Preparations of a Host (or Defending Champion)-Part Two (Italy 1988/90)-Part d (Spring 1990)

IV. 1989/90 season (Spring 1990)

Preparatory Friendly match Number 14-Holland (February 21, 1990, Rotterdam)

Italy went into final stretch of the preparation facing Holland on February 21^st at Rotterdam in another high profile friendly.

Injury to Riccardo Ferri forced Vicini to recall Pietro Vierchowod for the first time since 1986. He had been one of the notable early casualties of the Vicini regime. However, his fine form for Sampdoria could not be ignored and was a sound alternative in defense.

Baresi was also missing against Holland and Ferrara earned a start as a result with Bergomi shifting in center of defense.

Ancelotti was back in the side for the first time since 1988 and in time just with the World Cup on the horizon (Berti stayed on the bench). Giannini and De Napoli retained their spots with Donadoni’s absence allowing Marocchi to start in the middle. Gianluca Vialli’s injury forced Vicini to start with Carnevale and Baggio upfront.

It was yet another scoreless and un-inspiring draw. Luca Fusi was called up for the last time and remained on the bench with his World Cup dream over.

Incidentally, AC Milan’s Alessandro Costacurta was also called up for the first time ever (given Ferri’s injury). He would have to wait the Arrigo Sacchi era to play for the National Team.

Italy’s struggles in scoring goals also made AC Milan President Silvio Berlusconi to offer ‘suggestions’. At this point, AC Milan were in impressive form and he said that his club should be selected ‘en bloc’ for Italy.

Vicini retorted that Presidents are in love with their players but a Manager must choose objectively. He also singled out that AC Milan’s two most effective players were the Dutch duo: Frank Rijkaard and Marco van Basten.

He also pointed out that in the beginning of that season when both players were absent through injury, Milan was just an average team.

Date: February 21, 1990

Competition: Friendly

Venue: Rotterdam-De Kuip-Feyenoord Stadion

Attendance: 24,198

Holland 0-Italy 0

Italy: Walter Zenga, Ciro Ferrara, Paolo Maldini, Giuseppe Bergomi (captain), Pietro Vierchowod, Carlo Ancelotti, Giancarlo Marocchi, Fernando De Napoli, Andrea Carnevale (Aldo Serena 82), Giuseppe Giannini (Luigi De Agostini 68), Roberto Baggio (Roberto Mancini 72)

Photo From: Guerin Sportivo, Issue 784 (Number 9), February 28-March 6, 1990

(February 21, 1990, Holland 0-Italy 0)

Preparatory Friendly match Number 15-Switzerland (March 31, 1990, Basel)

Italy’s last match before the publication of the Final 22 was in Basel vs. Switzerland on March 31^st. The match marked the introduction of Juventus’ Salvatore Schillaci upfront as Italy continued to struggle in scoring.

Schillaci was the first native Sicilian in the national team since Anastasi.

He would be partnered with Carnevale and do enough to be part of the Final 22.

For this match, Vierchowod started once again ahead of the injured Ferri and win his spot for the World Cup.

In fact, Italy’s Final 22 was essentially settled at that match.

Paolo Maldini was authorized to play only one half by his club AC Milan, so that he would be rested for upcoming matches.

The match was settled with a free kick by De Agostini, who scored Italy’s first goal since their win over Algeria in the previous November.

Date: March 31, 1990

Competition: Friendly

Venue: Basel -Saint Jakob Park

Attendance: 25,000

Switzerland 0-Italy 1 (Luigi De Agostini 68)

Italy: Walter Zenga, Giuseppe Bergomi (captain) (Ciro Ferrara 58), Paolo Maldini (Luigi De Agostini 46), Franco Baresi, Pietro Vierchowod, Giancarlo Marocchi, Roberto Donadoni, Fernando De Napoli, Andrea Carnevale (Aldo Serena 58), Giuseppe Giannini, Salvatore Schillaci

Note:

1-In Bold, new caps.

Photo From: Guerin Sportivo, Issue 789 (Number 14), April 4-10, 1990

(March 31, 1990, Switzerland 0-Italy 1)

Photo From: Guerin Sportivo, Issue 789 (Number 14), April 4-10, 1990

(March 31, 1990, Switzerland 0-Italy 1)

Preparatory Friendly match Number 16-Greece (May 30, 1990, Perugia) (Unofficial)

Azeglio Vicini released his list for his Final 22 on April 30^th, way ahead of the deadline date.

Goalkeepers:

1-Walter Zenga (Internazionale Football Club- Milano) 

12-StefanoTacconi (Juventus Football Club-Torino)

22-Gianluca Pagliuca (Unione Calcio Sampdoria-Genova) 

Defenders:

2-Franco Baresi (Associazione Calcio Milan)   

3-Giuseppe Bergomi (Internazionale Football Club- Milano)       

4-Luigi De Agostini (Juventus Football Club-Torino)

5-Ciro Ferrara (Societa Sportiva Calcio Napoli)

6-Riccardo Ferri (Internazionale Football Club- Milano)       

7-Paolo Maldini (Associazione Calcio Milan)    

8-Pietro Vierchowod (Unione Calcio Sampdoria-Genova)  

Midfielders :

9-Carlo Ancelotti (Associazione Calcio Milan)    

10-Nicola Berti (Internazionale Football Club- Milano)       

11-Fernando De Napoli (Societa Sportiva Calcio Napoli)

13-Giuseppe Giannini (Associazione Sportiva Roma)  

14-Giancarlo Marocchi (Juventus Football Club-Torino)

15-Roberto Baggio (Associazione Calcio Fiorentina-Firenze)

17-Roberto Donadoni (Associazione Calcio Milan)    

Strikers:

16-Andrea Carnevale (Societa Sportiva Calcio Napoli)

18-Roberto Mancini (Unione Calcio Sampdoria-Genova) 

19-Salvatore Schillaci (Juventus Football Club-Torino)

20-Aldo Serena (Internazionale Football Club- Milano)   

21-GianlucaVialli (Unione Calcio Sampdoria-Genova) 

Photo From: Guerin Sportivo, Issue 798 (Number 23), June 6-12, 1990

(Italy Final 1990 World Cup squad with participants’ kit)

There was not much of a surprise in his Final list, besides the inclusion of Schillaci.

He had rarely experimented and maintained as settled a squad as possible, very similar to his predecessor Enzo Bearzot. In defense Zenga-Bergomi-Baresi-Ferri-Maldini had been his choice throughout the previous years and remained so.

Tacconi was the experienced deputy for Zenga and Pagliuca as the third goalkeeper was the hope for the future.

Ciro Ferrara, Luigi De Agostini and Pietro Vierchowod were able deputies if called upon.

In midfield, De Napoli, Donadoni and Giannini (as playmaker) were always his choices. Only the absence of Ancelotti had been a problem but Berti had filled the role. Ancelotti would predictably be injured in the World Cup, except for the Tournament his replacement would come in the form of Luigi De Agostini, who until then was seen as the deputy and alternative for Maldini at left back.

Marocchi made up the numbers in the middle with Baggio’s use as enigmatic as ever.

At the top Vialli was expected to start with Carnevale, Serena, Mancini and Schillaci as potential partners.

In the meantime, on May 18, 1990, Roberto Baggio was transferred from Fiorentina to Juventus for 13 Million Dollars (a new World Record). The Fiorentina fans protested at National Team Headquarters at Coverciano with the Juventus contingent as their primary targets.

The first pre-World Cup friendly vs. Greece on May 30^th  was considered Unofficial (for Italy); the Italian kit was in fact their training kit. It was yet another scoreless draw, the last match was a friendly vs. French club side AS Cannes. Italy at least scored goals but Vialli was slightly injured which would affect his World Cup (Incidentally a certain Zinedine Zidane came on a substitute for Cannes).

Italy’s adventure in the World Cup would be another matter. Italy started the World Cup with Vicini’s standard formation of Zenga-Bergomi, Baresi, Ferri, Maldini-Donadoni, Giannini, Ancelotti, De Napoli-Vialli, Carnevalle.

Two years ago Vicini’s ideal lineup was the same with the exception of Mancini instead of Carnevale.

By the following month and the end of the World Cup, Vicini’s lineup had changed due to injury and form to the following: Zenga-Bergomi, Baresi, Ferri, Maldini-Donadoni, Giannini, De Agostini, De Napoli-Baggio, Schillaci.

Italy would be eliminated in the semifinals by Argentina and settle with a Third place finish.
When the preparations started in the Fall of 1988, no one could have foreseen the emergence of one Salvatore Schillaci but that’s another story.

Date: May 30, 1990

Competition: Friendly (Unofficial for Italy, Official for Greece)

Venue: Perugia -Stadio Renato Curi

Attendance: 35,000

Italy 0-Greece 0

Italy: Walter Zenga (StefanoTacconi 46), Giuseppe Bergomi (captain), Luigi De Agostini, Pietro Vierchowod, Riccardo Ferri, Giancarlo Marocchi, Roberto Donadoni, Fernando De Napoli, GianlucaVialli, Giuseppe Giannini, Salvatore Schillaci (Roberto Baggio 70)

Photo From: Guerin Sportivo, Issue 798 (Number 23), June 6-12, 1990

(May 30, 1990, Italy 0-Greece 0)

Photo From: (Screen capture)

(May 30, 1990, Italy 0-Greece 0)

Preparatory Friendly match Number 17-AS Cannes (France) (June 2, 1990, Arezzo) (Unofficial)

Date: June 2, 1990

Competition: Friendly (Unofficial)

Venue: Arezzo

Attendance: -

Italy 3-AS Cannes (France) 0 (GianlucaVialli 37 pen, 71, Fernnado De Napoli 40)

Italy: Walter Zenga, Giuseppe Bergomi (captain), Paolo Maldini, Franco Baresi, Riccardo Ferri, Carlo Ancelotti, Roberto Donadoni, Fernando De Napoli, GianlucaVialli (Salvatore Schillaci 71), Giuseppe Giannini, Andrea Carnevale

 

Photo From: Guerin Sportivo, Issue 798 (Number 23), June 6-12, 1990

(June 2, 1990, Italy 3-AS Cannes (France) 0)

References:

Soccer International, Volume 1, Issue 2, February 1990

World Soccer, November 1989

World Soccer, February 1990

Guerin Sportivo, Issue 798 (Number 23), June 6-12, 1990

Guerin Sportivo, Issue 789 (Number 14), April 4-10, 1990

Guerin Sportivo, Issue 784 (Number 9), February 28-March 6, 1990

Guerin Sportivo, Issue 771 (Number 47), November 22-28, 1989

Guerin Sportivo, Issue 766 (Number 42), October  18-24, 1989

France Football, Issue 2242, March 28, 1989

France Football, Issue 2229, December 27, 1988