National Team Managers-Part Four (Luis ‘Suarez’ Miramontes (1988/1991))-Part 3 (1990)

Year 1990

By the start of this World Cup year, Suarez was in a position of strength after winning six out eight matches in the qualification phase.

He had succeeded in his brief to not only qualify Spain but also rejuvenate the squad. He also appeared to have cooled down the Real Madrid/Barcelona tensions within the squad. He was proud of this and felt this serenity offered new opportunities.

He had successfully integrated many new players such as Quique Flores, Jimenez, and Villaroya.

Photo From: World Soccer, April 1990

(Luis Suarez)

On the surface he appeared immune to the pressures of the job. In an interview he once stated “why should we exaggerate matters…life is short, must have fun”. The main weakness in his squad seemed to be in the center of defense (Andrinua, Sanchis, Gorriz) that seemed somewhat static.

At the start of this year, Suarez’s future was in question. He was offered a new contract by Federation President Angel Villar (there were rumors of an offer from Barcelona).

The new deal would have taken him through the 1992 Euros and he would concurrently also manage the Olympics squad for the 1992 Barcelona Games.

It was said he wanted a salary on par with Johann Cruyff at Barcelona and John Toshack at Real Madrid.

Spain’s first opponents in their 1990 World Cup preparations were vs. Czechoslovakia on February 21^st, 1990 at Alicante.

Spain were generally better and won (1-0) through a Manolo goal (42^nd minute).

Suarez once again used the opportunity to experiment and made many substitutions, though, the only debutant was Sevilla’s Rafa Paz.

Photo From: Onze-Mondial, Issue 15, April 1990

(Jozef Chovanec and Luis Milla, February 21, 1990, Spain 1-Czechoslovakia 0)

Photo From: Foot Magazine, Issue 102, April 1990

(Spain squad, February 21, 1990, Spain 1-Czechoslovakia 0)

For their next match, Spain hosted Austria at Malaga. Spain started well and took a two-goal lead in the first half through Manolo (1^st minute) and Butragueno (33^rd minute).

However, Austria stormed back in the second half after the introduction of Gerhard Rodax, who had a hand in Austria’s three goals. He was involved in Alfred Hortnagel’s (46^th minute) and Sevilla-based Toni Polster’s (65^th minute) goals.

He himself scored the winner through a brilliant individual effort (89^th minute).

Photo From: (Magazine Source unknown) / Contribution From a blog viewer (special thanks to Jose Luis Carbonell)

 (March 28, 1990, Spain 2-Austria 3)

Photo From: (Magazine Source unknown) / Contribution From a blog viewer (special thanks to Jose Luis Carbonell)

 (Spain squad, March 28, 1990, Spain 2-Austria 3)

For their next match, Spain would play a Foreign player selection from the Spanish League managed by Alfredo Di Stefano.

Photo From: MARCA_1990-04-11

(Luis Suarez and Alfredo Di Stefano ahead of the Spain match vs. Spanish League XI)

The match was held at Las Palmas on April 11^th, 1990.

Players such as Fernando Giner and Pedro were selected and played for Spain, though since this was an unofficial match, they were not considered to be capped (Giner woule eventually earn a full cap). Spain won this match (3-1) with goals by Butragueno (2^nd minute) and a double by Felipe Minambres (62^nd minute, 78^th minute), with Miguel Bossio (83^rd minute) replying for the foreigners.

The Foreigners XI squad included the likes of Real Madrid’s Mexican striker Hugo Sanchez and future naturalized Spanish International, the Brazilian Donato Gama.

Spain’s final preparation friendly prior to the World Cup was against Yugoslavia at Ljubljana on May 26^th, 1990.

Spain would be victorious (1-0) through a Butragueno goal, but Yugoslavia had been the better team and would prove this just weeks later.

Athletic Bilbao defender Rafael Alkorta would make his International debut as a second half substitute in this match and make the World Cup squad in the last minute.

Photo From: Marca, May 27, 1990

(Manuel Sanchis and Robert Prosinecki, May 26, 1990, Yugoslavia 0-Spain 1)

Photo From: kicker_WM-Sonderheft_1990

(Luis Suarez)

Spain’s World Cup started on June 13^th at Udine vs. Uruguay. It was a closely contested match and ended in a goalless draw. Spain were lucky, as Ruben Sosa’s missed his penalty kick in the 71^st minute by shooting over the bar.

Photo From: (Magazine Source unknown) / Contribution From a blog viewer (special thanks to Jose Luis Carbonell)

(Spain 1990 World Cup squad)

Photo From: Onze-Mondial, Issue 18, July 1990

(Antonio Alzamendi and Manuel Jimenez, June 13, 1990, World Cup, Spain 0-Uruguay 0)

Photo From: World Soccer, July 1990

(Enzo Francescolli and Rafael Martin Vazquez, June 13, 1990, World Cup, Spain 0-Uruguay 0)

Spain’s next match was vs. South Korea on June 17^th, 1990 at Udine.

Suarez started with Julio Salinas in place of Manolo. This match would be remembered for Michel’s brilliant hat trick.

He scored the first goal (22^nd minute) through a volley from a narrow angle. He scored the second (61^st minute) through a curling free kick, after the Koreans had equalized through a free kick themselves (Kwan Hwangbo, 42^nd minute).

He completed his hat trick through a brilliant solo goal in the 81^st minute.

Photo From: MARCA_1990-06-18

(June 17, 1990, World Cup, Spain 3-South Korea 1)

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

(Spain squad, June 17, 1990, World Cup, Spain 3-South Korea 1)

For their third match in the group, Spain faced Belgium to determine the leadership of the Group on June 21^st, 1990 at Verona.

Michel opened the scoring with a penalty kick in the 20^th minute. Belgium tied the match through a free kick by Patrick Vervoort (28^th minute).

Spain sealed the points and the group leadership with a winning header by Alberto Gorriz (38^th minute).

Belgium had a chance to tie the match, but Enzo Scifo struck his penalty kick to the post in the 59^th minute.

Photo From: Onze-Mondial, Issue 18, July 1990

(Michel, June 21, 1990, World Cup, Spain 2-Belgium 1)

Photo From: (Magazine Source unknown) / Contribution From a blog viewer (special thanks to Jose Luis Carbonell)

(Spain squad, June 21, 1990, World Cup, Spain 2-Belgium 1)

For the second Round, Spain were paired with Yugoslavia on June 26^th, 1990 at Verona.

Despite playing well for most of the match, Spain were overcome by the brilliance of Dragan Stojkovic.

He gave Yugoslavia the lead in the 78^th minute. Julio Salinas tied the match for Spain in the 83^rd minute and the match went into extra time.

In the extra time (92^nd minute), Stojkovic gave Yugoslavia the lead through a free kick and Spain were eliminated.

Photo From: Onze-Mondial, Issue 18, July 1990

(Dragan Stojkovic and Rafal Martin Vazquez, June 26, 1990, World Cup, Yugoslavia 2-Spain 1)

As the new season started, the focus was on qualifying for the 1992 Euros in Sweden.

Spain were in a Group with Czechoslovakia, an improving France, Iceland and Albania. Only one team could qualify, therefore it was a three horse race between Spain, France and Czechoslovakia.
Spain’s first friendly of the season was vs. Brazil at Gijon on September 12^th, 1990. Brazil, with new Manager Paulo Roberto Falcao, were also in a rebuilding process and the team was made up of mostly inexperienced players.

Many changes were in store for Spain as once again Suarez had to rebuild and prepare a team.

The conclusion of the World Cup, had signaled the end for players such as Chendo and Gorriz, as Suarez put it, “had reached the end of their cycle”.

Some others were out of form at this stage of the season and were not called up. Suarez decided to inject some new blood and gave debuts to Barcelona defender Nando, Real Oviedo’s duo of Bango and Carlos and the new revelation of the Spanish season: Juan Goicoetchea of Barcelona.

Nando would effectively be Spain’s new right back in this first phase of the season.

The debutant Carlos opened the scoring in the 9^th minute. Fernando doubled the lead (63^rd minute) and Michel (89^th minute) rounded out the scoring against the lightweight Brazilians.

Photo From: (Magazine Source unknown) / Contribution From a blog viewer (special thanks to Jose Luis Carbonell)

(September 12, 1990, Spain 3-Brazil 0)

Photo From: (Magazine Source unknown) / Contribution From a blog viewer (special thanks to Jose Luis Carbonell)

(September 12, 1990, Spain 3-Brazil 0)

Photo From: (Magazine Source unknown) / Contribution From a blog viewer (special thanks to Jose Luis Carbonell)

(September 12, 1990, Spain 3-Brazil 0)

Afterwards Suarez was pleased with the introduction of the newcomers. He believed he needed to enlarge the player pool to have a chance in the upcoming qualifiers.

Spain’s Euro qualifiers started vs. Iceland on October 10^th, 1990 at Sevilla.

Spain had Rafael Martin Vazquez in the squad. In a rare move (for those days) he had left Real Madrid to join the Italian Serie A at Torino.

Butragueno (44^th minute) and his new partner up front Carlos (64^th minute) gave Spain a two-goal lead. A defensive mistake allowed Siggi Jonsson (66^th minute) to pull one goal back for Iceland. Spain held firm to register its first win.

Ernesto Valverde (the current Barcelona Manager) made his International debut (and only cap) by coming on as a substitute.

Despite the win, Suarez was furious with his squad. He had given instructions to his team to attack from the wings, however, in the match the players constantly went through the center that was packed with defenders.

Photo From: (Magazine Source unknown) / Contribution From a blog viewer (special thanks to Jose Luis Carbonell)

(October 10, 1990, EC Qualifier, Spain 2-Iceland 1)

Photo From: (Magazine Source unknown) / Contribution From a blog viewer (special thanks to Jose Luis Carbonell)

(October 10, 1990, EC Qualifier, Spain 2-Iceland 1)

Photo From: (Magazine Source unknown) / Contribution From a blog viewer (special thanks to Jose Luis Carbonell)

(October 10, 1990, EC Qualifier, Spain 2-Iceland 1)

Photo From: As Color, December 16, 1990

(Spain squad, October 10, 1990, EC Qualifier, Spain 2-Iceland 1)

Spain’s next qualifier would be its first trip away from as they faced Czechoslovakia at Prague on November 14^th, 1990.

Barcelona’s Guillermo Amor would make his debut for Spain in the second half.

This match would have a profound effect on the rest of Spain and Suarez’s tenure as Manager.

Vaclav Danek gave Czechoslovakia the lead (17^th minute). Spain played well and struck twice through Roberto (30^th minute) and Carlos (55^th minute).

It seemed Spain had the upper hand and were headed for a win when the Czechs struck back.

Vaclav Danek tied the match (69^th minute) and Lubomir Moravcik struck the winning goal (77^th minute).

It had been a shock defeat for the Spanish that had performed admirably for most of the match.

Photo From: MARCA_1990-11-15

(Rafael Martin Vazquez, November 14, 1990, EC Qualifier, Czechsolovakia 3-Spain 2)

Many felt Suarez’s decision to substitute Carlos in the 61^st minute (when Spain were leading 2-1) by Bakero may have been an error and the reason for the loss.

Some others felt that in the second half as Rafael Martin Vazquez got tired, Spain fell apart.

Spain was now under pressure so early in the campaign and this loss would weigh down on the Spanish. Most Spanish players such as Butragueno had no explanation for the defeat. Suarez felt they deserved to have won.

Even Czechoslovakia Manager Milan Macala admitted that Spain were superior in the first half.

Photo From: MARCA_1990-11-15

(Carlos, November 14, 1990, EC Qualifier, Czechsolovakia 3-Spain 2)

Afterwards, Suarez would blame the state of the field, refereeing, the public and the rough play of the Czech defenders.

He did try to see the positive side in the defeat by saying the match was “a great performance. If we play like that we won’t lose another game”.

The media used this defeat to bring forth some controversy. It was said that Spain’s kit man had taken away two away strips (to avoid color clash with Czechoslovakia’s red uniforms). These were the blue and white strips. Apparently, Real Madrid’s trio of Butragueno, Sanchis and Michel insisted on wearing the white jersey (just like Real Madrid). This was despite the fact that the Barcelona contingent outnumbered the Real players.

Another point of contention was the apparent lax attitude of Suarez towards the Torino based Martin Vazquez. He was apparently subject to preferential treatment in terms of training and time off.

But of course a victory would have made all these issues irrelevant.

Spain’s last match and qualifier of the year was vs. Albania at Sevilla on December 19^th, 1990 (with France Manager Michel Platini watching in the stands).

Suarez sensing that goal difference might be a key to determine the winner in the Group went all out in this match. He fielded only a three-man defense with Hierro (as Libero) along with Alkorta and Sanchis. Amor started for the first time to organize the midfield with Martin Vazquez.  Up front Spain lined up Butragueno, Carlos and Manolo.

Spain were victorious by the astonishing score of (9-0) with goals by Guillermo Amor (19^th minute), Carlos (22^nd, 63rd minutes), Emilio Butragueňo (30^th, 57^th, 66th, 75^th minutes), Fernando Hierro (37^th minute) and Jose Maria Bakero (86^th minute).

Butragueno’s four goals made him with 26 goals, Spain’s all time leading goalscorer as he overtook Alfedo Di Stefano’s record.

For More Detail, see:

http://soccernostalgia.blogspot.com/2012/07/november-14-1990-czechoslovakia-3-spain.html

Photo From: France Football, Issue 2333, December 25, 1990

(Emilio Butragueno, December 19, 1990, EC Qualifier, Spain 9-Albania 0)

Photo From: World Soccer, April 1991

(Rafael Martin Vazquez, December 19, 1990, EC Qualifier, Spain 9-Albania 0)