Bulgaria and Republic of Ireland caused colossal upsets
Roberto Baggio starred and sobbed as Italy advanced
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Giant’s Stadium East Rutherford, New Jersey ‘The Swamp’ had staged some stratospheric events. Pele had made the sport-entrancing final appearance of his career at Giants Stadium. Bryan Adams, Aerosmith, Pink Floyd, Bruce Springsteen, The Jacksons and The Police had put on unforgettable concerts there. The New York Giants and the New York Jets called it home. Now, the finest Bermuda grass had been laid on its surface for something bigger than Giants Stadium had ever seen: the 1994 FIFA World Cup USA™.
Houghton (11) Group E Attendance: 75,338
Italy: Gianluca Pagliuca; Mauro Tassotti, Franco Baresi, Alessandro Costacurta, Paolo Maldini; Roberto Donadoni, Dino Baggio, Demetrio Albertini, Alberico Evani (Daniele Massaro); Roberto Baggio, Beppe Signori (Nicola Berti). Coach: Arrigo Sacchi Republic of Ireland: Packie Bonner; Denis Irwin, Paul McGrath, Phil Babb, Terry Phelan; Ray Houghton (Jason McAteer), Roy Keane, John Sheridan, Andy Townsend, Steve Staunton; Tommy Coyne (John Aldridge). Coach: Jack Charlton
Masses of Irish diehards painted Giants Stadium green. They erupted early on when Houghton’s excellent, imaginative strike put Jack Charlton’s underdogs ahead. Thereafter, with McGrath the immovable general of a heroic defensive army, the Republic held firm to pull off a seismic upset.
Going into the game, the Irish had lost all seven of their encounters with Italy, who fielded seven of the AC Milan squad that had dismantled Barcelona’s ‘Dream Team’ 4-0 in the UEFA Champions League final exactly one month earlier.
Only 10 players lined up for Ireland’s pre-match photo. Terry Phelan had planned on playing in moulded boots, but minutes before kick-off decided to run back and change into studs – much to the irritation of coach Jack Charlton.
After the match, the Ireland fans went en masse to celebrate in, of all places, Little Italy – the Manhattan neighbourhood renowned for its Italian population. There, the Italian bar and restaurant owners graciously served the euphoric Irish as they partied until the early hours.
“Walking out into the stadium and seeing that crowd is something I’ll never forget. The noise just went off. It was at least 80 per cent Irish, probably higher. We were all just looking at each other, amazed. We just knew it was our day.” Paul McGrath
“Maybe missing the team photo was a blessing in disguise. Maybe Italy thought they were only playing against 10 men! When ‘Razor’ scored, I was the first one there. I thought I was dreaming. I made up for not being in the team photo by getting into one of the most famous Irish football photos of all time. I get goose-pimples now even thinking about it.” Terry Phelan
Matthaus pen (47), Stoichkov (75), Letchkov (78) Quarter-finals Attendance: 72,416
Bulgaria: Borislav Mihaylov; Iliyan Kiryakov, Petar Hubchev, Trifon Ivanov, Tsanko Tsvetanov; Zlatko Yankov, Iordan Letchkov, Krasimir Balakov; Emil Kostadinov (Boncho Genchev), Nasko Sirakov, Hristo Stoichkov (Ivaylo Yordanov). Coach: Dimitar Penev Germany: Bodo Illgner; Thomas Berthold, Thomas Helmer, Guido Buchwald, Jurgen Kohler, Martin Wagner (Thomas Strunz); Thomas Hassler (Andreas Brehme), Lothar Matthaus, Andreas Moller; Rudi Voller, Jurgen Klinsmann. Coach: Beti Vogts
Bulgaria’s Stateside debut ended in a 3-0 thrashing by Nigeria that extended the worst record in World Cup history: zero victories from 17 attempts. Dimitar Penev’s troops nonetheless scraped past Mexico on spot-kicks to reach the last eight, but that’s where everyone expected their journey to end.
Germany were unbeaten in 11 games in the competition and were out to amplify their record of consecutive final appearances to four. Matthaus’s penalty adhered to the script, only for a glorious Stoichkov free-kick and an immortal Letchkov header to rip it off the press.
Stefan Effenberg, the imperial yet ungovernable playmaker, was sent home after flicking his middle finger at the Germany supporters when being substituted during their victory over Korea Republic. He later insisted “Germany would not have lost with me on the pitch” – a sentiment shared by multiple team-mates.
After going 120 minutes against Mexico in the last 16, Penev believed it advantageous for his players to do as little training as possible before the quarter-finals. They therefore went sightseeing across the Hudson River in New York, spent time in the pool and, the day before the biggest game of their lives, enjoyed a few beers to celebrate Letchkov’s birthday.
“Bulgaria will win and I will score. It’s my daughter’s birthday tomorrow, I promised her a goal against Germany and I will not break my promise. I have the feeling God is Bulgarian, and I’m absolutely sure Cinderella is Bulgaria at this World Cup.” Hristo Stoichkov on the eve of the game
“Relax. With my bloodthirsty look, they will be scared to death. Rudi Voller will fall to the ground when he feels my breath.” Trifon Ivanov on what he told his coach pre-match
Baggio (21 & 25), Stoichkov pen (44) Semi-finals Attendance: 77,094
Bulgaria: Borislav Mihaylov; Iliyan Kiryakov, Petar Hubchev, Trifon Ivanov, Tsanko Tsvetanov; Zlatko Yankov, Iordan Letchkov, Krasimir Balakov; Emil Kostadinov (Boncho Genchev), Nasko Sirakov, Hristo Stoichkov (Ivaylo Yordanov). Coach: Dimitar Penev Italy: Gianluca Pagliuca; Roberto Mussi, Alessandro Costacurta, Paolo Maldini, Antonio Benarrivo; Nicola Berti, Dino Baggio (Antonio Conte), Demetrio Albertini, Roberto Donadoni; Roberto Baggio (Beppe Signori), Pierluigi Casiraghi. Coach: Arrigo Sacchi
It was billed as a showdown between Stoichkov and Baggio. Neither finished it, but one had done more damage than the other before hobbling off. The Italy No10 shimmied inside two opponents before picking out the bottom corner from just outside the box, before clinically netting the second after a through-ball from the brilliant Albertini.
Bulgarian bruiser Trifon Ivanov, who owned a tank he used to drive around the countryside, broke one of Roberto Baggio’s teeth in an aerial duel. Uncharacteristically, ‘The Wolf’ offered to help ‘The Divine Ponytail’ up, making for one of the most iconic photos of USA 1994.
Stoichkov’s goal saw him finish as the tournament’s joint-top scorer alongside Oleg Salenko. ‘The Dagger’ thus became the first and only man to achieve the feat having netted every goal with his left foot.
“We believed we would win. With our performance, we could have won. It wasn’t to be, but I’m exceptionally proud of my players. They have given Bulgarian people a month they will remember for the rest of their lives.” Dimitar Penev “This is my work. This is my life. It’s made of sweat and tears. This time I cried because I am very, very happy.” Roberto Baggio, who wept uncontrollably upon the final whistle
Sources: FIFA Official
