Controversial
French striker Eric Cantona was part of France’s Lost Generation. The
post-Platini generation that came to prominence post-1986 after the retirements
of Platini, Giresse, Bossis, etc.
He
would have been eligible for the 1990 and specially the 1994 World Cup, when he
was at his absolute best with Manchester United.
Unfortunately
for him, France failed to qualify for either of these World Cups.
Photo
From: Onze, Issue 153, September 1988
(Eric Cantona with Olympique Marseille, 1988/89)
2- Nicolae
Dobrin
Talented
Romanian inside forward Nicolae Dobrin of Arges Pitesti was in line to participate in the 1970 World Cup.
He had scored Romania’s winning goal in a key qualifier vs. Portugal (October
12, 1969, Romania 1-Portugal 0). He had been present in just about all of
Romania’s pre-World Cup friendlies in 1970 and even made the finals squad.
However, he did not play a single match during the World Cup.
He
had previously served a ban for missing a national team get together. However,
it was surprising that Angelo Niculescu, Romania’s manager, who had been
instrumental in overturning his ban, chose to discard him for the Finals.
Photo
From: World Soccer, May 1970
(Nicolae
Dobrin)
3- George
Weah
Liberian
Striker George Weah starred for the likes of AS Monaco, Paris St. Germain and
specially AC Milan and was awarded the 1995 Ballon d’Or.
Despite
his success, his nation was unable to qualify for any World Cups during his
playing days.
Photo
From: The Game, Issue 8, November 1995
(George
Weah, August 27, 1995, Padova 1-AC Milan2 )
4- Ryan
Giggs
Welsh
midfielder Ryan Giggs is perhaps one of the most successful British players
never to appear in a World Cup. Despite winning trophies for two decades for
Manchester United, he missed all the World Cups that he could have played in
his long career, as Wales could never qualify in his playing days.
Photo
From: World Soccer, December 2002
(Ryan
Giggs)
5- Roberto
Mancini
Talented
Italian forward Roberto Mancini was regarded as the future of Italy with
Sampdoria teammate Gianluca Vialli. Azeglio Vicini tried to implement this
partnership at the National team level. However, after the 1988 Euros, Mancini’s
starting position became unsafe as he was to compete with the likes of Aldo
Serena, Andrea Carnevalle, Roberto Baggio and ultimately Salvatore Schillaci
for the right to partner Gianluca Vialli for the 1990 World Cup at home.
Despite
making the finals squad, he did not play a single minute. He was still part of
the Italy set up in the new Arrigo Sacchi regime, however, he took himself out
of reckoning months before the 1994 World Cup, as it appeared that he would not
start.
This was the first match between the nations after rise
of the Nazis and Hitler in power in Germany.
This
match was scheduled to be held at Tottenham Hotspur’s White Hart Lane stadium.
Tottenham had a historically traditional jewish support. There were protests about this match and many wanted
the match to be boycotted.
TUC,
the largest Federation of Trade Unions became involved.
TUC
(Trade Union Congress) asked the Home Office to ban this match. On November 27,
1935, TUC formally requested the match to be called off. Two days later, the
government refused this request.
On
December 2, TUC had an audience with the Home Secretary to no avail.
The
match went ahead with no trouble with England winning (3-0) on December 4,
1935.
Photo
From: Chronik des deutschen fussballs, 2005
(England Captain Edris Hapgood, Swedish Referee Otto Olsson and Germany Captain Fritz Szepan, December
4, 1935, England 3-Germany 0 )
2- Ruud
Krol and false letter to his daughter-1978
The
1978 World Cup was one of the most politically charged tournaments. In various
nations there were calls to boycott the tournament to protest the Videla
Regime. To put a positive face for the World, the magazine ‘El Grafico’
(through obvious governmental pressure) published an open letter on the June 13th
edition, that was allegedly written by Holland Captain Ruud Krol to his
daughter. In this letter, Krol is full of praise of the Argentinean hosts and
tells his daughter that everything is peaceful and ‘soldiers fire flowers from
their guns’.
Krol
denied having ever written that letter.
Photo
From: Mondial, old series, issue 20, July 1978
(Ruud
Krol, June 2, 1978, World Cup, Holland 3-Iran 0)
When
the Yugoslavian conflict started in June 1991, it naturally effected the
National team as well.
In
the fall of 1991, Prior to Yugoslavia’s EC Qualifier vs. Faroe Islands on
October 16th, star midfielder Robert Prosinecki had to remove
himself from national team duty.
He
had been receiving death threats from Croatian extremists if he turned up for
the national team. It is important to remember that Prosinecki’s father was Croatian
and his mother was Serbian.
He
never played for Yugoslavia again and started playing for the new independent
Croatia in 1994.
Photo
From: World Soccer, December 1990
(Robert Prosinecki with Red Star Belgrade)
4- Torsten
Gutschow, 1992
Dynamo
Dresden striker Torsten Gutschow disclosed in early 1992 that during the
Communist era of East Germany, he had spied for the Secret Police Stasi.
He
spied on up to 60 people, including 10 of his teammates. Among others that he
had to spy on were Dynamo Dresden President Wolf-Rudiger Ziegenbalg, Dresden
manager Reinhard Hafner and even his future in-laws.
He
was approached when he was 17. He was in love and Stasi told him either he
would be a spy or would not see the woman he loved.
After
that at matches he was called ‘stasi pig’ and was ostracized, despite appeals
of calm from National team manager
Berti Vogts and Matthias Sammer. He left at the end of that season and joined
Turkey’s Galatasaray, but returned to Germany a year later.
Photo
From: World Soccer, March 1992
(Torsten
Gutschow at Dynamo Dresden)
5- Sheikh
Fahad Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah, 1990
Sheikh
Fahad Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah was the Kuwait FA chief who during the 1982
World Cup match vs. France (June 21, 1982, World cup, France 4-Kuwait 1), came
onto the field and protested Alain Giresse’s goal and was successful in having
it disallowed.
The
Kuwaitis protested that they had stopped playing (and allowed Giresse to score)
after hearing a whistle (which had come from the crowd.)
For his interference an £8.000 fine was imposed
on the Kuwaitis by FIFA.
When Saddam Hussein’s Iraq invaded Kuwait on August 2, 1990, he was killed in
that first day defending the Dasman Palace.
Photo
From: France Football, Issue 2285, January 23, 1990
(The
reunion between Michel Hidalgo and Sheikh Fahd Al Ahmad Al Sabah, January 17,
1990, Kuwait 0-France 1, Sheikh Fahd Al Ahmad Al Sabah was killed less than 7
months later)
Argentina,
now under Carlos Bilardo, played its first match since the 1982 World Cup. They
tied Chile (2-2) at Santiago. The match also marked the debut of Jorge
Burruchaga.
Spain
won an important qualifier at Malta (3-2), though victory was achieved with
some difficulty. Spain had protested that Holland (in December) were able to
play Malta at an alternate location of their choice and had gained an unfair
advantage in doing so.
At
the end of the month, Spain also won another important away qualifier by
defeating Iceland (1-0) in what was goalkeeper Luis Arconada’s record 50th
cap.
Hungary’s
qualification hopes were hampered after a home loss vs. Greece.
Romania
surprisingly lost at home vs. Czechoslovakia to make its qualification far from
certain.
USSR
gained an important away point at Chorzow vs. Poland (1-1).
The
Home Championship of the British Isles took palce at the end of the month.
Italy
continued its post-World Cup nightmare by losing at Sweden (0-2). The Italians
did not win a single match all season.
This
match was also Dino Zoff’s final match for Italy. He retired altogether from
Football at the end of the season. He was 41 years old upon retirement.
Paul
Breitner retired from Football with a Testimonial match involving Bayern Munich
and a World XI selection.
Venue:
Luxembourg -Stade Municipal de Luxembourg, Luxembourg
France 1-Belgium 1 (Didier Six 11/ Eddy Voordeckers 12)
Photo
From: Onze, Issue 102,
June 1984
(Didier Six between Francosi van der Elst and Eric Gerets, May 31, 1983, Luxemburg
Federation-75th Anniversary , France
1-Belgium 1)
Date:
May 31, 1983
Competition:
Paul Breitner Farewell
Venue:
Munich-Olympiastadion
Bayern Munich (West Germany) 2-World XI 3 (Franz Beckenbauer (own goal) 24,
Wolfgang Grobe 76 / Pierre Littbarski 28, Walter Schachner 56, Paul Breitner 85
pen)
June
Denmark
won an important qualifier vs. Hungary (3-1), while England were busy in the
Home Championship with Scotland.
Brazil
toured Europe with four matches. They started with an easy (4-0) win vs. a
weakened Portugal that did not include any Benfica and Porto players.
Brazil
then tied Wales (1-1), defeated Switzerland with difficulty (2-1) and tied with
Sweden (3-3) (25 years after the 1958 World Cup Final).
Romania
gained an important away win at Sweden.
England
and Scotland ended the season by touring Australia and Canada respectively.
They played three matches vs. each opponent.
World
Cup Champions Italy’s conditions worsened as they were unable to even defeat
Cyprus and had to settle for a (1-1) tie. This also turned out to be Franco
Causio’s last cap for Italy. He had been surprisingly recalled by Enzo Bearzot.
France
defeated a weak Portugauese side (3-0) at Guimaraes.
Spain
won a very important qualifier against its most dangerous group rival Holland
at Sevilla through a Juan Senor penalty kick.
England
defeated Wales in the Home Championship.
West
Germany played one of its worst matches in memory in their Friendly defeat vs.
Portugal. Although this match is mostly remembered for the off-the –field
events concerning Portugal.
Benfica
and Sporting omitted majority of their selected players for this match due to
‘injuries.’ They were both still
involved in European Cup Competitions.
From
the original selected squad eleven players withdrew due to ‘injuries’. Benfica only authorized their goalkeeper
Bento for this match.
Portugal
Manager Otto Gloria was so angry that he offered his resignation, which was
rejected. The Portuguese Federation selected the remaining players.
Gloria
was quoted as saying “how can I work in such a madhouse?”
Date:
February 1, 1983
Competition:
Friendly
Venue:
Marsa-Marsa Stadium
Malta 1-Tunisia 2 (Emmanuel Fabri 6/ Fahen 16, Tarek 18)
(Karl-Heinz Rumemnigge and Lima Perreira, to the
right are Eurico and Jaime Pacheco, February 23, 1983, Portugal
1-West Germany 0)
Date:
February 23, 1983
Competition:
Home Championship
Venue:
London - The Empire Stadium Wembley
England 2-Wales 1 (Terry Butcher 39, Phil Neal 78 pen / Ian Rush 14)
Date:
February 23, 1983
Competition:
Friendly
Venue:
Dresden, Rudolf-Harbig-Stadion
East Germany 2-Greece 1 (Hans Richter 18, Joachim Streich 33 / Christos
Ardizoglou 30)
Photo
From: FUWO, Issue 9, March 1, 1983
(February
23, 1983, East Germany 2-Greece 1)
Date:
February 27, 1983
Competition:
Trans Tasman
Cup
Venue:
Melbourne, Olympic Park
Australia 0-New Zealand 2 (Cole 66, Adam 73)
March
France
continued its friendlies by tying USSR (1-1) at home.
Cyprus
surprised another group opponent by tying Czechoslovakia (1-1) at Nicosia.
Scotland
missed its chance to get back on track by tying Switzerland at home, while
group rivals Belgium defeated East Germany (2-1) away from home.
West
Germany defeated Albania (2-1) at Tirana, with Rudi Voeller scoring his first
goal for West Germany. Bernd Schuster missed this match, as his wife was due to
give birth.
England
dropped an important point at home after a scoreless tie at Wembley vs. Greece.
Republic
of Ireland were Malta’s first official opponents at the new Ta’Qali Stadium.
Poland
had to settle for a tie at home vs. Finland.
France
defeated Yugoslavia (4-0) at Paris with goals by debutants: Jose Toure and Yvon
Le Roux.
West
Germany played two away qualifiers. They defeated Turkey (3-0) and managed a
scoreless tie at Vienna vs. Austria.
For
the match vs. Turkey and previous month’s qualifier at Albania, Inter Milan had
not wanted to release Hansi Muller, however they were forced due to UEFA regulations.
Karl-Heinz
Rummenigge had two goals disallowed for offside in the Turkey match. In the
match vs. Austria, Rummenigge scored another goal which was disallowed for
offside.
After
the match, he claimed that even the Austrian players had told him that his goal
was valid.
Spain
defeated Republic of Ireland (2-0) to gain the upper hand in the group.
Denmark and England gained important wins in their group
by defeating Greece (1-0) and Hungary (2-0) respectively.
Belgium
maintained its 100 percent record by defeating East Germany (2-1) just like the
previous month.
USSR
seemed to be the eventual qualifier from its group after defeating Portugal
(5-0) at Moscow.
Brazil
played its first match since the previous year’s World Cup. The team now
managed by Carlos Alberto Pareira defeated Chile (3-2).
Date:
April 5, 1983
Competition:
Friendly
Venue:
Los Angeles, California-Memorial Coliseum, USA
Mexico 2-Guatemala 0 (Mario Díaz 47, Alberto
Padilla 64)
(Frankie Vercauteren, Eric Gerest and Rainer
Troopa and Francois van der Elst and Dirtk Stahmann, April 27, 1983, EC
Qualifier, Belgium 2-East Germany 1)
Date:
April 27, 1983
Competition:
European Championship Qualifying-Group 3
Venue:
London - The Empire Stadium Wembley
England 2-Hungary 0 (Trevor Francis 31, Peter Withe 70)
Date:
April 27, 1983
Competition:
European Championship Qualifying-Group 2
Venue:
Moskva (Moscow)-Tsentral'nyj Stadion imeni Vladimira Il'yicha Lenina (The
Central V.I.Lenin's Stadium)
USSR 5-Portugal 0 (Fyodor Cherenkov 18, 64,
Sergei Rodionov 40, Anatoli Demianenko 50, Nikolai Larionov 87)
Photo
From: Mondial, new
series, issue 41, August 1983
(Oleg Blokhin and Jaime Pacheco, April 27, 1983, EC
Qualifier, USSR 5-Portugal 0)
Date:
April 28, 1983
Competition:
Friendly
Venue:
Rio de Janeiro - Estádio do Maracanã-Estádio Mário Filho
Brazil 3-Chile 2 (Careca 20, Éder 42, Renato 87 / Juan Orellana 37 pen,
61)
