World Cup Stories-Part Two (Czechoslovakia at the 1990 World Cup-part a World Cup Qualifiers)- an Interview with Mr. Joachim Aasan of @1990qual, http://italia1990.com)

 

For this Interview, I have the pleasure to ask questions from one of the duo that make up the fantastic website http://italia1990.com.

Mr. Aasan @1990qual took great time and interest in responding all the questions with context and detail.

The Interview will be divided in three parts, part a (World Cup Qualifiers), part b (Preparations ahead of the World Cup) and part c (World Cup Finals).

Questions and Analysis: 

The Interviewee is:

Mr. Joachim Aasan

Mr. Aasan’s contact info:

On Twitter: @1990qual

Website: http://italia1990.com

Part a-World Cup Qualifiers:

Soccernostalgia Question: What was the state of Czechoslovakian Football in the Fall of 1988?

Mr. Joachim Aasan @1990qual response: With the highly acclaimed 1988 European Championships already history, albeit a recent one, the international footballing agenda was about to embark on the qualification for the 1990 World Cup. Czechoslovakia had failed to qualify for a major international tournament since their participation at the 1982 World Cup, when they had bowed out at the first group stage, managing two draws only, against WC debutants Kuwait and later, more respectably, France. Since the 1982 World Cup, Czechoslovakia towards the end of the European summer six years later had no remaining names from the 22 who had travelled to Spain. They had also since gone through four national team managers, with the latest being legendary former player Josef Masopust. Returning, as he had indeed been in charge of their 1982 troops, to the position was 52 year old Jozef Vengloš. He had a doctorate in physical education earned in Bratislava as far back as in 1955. At club level, no team from the domestic league had ventured beyond the quarter-finals stage in either of the three European competitions, and even that stage had only been reached twice over the course of the past five seasons. Czechoslovakia were turning into something of a European footballing mediocrity. Back at national team level, a humiliating 3-0 loss in Finland in the qualification for the 1988 Euro would have strongly limited any optimism they still harboured at that time for reaching the competition proper in West Germany. Denmark ultimately qualified at Czechoslovakia's expense. So, against this backdrop, Vengloš had needed to assemble a squad strong enough to challenge in a tough-looking qualification group for Italia '90, where they'd come up against Belgium, Portugal, and Switzerland, with Luxembourg providing the cannon fodder. Still, with two World Cup berths up for grabs, they must have considered themselves as likely candidates for participation, despite their third-rank status.

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

(Jozef Venglos and Vaclav Jezek)

Soccernostalgia Question: The last time Czechoslovakia had been in the World Cup had been in 1982 with Jozef Venglos as Manager. He was re-appointed in 1988 for the 1990 World Cup qualifiers. What were the expectations in a Group with Belgium, Portugal, Switzerland and Luxembourg?

Mr. Joachim Aasan @1990qual response: While I carefully touched on this already in reply to the previous question, I think Czechoslovakia would've felt that they were in with a shout, although they had been drawn from pot 3, behind first seeds Belgium and second seeds Portugal. While the Belgians under legendary manager Guy Thys remained favourites in what was still a fairly open group, Vengloš must have felt that they could give Portugal a run for their money with regards to finishing runners-up. Certainly, at home, whether it be in Bratislava or in Prague, Czechoslovakia would be a match for any opponent. It should also be pointed out that Vengloš was working with Václav Ježek, a well-respected 64 year old coach who had indeed been in charge of the national team during their magnificent triumph in the 1976 European Championships. For this, Ježek would later win the vote, in regards to the country's greatest manager in the 20th century. He'd won domestic championships with Sparta, and he'd worked abroad both in the Netherlands and, most recently, in Switzerland.

 

Soccernostalgia Question: His job was made harder even before the qualifiers when on July 1988, vital National team elements: Lubos Kubik and Ivo Knofilcek defected to the West during their club, Slavia Prague’s tour of West Germany. Describe the players’ status and its implication on the National Team?

Mr. Joachim Aasan @1990qual response: Czechoslovakia in this era had a number of good footballers. Still, in order to stand a fair chance of actually qualifying for the World Cup, Mr Vengloš would need to have available to him every talented player within the country's realm. Slavia Prague had been preparing for the upcoming domestic season in West Germany in the summer of '88, and both Knoflíček and Kubík had opted to try their luck in the West through defecting. They had both featured for Czechoslovakia in their impressive 1-0 friendly win in Copenhagen on June 1, as the Danish had been in preparation for the upcoming European Championships, with Kubík even netting the solitary goal. They were already among the more senior members of the Czechoslovakian team, as the 24 year old Kubík, a stylish midfield playmaker with a gifted left foot, earned his 19th cap in Denmark, and forward Knoflíček, 26 years of age, was winning his 26th. In losing them both for the entire qualification campaign, as they'd both be expelled from the national team for a year and a half, Vengloš would need to rethink. It is also worth noting how Czechoslovakia through 1988 only ever had those two representatives from Slavia Prague, with city rivals Sparta the chief supplier for the national team with no less than nine players turning out at country level during the course of the calendar year. Sparta had just won the league for the second campaign running. They'd go on and claim the next three Czechoslovakian first league titles, too.

 

Photo From: WC 90 - CORRIERE DELLO SPORT – GUIDA

(Lubos Kubik)

Soccernostalgia Question: Can you summarize Czechoslovakia’s qualification process for the 1988/89 season?

Mr. Joachim Aasan @1990qual response: I will try! Czechoslovakia got their campaign off the mark with an expected two points from their journey to Luxembourg, although the win might perhaps have been less impressive than they'd been hoping for, given the fact that the Swiss had already visited the same venue and won even more comprehensively (4-1). Their goals had come from midfield schemer Ivan Hašek and libero and team captain Jozef Chovanec. In a group totalling 20 fixtures, eight per team, Czechoslovakia would only play twice in the autumn of '88, with their next match being group favourites Belgium on home soil in Bratislava. Despite pinning their opponents back for large chunks of the game, the Czechoslovaks could not find a way past the impressive Preud'homme, and the game finished goalless in front of nearly 50 000 people in Bratislava. Still, by the turn of the calendar year, Vengloš' team found themselves atop the qualification table, with their next fixture the return leg in Belgium at the end of April. By that point, the Belgians had claimed another vital away point through levelling late in Portugal, while the Portuguese themselves had picked up a total of five points from three home ties, having defeated both Luxembourg and Switzerland in the process. This had left Czechoslovakia trailing both the Belgians and the Portuguese, so they'd have been looking to get something out of the game in Brussels. However, on the day, the Red Devils put them to the sword and won by 2-1, despite Czechoslovakia putting up a fine battle and only losing to a late Degryse strike. They also saw the return to national team action of defenders Straka and Kocian, who were by now plying their trade in the West German Bundesliga. A routine 4-0 home win over Luxembourg saw Czechoslovakia's qualification campaign back on the rails, and a 1-0 away win in Switzerland courtesy of Skuhravý's third goal in two matches saw them secure a third win in five. This meant that by the summer of 1989 they were well positioned only a point behind the Belgians, although Portugal, who had yet to play away, were just two points in their wake, with a match to spare. The crunch game came on Oct 6, with Portugal the visitors in Prague. They had completed their first two away ties of the qualification in losing comprehensively in Belgium and then vitally winning in Switzerland, so that prior to kick-off, they were both on seven points from five matches. Despite losing striker Griga to an early red card before 20 minutes of action, the hosts claimed a hugely important win by the margin of 2-1. Both goals had come courtesy of shrewd midfield man Bílek. A fourth straight qualification win subsequently followed as Switzerland were sent packing after 3-0 in Prague. Significantly, this meant Czechoslovakia were two points ahead of Portugal and with a handsome seven goals cushion before both countries' final qualifier: their head to head in Lisbon. Portugal were never going to win by the four goals demanded of them to pip the Czechoslovakians, and despite the hosts doing what they could to try and achieve that win, Stejskal's inspired performance between the sticks ultimately saw to that Czechoslovakia could return home with a scoreless draw. The point meant they were qualified for Italia '90, and only second to group winners Belgium on goals scored. It had ultimately been a very fine qualification campaign by Vengloš' squad.

 

Soccernostalgia Question: Czechoslovakia’s sweeper Jozef Chovanec became the first Czechoslovakian player under the age of 30 to transfer to a European side when he joined PSV Eindhoven in November 1988 (as a future replacement for Ronald Koeman). How was this transfer regarded at the time?

Mr. Joachim Aasan @1990qual response: I believe Chovanec, 28 at the time, didn't transfer to PSV until the turn of the year, as he still featured for Sparta domestically in December '88. He'd then make his debut in the Dutch league in February '89, playing alongside such greats of the game as Gerets, Vanenburg, (Ronald) Koeman and not least Romário. Any Eastern European player to make the move from behind the Iron Curtain and on to the Western European scene naturally raised some debate. Chovanec was a key man for club and country alike, and was among Vengloš' most trusted players, typically being used in the libero position. Furthermore, he was also the captain of his country, a distinction he must have held with great pride. Fellow international defenders Kocian and Straka had earlier completed their moves to West German football, so a pattern was beginning to emerge. It had only seemed reasonable that players of this calibre would move abroad once they were allowed to by the age of 28.

 

Photo From: Soccer International, Issue 4, April 1990

(Jozef Chovanec)

Soccernostalgia Question: He struggled at the club and eventually drifted into midfield and Venglos chose to place him in midfield as well. Explain this decision?

Mr. Joachim Aasan @1990qual response: Chovanec obviously arrived at a club which were reigning Dutch and European champions, so it was never going to be a foregone conclusion that he'd become a regular starter right away. Like any player moving from one country to another, he'd need time to adapt, both to his new surroundings and to the way PSV boss Guus Hiddink wanted him to contribute. The PSV libero role belonged to a player of Ronald Koeman's calibre, so it went without saying that Chovanec's opportunity to stake a claim for a starting berth likely lay elsewhere. He was an accomplished player on the ball, and he had fine physical attributes, and so was an adept man in the centre of the pitch. With Kocian back in the mix internationally, the now St. Pauli defender would look to occupy the national team's libero position, although for the couple of fixtures against Belgium (away) and Luxembourg (home), it had indeed been Chovanec who had got the nod for the spare man at the back job, with Kocian in the holding midfield role. They would swap roles for the remainder of the qualification, with Chovanec probably offering more quality in possession than Kocian was capable of.

 

Soccernostalgia Question: After his transfer Venglos took away the captaincy from Chovanec and made Ivan Hasek his new captain. Venglos explained that he wanted a home-based player to be the Captain. What do you think of this decision?

Mr. Joachim Aasan @1990qual response: The manager's decision probably rested mainly on the fact that it was far easier for him to maintain a close connection with Hašek than with Chovanec after the latter's switch abroad. The highly energetic Hašek remained a key player for club and country alike, while as we've already touched on, Chovanec would need some time in order to properly get going at his new club. Stripping the now Netherlands based player of the captaincy could surely not be seen as any form of punishment, nor should it be viewed as particularly dramatic. Chovanec would still remain key to Vengloš.

 

Soccernostalgia Question: Getting back to the two defectors, Lubos Kubik returned to Czechoslovakia and joined Italian side Fiorentina in the summer of 1989. Ivo Knofilcek would have to wait until December 1989 before joining West German side St. Pauli (18 months of inactivity). How is their action looked upon historically?

Mr. Joachim Aasan @1990qual response: First of all: Their story is a remarkable one. It had been Knoflíček's idea originally to defect, and as he was sharing room with Kubík on Slavia Prague's 1988 summer camp in Hannover, West Germany, he persuaded his team mate to join him. It had been Derby County in England who had wanted Knoflíček, much on the back of his two excellent goals for Czechoslovakia against Wales in qualification for the 1988 Euro. Their owner, famous media mogul Robert Maxwell, was himself of Czechoslovak origin, and had been the instigator behind the move. However, in defecting, Knoflíček and Kubík were given 18 months long bans by the football federation, and since they were without official documents, there was no way they were going to enter the UK. They spent half a year at Maxwell's holiday residence in Spain until they obtained Bolivian (!) passports, which would eventually allow them entry into the United Kingdom. Still, once there all they could do was train, and the situation was obviously a tricky one for all parties. While Kubík would return back home to Czechoslovakia for a while, Knoflíček opted to try his luck in Italy, where he had what he thought would be a stop-over with Foggia prior to a move to Juventus. However, whilst there, he was contacted by Ján Kocian, a former team mate from the national side, who was by that time playing for St. Pauli in the West German topflight. Knoflíček was inspired by their conversations, and would travel to Hamburg, looking to impress. He must have done so, as under coach Helmut Schulte he would make his debut for the club in a 2-1 home win against Borussia Monchengladbach in December. Matchwinner? Ivo Knoflíček. Kubík would end up at Fiorentina, where he made his debut at the start of the 1989/90 season, as his ban had been lifted by the FA once he'd returned to his home land. While all of this appears surreal by today's standards, it was very much a fact for players from behind the old Iron Curtain that they were only allowed to join clubs in the West after fulfilling certain criteria, of which age was probably the main one. So it is in this context that Knoflíček and Kubík must be

 

Soccernostalgia Question: The World Cup qualification coincided with the Fall of Communism in Eastern Europe. In fact, Ivan Hasek actually addressed a crowd in November during the protests. Can you give more detail?

Mr. Joachim Aasan @1990qual response: What was unfolding across Eastern Europe around this time was of such proportions, totally unprecedented, and something which obviously was of huge historical significance. The fall of communism and ultimately the break-up of the Soviet Union would have implications also for football, as clubs in Eastern Europe would no longer able to hold on to their major assets. In Czechoslovakia, their 'liberation' became known as the 'Velvet Revolution', and it took place in the second half of November '89. In an interview made by French football magazine 'Onze mondial' with Sparta Prague and the national team's midfield man Michal Bílek, the then 24 year old recollects the memorable days which would redefine the entire Eastern Europe: "We were due to play Inter Bratislava in a league match, and just prior to this students approached us and explained to us what had happened in the protests the previous day, on Nov 17, which they had organized. They asked for our support, which we did not hesitate in providing. The Inter game was called off. Subsequently, we, the Sparta players, released a press statement denouncing the abuse of the totalitarian government. On Nov 21 we joined the general strike. We marched from our stadium to downtown, flags in hand. On Wenceslas Square, our captain Ivan Hašek harangued the extatic crowd, and was received with a standing ovation. I will never forget this date, it was wonderful, totally surreal. The revolution changed my life. That day I stopped being just a footballer; I became a free man."

Photo From: Onze-Mondial, Issue 21, October 1990

(Ivan Hasek)