Month: February 2024

Group A.

09.06.90 (21.00) Roma, Stadio Olimpico

ITA – AUT 1:0 (0:0)

(+72000) Wright BRA, Pérez COL, Valente POR

ITA: Zenga – F.Baresi, Bergomi (c), Ferri, Maldini – Ancelotti (46 de Agostini),
de Napoli, Giannini – Donadoni, Carnevale (76 Schillaci), Vialli
AUT: Lindenberger – Russ, Pecl, Aigner, Streiter – Schöttel, Linzmaier
(81 Hörtnagl), Artner (61 Zsak), Herzog – Polster (c), Ogris

1:0 Schillaci 78 h

booked: Herzog

10.06.90 (17.00) Florence, Stadio Communale

CZE – USA 5:1 (2:0)

(+33000) Röthlisberger SUI, Schmidhuber GER, Van Langenhove BEL

CZE: Stejskal – Straka, Kadlec, Kocian, Hašek (c) – Kubik, Bilek, Chovanec,
Moravčik (83 Weiss) – Skuhravý, Knofliček (77 Luhový)
USA: Meola (c) – Trittschuh, Windischmann, Armstrong, Wynalda – Caligiuri, Ramos,
Harkes, Stollmeyer (64 Balboa) – Murray (79 Sullivan), Vermes

1:0 Skuhravý 25, 2:0 Bilek 39 p, 3:0 Hašek 50 h, 3:1 Caliguri 61, 4:1 Skuhravý
78 h, 5:1 Luhový 90 (88 Meola saved a penalty by Bilek)

booked: Kubik, Kadlec / Meola, Trittschuh
sent off: Wynalda (52)

ITA – AUT 1:0 (0:0)

(+72000) Wright BRA, Pérez COL, Valente POR

ITA: Zenga – F.Baresi, Bergomi (c), Ferri, Maldini – Ancelotti (46 de Agostini),
de Napoli, Giannini – Donadoni, Carnevale (76 Schillaci), Vialli
AUT: Lindenberger – Russ, Pecl, Aigner, Streiter – Schöttel, Linzmaier
(81 Hörtnagl), Artner (61 Zsak), Herzog – Polster (c), Ogris

1:0 Schillaci 78 h

booked: Herzog

10.06.90 (17.00) Florence, Stadio Communale

CZE – USA 5:1 (2:0)

(+33000) Röthlisberger SUI, Schmidhuber GER, Van Langenhove BEL

CZE: Stejskal – Straka, Kadlec, Kocian, Hašek (c) – Kubik, Bilek, Chovanec,
Moravčik (83 Weiss) – Skuhravý, Knofliček (77 Luhový)
USA: Meola (c) – Trittschuh, Windischmann, Armstrong, Wynalda – Caligiuri, Ramos,
Harkes, Stollmeyer (64 Balboa) – Murray (79 Sullivan), Vermes

1:0 Skuhravý 25, 2:0 Bilek 39 p, 3:0 Hašek 50 h, 3:1 Caliguri 61, 4:1 Skuhravý
78 h, 5:1 Luhový 90 (88 Meola saved a penalty by Bilek)

booked: Kubik, Kadlec / Meola, Trittschuh
sent off: Wynalda (52)

14.06.90 (21.00) Roma, Stadio Olimpico

ITA – USA 1:0 (1:0)

(+73000) Codesal MEX, Ulloa COS, Cardellino URU

ITA: Zenga – F.Baresi, Bergomi (c), Ferri, Maldini – Berti, de Napoli, Giannini,
Donadoni – Carnevale (52 Schillaci), Vialli
USA: Meola (c) – Doyle, Banks (81 Stollmeyer), Windischmann, Armstrong –
Balboa, Caligiuri, Ramos, Harkes – Murray (83 Sullivan), Vermes

1:0 Giannini 11 (20 Vialli missed penalty)

booked: Ferri / Banks

15.06.94 (17.00) Florence, Stadio Communale

CZE – AUT 1:0 (1:0)

(-39000) Smith SCO, Al-Sharif SYR, Lorenc AUS

CZE: Stejskal – Kadlec, Kocian, Hašek (c), Kubik – Bilek, Chovanec (32
Bielik), Moravčik, Nemeček – Skuhravý, Knofliček (83 Weiss)
AUT: Lindenberger – Pfeffer, Pecl, Aigner, Russ (46 Streiter) – Schöttel
(46 Ogris), Hörtnagl, Zsak, Herzog – Rodax, Polster (c)

1:0 Bilek 30 p

booked: Moravčik, Kubik / Pecl, Zsak, Streiter, Pfeiffer

19.06.90 (21.00) Roma, Stadio Olimpico

ITA – CZE 2:0 (1:0)

(+73000) Quiniou FRA, Van Langenhove BEL, Smith SCO

ITA: Zenga – F.Baresi, Bergomi (c), Ferri, Maldini – Berti, de Napoli
(66 Vierchowod), Giannini, Donadoni (52 de Agostini) – R.Baggio, Schillaci
CZE: Stejskal – Kadlec, Kinier, Hašek (c), Bilek – Chovanec, Moravčik, Nemeček
(46 Bielik) – Skuhravý, Knofliček, Weiss (58 Griga)

1:0 Schillaci 9 h, 2:0 R.Baggio 78

booked: R.Baggio, Berti / Chovanec, Skuhravý

19.06.90 (21.00) Florence, Stadio Communale

AUT – USA 2:1 (0:0)

(-35000) Al-Sharif SYR, Lorenc AUS, Petrović JUG

AUT: Lindenberger – Pfeffer, Pecl, Aigner, Streiter – Artner, Ogris,
Zsak, Herzog – Rodax (86 Glatzmeyer), Polster (c – 46 Reisinger)
USA: Meola (c) – Doyle, Banks (55 Wynalda), Windischmann, Armstrong –
Balboa, Caligiuri (83 Bliss), Ramos, Harkes – Murray, Vermes

1:0 Ogris 52, 2:0 Rodax 65, 2:1 Murray 85

booked: Zsak, Pecl, Reisinger, Lindenberger, Streiter / Caliguri, Banks,
Murray, Windischmann
sent off: Artner (34)

1. ITA^ 3 3 0 0 6 4-0
2. CZE^ 3 2 0 1 4 6-3
3. AUT 3 1 0 2 2 2-3
4. USA 3 0 0 3 0 2-8
Anything memorable in this group? Apart from the goals Czechoslovakia scored against USA, very little. Italy struggled terribly and Vicini had to make desperate changes in the striking line – the little known substitute Schillaci was the savior and gradually became the first choice. Czechoslovakia managed to reach its goal and took it easy against Italy. Austria… hard work does not pay off. USA – nothing really.

Group A. Italy, Czechoslovakia, Austria, USA.
Italy

Head coach: Azeglio Vicini
No.
Pos.
Player
Date of birth (age)
Caps
Club
1
GK
Walter Zenga
28 April 1960 (aged 30)
35
Internazionale
2
DF
Franco Baresi
8 May 1960 (aged 30)
39
Milan
3
DF
Giuseppe Bergomi (c)
22 December 1963 (aged 26)
65
Internazionale
4
DF
Luigi De Agostini
7 April 1961 (aged 29)
24
Juventus
5
DF
Ciro Ferrara
11 February 1967 (aged 23)
16
Napoli
6
DF
Riccardo Ferri
20 August 1963 (aged 26)
29
Internazionale
7
DF
Paolo Maldini
26 June 1968 (aged 21)
19
Milan
8
DF
Pietro Vierchowod
6 April 1959 (aged 31)
29
Sampdoria
9
MF
Carlo Ancelotti
10 June 1959 (aged 30)
22
Milan
10
MF
Nicola Berti
14 April 1967 (aged 23)
11
Internazionale
11
MF
Fernando De Napoli
15 March 1964 (aged 26)
38
Napoli
12
GK
Stefano Tacconi
13 May 1957 (aged 33)
5
Juventus
13
MF
Giuseppe Giannini
20 August 1964 (aged 25)
34
Roma
14
MF
Giancarlo Marocchi
4 July 1965 (aged 24)
7
Juventus
15
FW
Roberto Baggio
18 February 1967 (aged 23)
8
Fiorentina
16
FW
Andrea Carnevale
12 January 1961 (aged 29)
8
Napoli
17
MF
Roberto Donadoni
9 September 1963 (aged 26)
29
Milan
18
FW
Roberto Mancini
27 November 1964 (aged 25)
20
Sampdoria
19
FW
Salvatore Schillaci
1 December 1964 (aged 25)
1
Juventus
20
FW
Aldo Serena
25 June 1960 (aged 29)
18
Internazionale
21
FW
Gianluca Vialli
9 July 1964 (aged 25)
42
Sampdoria
22
GK
Gianluca Pagliuca
18 December 1966 (aged 23)
0
Sampdoria
Traditional favourite, this time number one favourite – at home nothing less was expected and
demanded, internationally the team was considered the most possible new World champion. Naturally, the group favourite and, naturally, the host had the easiest group. Qualifying to the next stage was sure. Vicini promised and built new and younger squad, which looked formidable. However… recent results were rather alarming and the pressure was building: Vicini was given enough comfort – the disappointing performance at the 1988 European finals was forgiven for the aim was to win the World Cup. But in football nothing really is forgotten and the recent weak results brought massive criticism of coach and players. The pressure was disruptive and affected the team negatively. Vicini’s pleading to leave the team in peace to prepare for the task was ignored as usual.
Czechoslovakia

Head coach: Jozef Vengloš

No.

Pos.
Player
Date of birth (age)
Caps
Club
1
GK
Jan Stejskal
15 January 1962 (aged 28)
16
Sparta Prague
2
DF
Július Bielik
8 March 1962 (aged 28)
16
Sparta Prague
3
DF
Miroslav Kadlec
22 June 1964 (aged 25)
20
TJ Vítkovice
4
MF
Ivan Hašek (c)
6 September 1963 (aged 26)
42
Sparta Prague
5
DF
Ján Kocian
13 March 1958 (aged 32)
13
FC St. Pauli
6
DF
František Straka
21 May 1958 (aged 32)
32
Borussia Mönchengladbach
7
MF
Michal Bílek
13 April 1965 (aged 25)
20
Sparta Prague
8
MF
Jozef Chovanec
7 March 1960 (aged 30)
42
PSV
9
MF
Luboš Kubík
20 January 1964 (aged 26)
21
Fiorentina
10
FW
Tomáš Skuhravý
7 September 1965 (aged 24)
22
Sparta Prague
11
MF
Ľubomír Moravčík
22 June 1965 (aged 24)
16
Plastika Nitra
12
DF
Peter Fieber
16 May 1964 (aged 26)
3
Dunajská Streda
13
MF
Jiří Němec
15 May 1966 (aged 24)
1
Dukla Prague
14
MF
Vladimír Weiss
22 September 1964 (aged 25)
15
Inter Bratislava
15
DF
Vladimír Kinier
6 April 1958 (aged 32)
9
Slovan Bratislava
16
FW
Viliam Hýravý
26 November 1962 (aged 27)
10
Baník Ostrava
17
FW
Ivo Knoflíček
23 February 1962 (aged 28)
28
FC St. Pauli
18
FW
Milan Luhový
1 January 1963 (aged 27)
28
Sporting Gijón
19
FW
Stanislav Griga
4 November 1961 (aged 28)
32
Feyenoord
20
MF
Václav Němeček
25 January 1967 (aged 23)
17
Sparta Prague
21
GK
Luděk Mikloško
9 December 1961 (aged 28)
32
West Ham United
22
GK
Peter Palúch
17 February 1958 (aged 32)
0
Plastika Nitra
The well known and highly respected Jozef Venglos was at the helm with his usual assistant Vaclav Jezek. In 1976 the duo made Czechoslovakia European champion – but 1990 was nothing like 1976… there were not enough high quality players. Political change helped Venglos – the defectors Ivo Knoflicek (FC St. Pauli) and Lubos Kubik (Fiorentina) were forgiven and no longer criminals and traitors, they were back in the team. There was some young talent, but the key players were rather old (Straka, Griga, Chovanec, even Knoflicek) and as whole the team was not great. Most likely second finisher in the group, but going beyond the second stage was highly unlikely.
Austria

Standing from left: Hörtnagl, Polster, Aigner, Pecl, Schöttel and Rodax.
Front row: Russ, Zsak, Lindenberger, Pfeffer and Herzog.
Head coach: Josef Hickersberger
No.
Pos.
Player
Date of birth (age)
Caps
Club
1
GK
Klaus Lindenberger
28 May 1957 (aged 33)
37
Swarovski Tirol
2
DF
Ernst Aigner
31 October 1966 (aged 23)
7
Austria Vienna
3
DF
Robert Pecl
15 November 1965 (aged 24)
19
Rapid Vienna
4
DF
Anton Pfeffer
17 August 1965 (aged 24)
21
Austria Vienna
5
DF
Peter Schöttel
26 March 1967 (aged 23)
11
Rapid Vienna
6
MF
Manfred Zsak
22 December 1964 (aged 25)
28
Austria Vienna
7
DF
Kurt Russ
23 November 1964 (aged 25)
20
First Vienna FC
8
DF
Peter Artner
20 May 1966 (aged 24)
21
Admira Wacker
9
FW
Toni Polster (c)
10 March 1964 (aged 26)
36
Sevilla
10
MF
Manfred Linzmaier
27 August 1962 (aged 27)
19
Swarovski Tirol
11
MF
Alfred Hörtnagl
24 September 1966 (aged 23)
10
Swarovski Tirol
12
MF
Michael Baur
16 April 1969 (aged 21)
1
Swarovski Tirol
13
FW
Andreas Ogris
7 October 1964 (aged 25)
28
Austria Vienna
14
FW
Gerhard Rodax
29 August 1965 (aged 24)
16
Admira Wacker
15
FW
Christian Keglevits
29 January 1961 (aged 29)
15
Rapid Vienna
16
MF
Andreas Reisinger
14 October 1963 (aged 26)
6
Rapid Vienna
17
FW
Heimo Pfeifenberger
29 December 1966 (aged 23)
3
Rapid Vienna
18
DF
Michael Streiter
19 January 1966 (aged 24)
8
Swarovski Tirol
19
MF
Gerald Glatzmayer
14 December 1968 (aged 21)
5
First Vienna FC
20
MF
Andi Herzog
10 September 1968 (aged 21)
16
Rapid Vienna
21
GK
Michael Konsel
6 March 1962 (aged 28)
5
Rapid Vienna
22
GK
Otto Konrad
1 November 1964 (aged 25)
2
Sturm Graz
With some luck – namely, Czechoslovakian underperformance – Austria could finish second, but most likely 3rd. The current generation was rather short on talent and the squad shows it: only Tony Polster played abroad. Conflicts did not help either – Hickersberger clash with veteran Weber left Austria without its best defender. The team was not happy with the coach, yet, the coach stayed. Only one player remained from the 1982 World Cup squad – the goalkeeper Lindenberger – so there was little old influence to bring up spirit and motivation. Except Polster and Keglewits there were no big stars – all depended on collective play and… Polster. The star was not in great situation, though – there was public hostility to him and accusation of egoism and little motivation to play for his country. It was very questionable Austria could reach the next stage even when 4 out of 6 third-placed teams were going ahead.
United States

Head coach: Bob Gansler
No.
Pos.
Player
Date of birth (age)
Caps
Club
1
GK
Tony Meola
21 February 1969 (aged 21)
17
Virginia Cavaliers
2
DF
Steve Trittschuh
24 April 1965 (aged 25)
29
Tampa Bay Rowdies
3
DF
John Doyle
16 March 1966 (aged 24)
21
S.F. Bay Blackhawks
4
DF
Jimmy Banks
2 September 1964 (aged 25)
26
Milwaukee Wave
5
DF
Mike Windischmann (c)
6 December 1965 (aged 24)
42
Albany Capitals
6
MF
John Harkes
8 March 1967 (aged 23)
28
Albany Capitals
7
MF
Tab Ramos
21 September 1966 (aged 23)
23
Figueres
8
DF
Brian Bliss
28 September 1965 (aged 24)
23
Albany Capitals
9
FW
Christopher Sullivan
18 April 1965 (aged 25)
15
Győri
10
FW
Peter Vermes
21 November 1966 (aged 23)
20
Volendam
11
FW
Eric Wynalda
9 June 1969 (aged 20)
13
S.F. Bay Blackhawks
12
DF
Paul Krumpe
4 March 1963 (aged 27)
16
Real Santa Barbara
13
FW
Eric Eichmann
7 May 1965 (aged 25)
21
Fort Lauderdale Strikers
14
MF
John Stollmeyer
25 October 1962 (aged 27)
28
Washington Stars
15
DF
Desmond Armstrong
2 November 1964 (aged 25)
14
Baltimore Blast
16
FW
Bruce Murray
25 January 1966 (aged 24)
38
Washington Stars
17
DF
Marcelo Balboa
8 August 1967 (aged 22)
18
San Diego Nomads
18
GK
Kasey Keller
29 November 1969 (aged 20)
6
Portland Timbers
19
MF
Chris Henderson
11 December 1970 (aged 19)
5
UCLA Bruins
20
MF
Paul Caligiuri
9 March 1964 (aged 26)
33
SV Meppen
21
MF
Neil Covone
31 August 1969 (aged 20)
5
Wake Forest Demon Deacons
22
GK
David Vanole
6 February 1963 (aged 27)
13
Los Angeles Heat
Anonymous team, anonymous coach – the typical outsider. Definitely last, may be happy to score a goal, but not to win a point. Perhaps for the team USA qualifying to the World Cup was most important for the future: as getting familiar with World finals which they were to host in 1994. In a way, getting the boys used to such a championship, so not to be entirely hopeless 4 years later at home. Most players had some kind of clubs, but in fact they trained for a long time together and the national team was their club and playing experience. Only four of them played professionally in Europe and their current clubs speak loudly for the low place the Americans had in the world of football: Sullivan played for the strongest foreign club and it was the Hungarian Gyori. Caligiuri and Ramos played Second Division (at best) in West Germany and Spain, Vermes played for lowly Volendam in Holland. The Americans were practically nothing and modestly did not expect miracles. The team was young – clearly the aim was 1994, not 1990.