Soccer Memories-part 41 (The recall of Diego Maradona vs. Australia in 1993 with interviews with Mr. Esteban Bekerman, Argentine Journalist, Football History researcher and Professor of Football History, and Mr. Mark Boric, Australian Blogger and Historian)

 Following the end of the 1990 World Cup, it seemed like Diego Maradona had finished off with International Football. In fact, any National Team comeback was not even in the discussion as he received a Drugs ban in 1991 and suspended for more than a year.

In the meantime, new National Team Manager Alfio Basile had built a team around the goalscoring talents of Gabriel Batistuta and featuring the likes of Diego Simeone, Leonardo Rodriguez, and Dario Franco, among others.

Captain Oscar Ruggeri (Captain in Maradona’s absence) and Claudio Caniggia (prior to his own drugs ban in 1993) provided the experience in this young team.

Basile’s side, in Maradona’s absence, had been so successful that they had won the 1991 and 1993 editions of Copa America and were on an undefeated run since the end of the 1990 World Cup.

Photo From: World Soccer, July 1991

(Alfio Basile)

Following his suspension, Maradona joined Spanish side Sevilla in 1992. He was recalled for two prestige friendlies in early 1993. The Argentine Federation Centenary match vs. Brazil and the Artemio Franchi Cup vs. European Champions Denmark.

A few months later, Sevilla sacked Maradona after many breaches in discipline. At this point Maradona seemed lost to Football.

Maradona was beset by personal problems, disinterested by the game, and headed for retirement.

The National Team seemed just fine without him as it started the 1994 World Cup qualifiers in the summer and fall of 1993.

However, after nearly three years of success, the first cracks would appear in Basile’s Argentina.

While Paraguay and Peru were not obstacles in Argentina’s Group, Pacho Maturana’s Colombia were something else.

Since 1987, this Colombia Generation led by Carlos Valderrama had been improving year by year and had qualified for the 1990 World Cup. By now they were further strengthened with the new star of South American Football, Faustino Asprilla.

Colombia defeated Argentina (2-1), thus ending Basile’s long unbeaten run. This was Argentina’s first loss since the 1990 World Cup Final.

All was not lost, and Argentina had to defeat Colombia at home on September 5^th, 1993, to qualify for the World Cup. Given Argentina’s form in the last couple of years this was not beyond them, and everyone expected a win at home to establish the natural order of things and book its place at the World Cup.

We all know what happened next. The spectacle was all from the Colombian end as Argentina imploded and defeated (0-5).

Photo From: El Grafico, Issue 3857, 1993

(September 5, 1993, World Cup Qualifier, Argentina 0-Colombia 5)

Argentina still had one more opportunity to qualify. They had to face the Oceania region winner, Australia in a home and away play-off series.

The present squad was more than capable of such a task, but panic had set in. There was now a clamor for Diego Maradona’s recall to rescue his Nation.

In the meantime, he had joined Argentine side Newell’s Old Boys to regain his fitness. Prior to the first match vs. Australia, he had played a friendly and one League match.

On September 23^rd, 1993, Basile in a radio program with Maradona, promised he would pick him vs. Australia if he proved his fitness.

Maradona came back to help his Nation, as a World Cup without Argentina was unthinkable.

Basile also made some changes to the squad ahead of the matches vs. Australia. Ricardo Altamirano, Leonardo Rodriguez, Gustavo Zapata, and Ramon Medina Bello were made to be scapegoats and dropped.

Apart from Maradona, Basile recalled Sergio Vazquez in defense and called up uncapped defensive pair José Chamot and Carlos Mac Allister.

In midfield, the uncapped Hugo Leonardo Perez was also called up, while upfront, Abel Balbo was recalled.

Basile maintained Sergio Goycoechea in goal and Ruggeri, Redondo, Simeone and Batistuta (Though Ruggeri and Simeone were absent in the first leg).

While facing Australia seemed like a lifeline for the Argentines, this was not the Australia of the past.

By the 1990s, they had many players plying their trade in Europe. These included Frank Farina, Ned Zelic and Robbie Slater among others.

 

For the first leg, this changed Argentina side traveled to Sydney to face the Australians on October 31^st, 1993.

Both Maradona and Balbo justified their recall, with the Roma striker heading in Maradona’s cross for the opener.

Australia would pull a goal back through Aurelio Vidmar just before halftime.

The match ended as a (1-1) tie, with the advantage to the Argentines as the away team.

Photo From: World Soccer, December 1993

(October 31, 1993, World Cup Qualifier, Australia 1-Argentina 1)

Photo From: El Grafico, Issue 3865, 1993

(October 31, 1993, World Cup Qualifier, Australia 1-Argentina 1)

The return leg was two weeks later at the ‘El Monumental’ on November 17^th. Oscar Ruggeri and Diego Simeone were back for Argentina (in place of Borelli and Basualdo) with the rest of the team unchanged from the first leg.

Argentina defeated Australia (1-0) to book its ticket for USA. In the 58^th minute, Batistuta’s cross from a narrow angle was deflected into the net.

Argentina avoided the humiliation of non-qualification for a World Cup (for the first time since 1970).

Photo From: Onze-Mondial, Issue 65, June 1994

(November 17, 1993, World Cup Qualifier, Australia 1-Argentina 1)

Photo From: Onze-Mondial, Issue 60, January 1994

(November 17, 1993, World Cup Qualifier, Australia 1-Argentina 1)

Maradona was now part of the Team for the World Cup, along with Balbo. Claudio Caniggia’s suspension was due to end just in time before the World Cup.

The story would not have a happy ending as Maradona would once again be involved in a Drugs scandal at the World Cup.

Alfio Basile would be on his way out in following the failure at the World Cup.

It is open to conjecture whether Maradona would have even been called up without the disaster vs. Colombia.

In any case, this was an aged Maradona and not the player in the 80s.

Perhaps, Basile should have kept faith with the team he had built but was forced to include Maradona after he had stepped up when needed.

Following the World Cup, Daniel Alberto Passarella was appointed as Manager and that is another story.

 

Questions and Analysis

I have asked Mr. Esteban Bekerman, Argentinean Journalist, Football History researcher and Professor of Football History, and Mr. Mark Boric, AustralianCritic and Historian, to give their respective perspectives.

Mr. Esteban Bekerman is an Argentina Football Historian and Journalist-Professor at the ‘Circulo de Periodistas Deportivas y en Taller de Investigacion Historia sobre Futbol (Circle of Sports Journalists and Historical Research workshop on Football’.

He is the founder of http://entretiempos.com.ar/ , center of Football Culture that includes production of magazines, books, workshops, and consulting events.

 

Mr. Bekerman’s contact info:

Twitter: @egerbek

Twitter: @entretiempos_ar

Website: http://entretiempos.com.ar/

Blog: estebanbekerman.blogpsot.com

Mr. Boric is a resident of Melbourne. He is a Former player and administrator.  Blogger and historian. His blog http://melbournesoccer.blogspot.com/ is an archive of Australian Football History.

 

Mr. Boric’s contact info:

Twitter: @MarkBoric

Blog: http://melbournesoccer.blogspot.com/

Argentine Perspective:

 

Soccernostalgia Question: Did Alfio Basile himself want to recall Maradona for the matches vs. Australia or was he forced? Was it more of a public pressure or mostly from the press to recall Maradona?

 

Mr. Esteban Bekerman @egerbek Response: He wanted to call him, but also, he was in a way forced to do it by the press and the public opinion.

 

Soccernostalgia Question: Did Maradona show any reticence for a comeback or was he insistent?

 

Mr. Esteban Bekerman @egerbek Response: He didn't show reticence but also wasn't insistent. He just put himself totally at disposal.

 

Soccernostalgia Question: Regarding the other newcomers selected vs. Australia (Chamot, Perez, etc.). were they Basile’s choices or was there some pressure from Maradona?

 

Mr. Esteban Bekerman @egerbek Response: All Basile's choices. No pressure from Maradona at all.

 

Soccernostalgia Question: In between the matches, there was a report that some of the players wanted Oscar Ruggeri to regain the captaincy. Any truth about this?

 

Mr. Esteban Bekerman @egerbek Response: No, with Maradona on the squad it was clear he had to have the captaincy again.

 

Soccernostalgia Question: Before the implosion vs. Colombia, was there an indication that such a disaster was on the horizon or was it a complete surprise?

 

Mr. Esteban Bekerman @egerbek Response: It was a surprise. No one could have imagined such a catastrophe.

 

Soccernostalgia Question: Ahead of the matches vs. Australia, was there confidence or was there some nervousness after what had happened vs. Colombia?

 

Mr. Esteban Bekerman @egerbek Response: There was some nervousness for sure.

 

Soccernostalgia Question: In closing, given what would happen with Maradona at the World Cup, do you think Basile would have been better off to take the side he had built in the last few years without Maradona?

 

Mr. Esteban Bekerman @egerbek Response:No, I think not. In fact, Leo Rodriguez (Maradona's natural replacement and Basile's first choice before Diego's comeback) had a very poor performance against Bulgaria. And in my opinion, he never had the quality for being Argentina's number 10 in a World Cup. Ortega played well against Romania, but he also couldn't make forgive Maradona by his own.

 

 

 

Australian Perspective:

 

Soccernostalgia Question: What was the mood among Australians ahead of these matches vs. Argentina?

Mr. Mark Boric @MarkBoric Response: Ahead of the games there was a mood of excitement, tempered with some trepidation. Excitement because Australian players were starting to make inroads in Europe and the Socceroos were on the rise. It was a taste of the big time, it saw soccer reports jumping a few places in the televsion evening news running order instead of a cursory mention at the end of it. Facing a team which had won the World Cup less than a decade prior, with one of the world's greatest ever players returning to it, was quite the final hurdle though.

 

 

Soccernostalgia Question: Australia Manager Eddie Thomson had to appeal for Mark Bosnich to end his International Retirement ahead of these matches. Was there public clamor for his return?

Mr. Mark Boric @MarkBoric Response: Yes, Bosnich had already shown a superstar quality which would have most placing him above Robert Zabica and Mark Schwarzer at that stage.

Soccernostalgia Question: Was there a feeling of unfairness as Australia had to continue with play-offs to qualify for World Cups?

Mr. Mark Boric @MarkBoric Response: A little, but that probably increased more the in the following World Cup qualification campaign. In 1993 the "unfairness" was more a lament of "why did it have to be Argentina?" Maybe because there was the feeling that Australia had let itself down in the previous attempt in not reaching the Interncontinental Play-Off, the inequity of the qualification process had yet to brought fully into focus.

Soccernostalgia Question: Was there some excitement that Maradona would be in Australia?

Mr. Mark Boric @MarkBoric Response: Yes, it was enormous. He was a player who even those that did not follow the game had heard of. He was a player fans would stakeout airport and hotel arrivals at all hours to get a glimpse of.

Soccernostalgia Question: At this point there were a considerable number of Australian players in European sides, was there a feeling this generation had a genuine chance to qualify?

Mr. Mark Boric @MarkBoric Response: Yes, it was considered possible without having to be a version of "The Miracle on Ice". The game was gaining momentum in Australia and there was positivity in anticipating the future.

 

Soccernostalgia Question: David Mitchell did not want to be involved in the second after not starting in the first leg. Was his absence felt?

Mr. Mark Boric @MarkBoric Response: Probably not greatly. It was always going to be a stiff task to hold Argentina at their home in the second leg and going about that to remain in the tie for as long as possible would have been foremost ahead of what the striking options were.

Soccernostalgia Question: Any takeaways from these ties from an Australian perspective?

Mr. Mark Boric @MarkBoric Response: The qualification campaigns for the 1978, 1982 and 1990 World Cups were generally seen as failures by Australia to perform to their best. With 1986 and 1994 the Socceroos played more to their potential but faced opponents they were not expected to beat. After the games against Argentina expectations were definitely growing.

 

Date: October 31, 1993

Competition: FIFA World Cup Qualifier-Playoff, First Leg

Result: Australia 1-Argentina 1

Venue: Sydney- Sydney Football Stadium

Attendance: 43,967

Referee: Sandor Puhl (Hungary)

Linesmen: Sandor Varga and Sandor Marton (both Hungary)

Kick-off time: 17:30

Goalscorers:

(Australia): Aurelio Vidmar 43

(Argentina): Abel Balbo 37

Summary of goals:

0:1 (37^th minute, Argentina): Maradona’s cross from the right side was headed in by Balbo.

1:1 (43^rd minute, Australia): From the middle, Zelic sent a pass to the right side, Tony Vidmar’s cross from the right was knocked in by Aurelio Vidmar.

Lineups:

Australia:

1-Mark Bosnich (Aston Villa Football Club-Birmingham / England)

12-Milan Ivanovic (Adelaide City)

5-Alex Tobin (Adelaide City)

13-Mehmet Durakovic (South Melbourne)

19-Tony Vidmar (Adelaide City) (7-David Mitchell (Millwall Football Club / England) 72)

10-Jason Van Blerk (Go Ahead Eagles / Holland)    

4-Ned Zelic (Ballspielverein Borussia Dortmund 1909 e.V. / Germany) 

6-Paul Wade (South Melbourne)

11-Robbie Slater (Racing Club Lens / France)

8-Aurelio Vidmar (Waregem / Belgium)       

9-Graham Arnold (FC Liege / Belgium)        

 

Coach: Eddie Thomson (Scotland)

Booked: Robbie Slater, David Mitchell

Other Substitutes:

Robert Zabica (Adelaide City)

Dominic Longo (Cercle Brugge / Belgium)

Stan Lazaridis (West Adelaide)

Jason Polak (South Melbourne)

 

Team Captain: Paul Wade

Official Kit Supplier/Designer: Adidas

Uniform Colors: Yellow (Three Green Diagonal stripes) Shirts, Yellow Shorts, Yellow Socks

 

Argentina:

1-Sergio Javier Goycochea (Club Atlético River Plate- Buenos Aires)

2-Jorge Horacio Borelli (Racing Club de Avellaneda-Avellaneda - Buenos Aires)

6-Sergio Fabian Vázquez (Club Deportivo Universidad Católica -Santiago / Chile)

14-José Antonio Chamot (Foggia Calcio / Italy)

3-Carlos Javier Mac Allister (Club Atlético Boca Juniors -Buenos Aires)

15-Hugo Leonardo Perez (Club Atlético Independiente Avellaneda)

5- Fernando Carlos Redondo Neri (Club Deportivo Tenerife / Spain)

8-José Horacio Basualdo (Club Atlético Vélez Sársfield -Buenos Aires) (17-Gustavo Miguel Zapata (Yokohoma Marinos / Japan) 70)

10- Diego Armando Maradona (Club Atlético Newell´s Old Boys –Rosario)

9- Gabriel Omar Batistuta (Associazione Calcio Fiorentina-Firezne / Italy)

18-Abel Eduardo Balbo (Associazione Sportiva Roma / Italy) (13-Fernando Gabriel Caceres (Real Zaragoza / Spain) 89)

 

Coach: Alfio Ruben Basile

Booked: Diego Armando Maradona, Carlos Javier Mac Allister, Hugo Leonardo Perez

Other Substitutes:

Luis Alberto Islas (Club Atlético Independiente Avellaneda)

Leonardo Adrián Rodríguez (Atalanta Bergamasca Calcio / Italy) 

Ramon Ismael Medina Bello (Club Atlético River Plate- Buenos Aires) 

 

Team Captain: Diego Armando Maradona

Official Kit Supplier/Designer: Adidas

Uniform Colors: Blue/White vertically striped Shirts, Black Shorts, White Socks

Photo From: El Grafico, Issue 3865, 1993

(October 31, 1993, World Cup Qualifier, Australia 1-Argentina 1)

Photo From: El Grafico, Issue 3865, 1993

(October 31, 1993, World Cup Qualifier, Australia 1-Argentina 1)

Photo From: El Grafico, Issue 3865, 1993

(October 31, 1993, World Cup Qualifier, Australia 1-Argentina 1)

Date: November 17, 1993

Competition: FIFA World Cup Qualifier-Playoff, Second Leg

Result: Argentina 1-Australia 0

Venue: Buenos Aires -Antonio Vespuci Alberti (El Monumental) (River Plate)

Attendance: 59,768 (67,000 in other sources)

Referee: Peter Mikkelsen (Denmark)

Linesmen: Christensen and Ohmeyr (both Denmark)

Kick-off time: 21:15

Goalscorers:

(Argentina): (Own Goal) 58

(Australia): None

Summary of goals:

1:0 (58^th minute, Argentina): On the right side, Batistuta attempted a cross, his shot was deflected by Tobin and lobbed over Zabica.

Lineups:

Argentina:

1-Sergio Javier Goycochea (Club Atlético River Plate- Buenos Aires)

14-José Antonio Chamot (Foggia Calcio / Italy)

2-Sergio Fabian Vázquez (Club Deportivo Universidad Católica -Santiago / Chile)

6- Oscar Alfredo Ruggeri (Club Deportivo America-Mexico City / Mexico)

3-Carlos Javier Mac Allister (Club Atlético Boca Juniors -Buenos Aires)

15-Hugo Leonardo Perez (Club Atlético Independiente Avellaneda)

5- Fernando Carlos Redondo Neri (Club Deportivo Tenerife / Spain)

8-Diego Pablo Simeone (Sevilla Fútbol Club / Spain)

10- Diego Armando Maradona (Club Atlético Newell´s Old Boys –Rosario)

9- Gabriel Omar Batistuta (Associazione Calcio Fiorentina-Firezne / Italy)

18-Abel Eduardo Balbo (Associazione Sportiva Roma / Italy) (20-Gustavo Miguel Zapata (Yokohoma Marinos / Japan) 70)

 

Coach: Alfio Ruben Basile

Booked: Oscar Alfredo Ruggeri, Sergio Fabian Vázquez, Diego Pablo Simeone

Other Substitutes:

Luis Alberto Islas (Club Atlético Independiente Avellaneda)

Fernando Gabriel Caceres (Real Zaragoza / Spain)

Leonardo Adrián Rodríguez (Atalanta Bergamasca Calcio / Italy) 

Ramon Ismael Medina Bello (Club Atlético River Plate- Buenos Aires) 

 

Team Captain: Diego Armando Maradona

Official Kit Supplier/Designer: Adidas

Uniform Colors: Blue/White vertically striped Shirts, Black Shorts, White Socks

 

 

Australia:

20-Robert Zabica (Adelaide City)

12-Milan Ivanovic (Adelaide City)

5-Alex Tobin (Adelaide City)

13-Mehmet Durakovic (South Melbourne)

19-Tony Vidmar (Adelaide City) (17-Carl Veart (Adelaide City) 64)

11-Robbie Slater (Racing Club Lens / France)

10-Jason Van Blerk (Go Ahead Eagles / Holland)    

6-Paul Wade (South Melbourne)

8-Aurelio Vidmar (Waregem / Belgium)

7-Graham Arnold (FC Liege / Belgium)

9-Frank Farina (Racing Strasbourg / France)

 

Coach: Eddie Thomson (Scotland)

Booked: Milan Ivanovic, Mehmet Durakovic, Aurelio Vidmar

Other Substitutes:

Mark Schwarzer (Marconi Stallions)

Dominic Longo (Cercle Brugge / Belgium)

Stan Lazaridis (West Adelaide)

Jason Polak (South Melbourne)

Team Captain: Paul Wade

Official Kit Supplier/Designer: Adidas

Uniform Colors: Yellow (Three Green Diagonal stripes) Shirts, Yellow Shorts, Yellow Socks

 

Photo From: El Grafico, Issue 3868, 1993

(November 17, 1993, World Cup Qualifier, Australia 1-Argentina 1)

Photo From: El Grafico, Issue 3868, 1993

(November 17, 1993, World Cup Qualifier, Australia 1-Argentina 1)

Photo From: El Grafico, Issue 3868, 1993

(November 17, 1993, World Cup Qualifier, Australia 1-Argentina 1)

Photo From: Onze-Mondial, Issue 60, January 1994

(Argentina squad, November 17, 1993, World Cup Qualifier, Australia 1-Argentina 1)