17, 1995

(Peter Rasmussen, January 13, 1995, Confederations Cup, Denmark 2-Argentina 0)

Photo From: World Soccer, March 1995

(January 13, 1995, Confederations Cup, Denmark 2-Argentina 0)

Photo From: HISTORIA DE LA SELECCION ARGENTINA (EL GRAFICO, 1997)-FASCICULO 6 (19711975)

(January 13, 1995, Confederations Cup, Denmark 2-Argentina 0)

Photo From: Onze-Mondial, Issue 73, February 1995

(Denmark’s victorious squad, January 13, 1995, Confederations Cup, Denmark 2-Argentina 0)

Denmark became Champions and won the $1.5 Million US Dollars prize (which came out to roughly $22,000 for each player).

As Runner-ups Argentina collected $1 Million dollars and the rest collected: Mexico ($800,000 US Dollars), Nigeria ($700,000 US Dollars) and Japan and Saudi Arabia ($500,000 US Dollars each).

Mexico’s Luis Garcia was the top goalscorer with three goals and his compatriot Jorge Campos was voted as the best goalkeeper of the Tournament.

In the absence of some regulars, Denmark saw it had a reservoir of talent waiting in the wings.

Danish newcomers such as Jacob Laursen, Michael Schjønberg and Jes Høgh made a strong impression and earned future call-ups.

For Argentina, this was more practice for Passarella to mold his young side.

There were some concerns that the crowds were lower than expected. The fact that the competition was smacked right in the middle of the European season could be one. The Saudis blamed the low turnout due to the fact that the matches were played during the traditional time for school examinations.

Regardless, FIFA had seen enough to include it as part of its roster of Tournaments.

At the conclusion of the Tournament, FIFA President Joao Havelange declared that starting from the 1997 edition, the event would be organized under FIFA.

The FIFA Confederations Cup was officially born and underway.

Note: For each match a ‘Player of the Match’ was selected and awarded $3,000 US Dollars.

January 6, 1995 (Saudi Arabia 0-Mexico 2):  Luis Garcia (Mexico)

January 6, 1995 (Japan 0-Nigeria 3) : Sunday Oliseh (Nigeria)

January 8, 1995 (Saudi Arabia 0-Denmark 2): Brian Laudrup (Denmark)

January 8, 1995 (Argentina 5-Japan 1) : Ariel Ortega (Argentina)

January 10, 1995 (Denmark 1-Mexico 1):  Ignacio Ambriz (Mexico)

January 10, 1995 (Argentina 0-Nigeria 0) : Samson Siasia (Nigeria)

January 13, 1995 (Mexico 1-Nigeria 1): Jorge Campos (Mexico)

January 13, 1995 (Denmark 2-Argentina 0): Brian Laudrup (Denmark)

Photo From: Onze-Mondial, Issue 73, February 1995

(Brian Laudrup, January 13, 1995, Confederations Cup, Denmark 2-Argentina 0)

References:

France Football, Issue 2565, June 6, 1995

France Football, Issue 2544, January 10, 1995

France Football, Issue 2545, January 17, 1995

El Grafico Number 3927, 1995

Onze-Mondial, Issue 73, February 1995

World Soccer, March 1995

World Soccer, April 1995

HISTORIA DE LA SELECCION ARGENTINA (EL GRAFICO, 1997)\FASCICULO 10 (1992/1997)

HISTORIA DE LA SELECCION ARGENTINA (EL GRAFICO, 1997)\FASCICULO 6 (1971/1975)

‘Landsholdet-I medgang og modgang, Historien om fodboldlandsholdwet 1980-1999’, Author: Palle "Banks" Jorgensen, 2000