II. 1988/89 season (Spring 1989)
Italy’s
first friendly of the new year (1989) was at Pisa vs. Denmark. Vicini
maintained his defensive formation (along with a substitute appearance by
Ferrara). While Ferrara’s prospects as a starter were unlikely, he was clearly
a dependable deputy in case of injury or suspension.
Vicini
also maintained his standard midfield with Berti ably filling in Ancelotti’s
continued absences.
Upfront
Vicini once again partnered Vialli with Serena, whose best goalsocring season
could not be ignored.
He
further added competition for the spot by giving a debut to Stefano Borgonovo
as a substitute.
Massimo
Crippa would make his last appearance of the season as a substitute.
As
for the rest the likes of Tacconi, Marocchi, Baggio and Mancini remained on the
bench.
The match was another tight affair with Bergomi scraping
a goal for Italians scoring with his chest off a free kick..
Preparatory
Friendly match Number 4-Denmark (February 22, 1989, Pisa)
Date:
February 22, 1989
Competition:
Friendly
Venue: Pisa -Stadio Arena Garibaldi
Attendance: 21,000
Italy
1-Denmark 0 (Guiseppe Bergomi 61)
Italy: Walter
Zenga, Giuseppe Bergomi (captain), Paolo Maldini, Franco
Baresi, Riccardo Ferri (Ciro Ferrara 46), Nicola Berti, Roberto Donadoni
(Massimo Crippa 67), Fernando De Napoli, Gianluca Vialli (Stefano Borgonovo 74),
Giuseppe Giannini, Aldo Serena
Note:
1-In bold, new caps.
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Photo From: Guerin Sportivo, 1989
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Preparatory
Friendly match Number 5-Austria (March 25, 1989, Vienna)
Italy’s next two matches would be on the road days
apart in Austria and Romania. These were Italy’s first two matches away from
home during the preparation phase.
The first match was at Vienna’s Praterstadion
(incidentally they would be Italy’s first opponents at the World Cup in a
year’s time).
For the first time Vicini handed out no debuts and
maintained an unchanged side. At this point in Ancelotti’s absence, Berti was
his replacement and Serena appeared to be the preferred choice upfront with
Vialli.
Borgonovo would make another substitute appearance
replacing the injured Serena early on in the match. Luigi De Agostini would
also earn a substitute appearance at left back. In fact it would be from his
cross that Berti scored the winner near the end with a downward header. Just
prior to the World Cup, Italian Magazine Guerin Sportivo had asked each player,
when they knew they were sure to make the Finals squad. Berti’s response was
that when he scored this winner, he was convinced he was in.
Date:
March 25, 1989
Competition:
Friendly
Venue: Vienna
(Wien)-Praterstadion
Attendance: 23,000
Austria
0-Italy 1 (Nicola Berti 88)
Italy: Walter
Zenga, Giuseppe Bergomi, Paolo Maldini (Luigi De Agostini 46), Franco Baresi, Riccardo
Ferri, Nicola Berti, Roberto Donadoni, Fernando
De Napoli, Gianluca
Vialli, Giuseppe Giannini, Aldo Serena (Stefano Borgonovo 21)
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Photo
From: FUWO, Issue 13, March 28, 1989
(March 25, 1989, Austria 0-Italy 1)
|
 |
Photo
From: (Screen capture)
(March 25, 1989, Austria 0-Italy 1)
|
 |
Photo From: (Screen capture)
(March 25, 1989, Austria 0-Italy 1)
|
Preparatory
Friendly match Number 6-Romania (March 29, 1989, Sibiu)
Four days after their match vs. Austria, Italy faced
Romania in Sibiu. Vicini rested Maldini and gave a start to Ferrara. While
Serena’s injury forced absence allowed Borgonovo to start for the first and
only time.
Italy lost for the first time in this preparation
period as Sabau’s goal made the difference.
The second-half introductions of Maldini, Baggio and
Marocchi made no difference.
Back-up goalkeeper Tacconi and the Napoli pair of
Fusi and Crippa were the only players on the tour who saw no action.
Date:
March 29, 1989
Competition:
Friendly
Venue: Sibiu, Municipal Stadium
Attendance: 20,000
Romania
1-Italy 0 (Ioan Ovidiu Sabau 48)
Italy: Walter
Zenga, Giuseppe
Bergomi (captain)
(Giancarlo Marocchi 51), Ciro Ferrara,
Franco Baresi, Riccardo Ferri (Paolo Maldini 38), Nicola Berti, Roberto
Donadoni (Roberto Baggio 65), Fernando De Napoli, Gianluca Vialli, Giuseppe Giannini, Stefano
Borgonovo
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Photo
From: Guerin Sportivo, Issue 739 (Number 15),
April 12-18, 1989
(March 29, 1989, Romania 1-Italy 0)
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Preparatory
Friendly match Number 7-Uruguay (April 22, 1989, Verona)
The season drew to a close with another two-match
series this time at home vs. Uruguay and Hungary.
Italy faced a South American Nation (and
non-European) for the first time during the preparation at Verona on April 22nd.
The need for experimentation and especially the
European club competitions’ semifinals (on April 19th) forced Vicini
for a reshuffle.
The standard defensive formation was maintained with
the exception of De Agostini starting at left-back instead of Maldini. In
midfield, Berti and Giannini kept their places. Donadoni and De Napoli were
rested with Marocchi and Baggio starting in their place. Vialli and Serena were
paired upfront.
Despite maintaining Serena, Vicini was still not
convinced with the position and gave an International debut to Napoli striker
Andrea Carnevale as a substitute.
The match ended in a (1-1) tie and is also
remembered for Baggio’s first goal for the National Team (from a free kick).
Date:
April 22, 1989
Competition:
Friendly
Venue: Verona
-Stadio Marc'Antonio Bentegodi
Attendance: 15,000
Italy
1-Uruguay 1 (Roberto Baggio 65 / Carlos Aguilera 83)
Italy: Walter
Zenga (Stefano Tacconi 46), Giuseppe Bergomi (captain), Luigi De Agostini, Franco Baresi, Riccardo Ferri, Nicola Berti, Roberto Baggio, Giancarlo
Marocchi, Gianluca Vialli (Andrea Carnevale 40), Giuseppe Giannini, Aldo
Serena
Note:
1-In bold, new caps.
 |
Photo
From: Guerin Sportivo, Issue 741 (Number 17), April 26-May 2, 1989
(April 22,
1989, Italy 1-Uruguay 1)
|
 |
Photo
From: Onze-Mondial, Issue 5, June 1989
(April 22,
1989, Italy 1-Uruguay 1)
|
Preparatory
Friendly match Number 8-Hungary (April 26, 1989, Taranto)
Four days later at Taranto, Italy faced a weak
Hungarian side. Vicini chose to rest Bergomi with Ferrara deputizing for him
Maldini was back in defense.
Donadoni and De Napoli likewise took their customary
spots in midfield with Berti and Giannini. Upfront, Vicini chose to partner
Vialli with Carnevale.
It was a comfortable win for the Italians (4-0) and
a positive way to close out the season with Carnevale scoring in his second
match and stake a claim for the coveted spot to partner Vialli.
As
this first season of preparation closed, Vicini was as confident as ever in his
defensive formation of Zenga-Bergomi-Baresi-Ferri-Maldini with Tacconi, Ferrara
and De Agostini as able alternatives.
In
midfield, Ancelotti’s absence was worrisome but Berti’s was a welcome addition.
Donadoni, De Napoli and Giannini were also set in their positions, but did not
seem to have adequate alternatives.
The
continuous debate centered around who could partner Vialli upfront as Mancini,
Serena, Borgonovo and now Carnevale were all tested without much success.
Baggio’s
potential was obvious but his final position in the squad was still unclear at
this point.
From
the newcomers, Berti had been the most consistent addition. Mancini appeared to
be in a worse position than the year before, while the likes of Fusi and Crippa
seemed unlikely to dislodge anyone.
Date:
April 26, 1989
Competition:
Friendly
Venue: Taranto
-Stadio Erasmo Jacovone
Attendance: 25,000
Italy
4-Hungary 0 (Gianluca Vialli 8, Riccardo Ferri 53, Nicola Berti 67, Andrea
Carnevale 77)
Italy: Walter
Zenga, Ciro Ferrara, Paolo Maldini (Giuseppe Bergomi 78), Franco
Baresi, Riccardo Ferri, Nicola Berti, Roberto Donadoni, Fernando De Napoli, Gianluca Vialli (captain)
(Aldo Serena 46), Giuseppe Giannini (Luca Fusi 73), Andrea Carnevale
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Photo
From: Guerin Sportivo
(April 26, 1989, Italy 4-Hungary 0)
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Photo
From: (Screen capture)
(Team Captains, April 26, 1989, Italy 4-Hungary 0)
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Photo
From: (Screen capture)
(April 26, 1989, Italy 4-Hungary 0)
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