Category: 1989

Copa America. Squads and chances.

Group A. Brazil, Colombia, Paraguay, Peru, and Venezuela. Most games played in Salvador; the last 2 games in Recife.

Brazil

1 Cláudio André TAFFAREL Internacional 2 MAZINHO – Iomar Do Nascimento Vasco Da Gama 3 MAURO Geraldo GALVÃO Botafogo (Río de Janeiro) 4 ANDRÉ Alves da CRUZ Ponte Preta 5 BRANCO – Cláudio Ibraim Vaz Porto (POR) 6 RICARDO GOMES Raymundo Benfica (POR) 7 BEBETO – José Gama de Oliveira Flamengo 8 GEOVANNI Faría da Silva Vasco Da Gama 9 VALDO Candido Benfica (POR) 10 TITA – Milton Queiroz da Paivão Pescara (ITA) 11 ROMÁRIO Faría De Souza PSV Eindhoven (HOL) 12 ACACIO Cordeiro Barreto Vasco Da Gama 13 JOSIMAR Higino Pereira Botafogo (Río de Janeiro) 14 ALDAIR Nascimento Santos Flamengo 15 ALEMÃO – Ricardo R. de Brito Napoli (ITA) 16 CRISTÓVÃO Borges Dos Santos Grêmio 17 DUNGA – Carlos Bledorn Fiorentina (ITA) 18 RENATO GAÚCHO – R. Portaluppi AS Roma (ITA) 19 BALTAZAR María de Moraes Junior Atlético Madrid (ESP) 20 Paulo SILAS Sporting Lisbon (POR) 21 CHARLES Fabián Figueiredo Bahía 22 ZÉ CARLOS – José C. Da Costa Flamengo

Coach: Sebastião LAZARONI (pictured in 2011).
Natural favourite for any reason. Yet, Lazaroni was newly appointed coach under heavy criticism. His squad was unfinished, still in building – the reason he wanted 24-men squads at Copa America. Some players he had in mind were missing and it is also good to look at his 25-men selection made a bit after Copa America for the World Cup qualifications:

Some from Copa America squad dismissed, some others included. Clearly, in 1989 the team fluctuated and Lazaroni was searching. Still, most names were already well established stars, so it was hardly a team started from scratch. Enough class to win anything, if names alone win. The downside was exactly the early stage of the building process and that collided with high expectations garnished with criticism, scandals and unavailable for various reasons players.

Colombia

1 José René HIGUITA Atlético Nacional 2 Andrés ESCOBAR Atlético Nacional 3 Gildardo Biderman GÓMEZ Atlético Nacional 4 Wilson Enrique PÉREZ Atlético Júnior 5 Carlos Mario HOYOS Deportivo Cali 6 Gabriel Jaime GÓMEZ Independiente Medellín 7 Anthony William DE AVILA América (Cali) 8 Alexis Enrique GARCÍA Atlético Nacional 9 Sergio ANGULO América (Cali) 10 Carlos Alberto VALDERRAMA Montpellier (FRA) 11 Bernardo REDÍN Deportivo Cali 12 León Fernando VILLA Atlético Nacional 13 Alexis Antonio MENDOZA Atlético Júnior 14 Leonel de Jesús ALVAREZ Atlético Nacional 15 Luis Carlos PEREA Atlético Nacional 16 Arnoldo Alberto IGUARÁN Millonarios 17 John Jairo TRÉLLEZ Atlético Nacional 18 Wilmer CABRERA Independiente Santa Fé 19 Eduardo NIÑO Independiente Santa Fé 20 Ruben Darío HERNÁNDEZ Millonarios

Coach: Francisco Antonio MATURANA
Exciting team and exciting coach. Colombia’s ascend was noted at the 1987 Copa America and since all stars were at hand, much was expected from the team. Seemingly, the atmosphere was good – no scandals, no problems. The boys played together for some time, it was already made and shaped team. The flamboyant goalkeeper Rene Higuita was a liability, but… he was quintessential South American showman, much loved and highly entertaining… and those qualities made him absolute staple of the team. Anyway, Colombia was expected to qualify to the final stage, if not more.

Paraguay

1 Luis Nery CABALLERO Guaraní 2 Augusto CHAMORRO Atlético Colegiales 3 Virginio CÁCERES Guaraní 4 Adolfino CAÑETE Talleres (Córdoba) (ARG) 5 Darío René ESPÍNOLA Sol de América 6 Rogelio Wilfrido DELGADO Independiente (ARG) 7 Roberto Eladio FERNÁNDEZ Cerro Porteño 8 Buenaventura FERREIRA Guaraní 9 Julio César FRANCO Guaraní 10 Jorge Alberto GUASCH Olimpia 11 Justo Pastor JACQUET Cerro Porteño 12 Alfredo Damián MENDOZA Olimpia 13 Gustavo Alfredo NEFFA Olimpia 14 Eumelio Ramón PALACIOS Libertad 15 Catalino RIVAROLA Cerro Porteño 16 Félix BRÍTEZ ROMÁN Cerro Porteño 17 Rubén Martín RUIZ DÍAZ Talleres (Córdoba) (ARG) 18 Carlos Vidal SANABRIA Olimpia 19 Juan Bautista TORALES Libertad 20 César ZABALA Cerro Porteño 21 Ramón Alfredo ESCOBAR River Plate Carlos Alberto GUIRLAND Olimpia Félix Ricardo TORRES Sol de América

Coach: Eduardo Luján MANERA (ARG)
On the surface, Paraguay was in rough shape – its greatest stars were unavailable and without them… but on the other hand, it was Paraguay. Always fighting and hard to beat. In South America people were reluctant to dismiss Paraguay – if there was a team capable of surprises, it was Paraguay. It was rumoured that the squad was in preparation for 14 months – whether true or not, the rumour made everybody cautious. Expected to finish 3rd in the group, but there was always ‘but’.

Peru

1 César Humberto CHÁVEZ Universitario 2 Jorge Enrique TALAVERA Internacional 3 Juan Máximo REYNOSO Alianza Lima 4 Jorge Fausto ARTEAGA Sporting Cristal 5 Pedro Jesús REQUENA Universitario 6 José Luis CARRANZA Universitario 7 Francesco Paolo MANASSERO Sporting Cristal 8 José Guillermo DEL SOLAR Universitario 9 Pedro Franco Enrique NAVARRO FC Wettingen (SUI) 10 Julio César URIBE América (Cali) (COL) 11 Jorge Alberto HIRANO Bolívar (BOL) 12 Jesús Manuel PURIZAGA Sporting Cristal 13 Wilmar Elar VALENCIA Blooming (BOL) 14 Percy Celso OLIVARES Sporting Cristal 15 Eduardo REY MUÑOZ Universitario 16 Jorge Alberto OLAECHEA Sporting Cristal 17 César Martín DALL’ORSO Sporting Cristal 18 Carlos Eleazar GUIDO Sporting Cristal 19 Carlos Antonio TORRES Internacional 20 César Eduardo RODRÍGUEZ Deportivo Municipal

Coach: PEPE – José Macía (BRA)
Clearly in decline and it was not expected their new Brazlian coach Pepe to make a miracle. Olivares and Uribe were present, the only stars in the team,but both them already were beyond their peak.

Venezuela

Standing from left: Pedro Acosta, Stalin Rivas, Carlos Maldonado, César Baena, Andrés Paz, Herbert Márquez.
Kneeling: Luis Camacaro, Bernardo Añor, Laureano Jaimes, William Pacheco, Roberto Cavallo. That’s the team which faced Brazil.
1 César Renato BAENA Caracas 2 William PACHECO Unión Atlético Táchira 3 Andrés PAZ Unión Atlético Táchira 4 Pedro Javier ACOSTA Caracas 5 Luis ROJAS Unión Atlético Táchira 6 Roberto CAVALLO Deportivo Italia 7 Ildemaro FERNÁNDEZ Estudiantes (Mérida) 8 Laureano José JAIMES Unión Atlético Táchira 9 Hebert MÁRQUEZ Marítimo 10 Carlos Fabián MALDONADO Unión Atlético Táchira 12 José GÓMEZ Mineros 11 Noel SAN VICENTE Marítimo 13 René TORRES Mineros 14 Pedro Juan FEBLES Marítimo 15 Luis CAMACARO Unión Atlético Táchira 16 Bernardo AÑOR Caracas 17 Carlos DOMÍNGUEZ Caracas 18 Héctor Enrique RIVAS Marítimo 19 Stalin José RIVAS Mineros 20 Enrique SAMUEL Mineros

Coach: Carlos Horacio MORENO (ARG)
Well, the continental absolute outsider. Even foreign coach was not expected to change that.

Group B. Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador, Uruguay. All games played in Goiania.

Argentina.

1 Nery Alberto PUMPIDO Real Betis (ESP) 2 Sergio Daniel BATISTA River Plate 3 Carlos Alejandro ALFARO MORENO Independiente 4 Abel Eduardo BALBO River Plate 5 José Luis BROWN Murcia (ESP) 6 José Horacio BASUALDO Deportivo Mandiyú (ARG) 7 Jorge Luis BURRUCHAGA Nantes (FRA) 8 Claudio Paul CANIGGIA Verona (ITA) 9 José Luis CUCIUFFO Boca Juniors 10 Diego Armando MARADONA Napoli (ITA) 11 Gabriel Humberto CALDERÓN Paris Saint Germain (FRA) 12 Néstor Rolando CLAUSEN Sion (SUI) 13 Hernán Edgardo DÍAZ Rosario Central 14 Héctor Adolfo ENRIQUE River Plate 15 Ricardo Omar GIUSTI Independiente 16 Pedro Damián MONZÓN Independiente 17 Oscar Alfredo RUGGERI Real Madrid (ESP) 18 Luis Alberto ISLAS Atlético Madrid (ESP) 19 Roberto Néstor SENSINI Newell’s Old Boys 20 Pedro Antonio TROGLIO Verona (ITA) 21 Néstor Raúl GOROSITO San Lorenzo 22 Julio César FALCIONI Vélez Sarsfield

Coach: Carlos Salvador BILARDO
Naturally ranked number one – reigning World champions, led by Maradona. Not only the main heroes of 1986 were present, but new talent was included as well – most noticeably Claudio Caniggia. Traditionally, one of the most successful teams in Copa America, having the best player in the world and coached by foxy Bilardo. Yet, there were warning signs – the first was Maradona, on whose form and mood Argentina almost entirely depended. Trouble was coming for sure when Maradona, with his mind on transfer negotiations, arrived with his wife and more than 20 friends and took for himself and company 4 apartments in the only 5-star hotel in Goiania (however, he chose to room with Nery Pumpido at the end). Bilardo, known as a strict disciplinarian, took a blind eye on that frivolity, which was suggestive that the tournament was not very important for him and his team.

Uruguay.

1 Adolfo Javier ZEOLI Danubio 2 Nelson Daniel GUTIÉRREZ Lazio (ITA) 3 Hugo Eduardo DE LEÓN Nacional 4 José Oscar HERRERA Peñarol 5 José Batlle PERDOMO Peñarol 6 Alfonso Enrique DOMÍNGUEZ Peñarol 7 Antonio ALZAMENDI Logroñés (ESP) 8 Carlos Gabriel CORREA Peñarol 9 Enzo FRANCÉSCOLI Racing Club (París) (FRA) 10 Ruben Walter PAZ Racing Club (ARG) 11 Ruben SOSA Lazio (ITA) 12 Jorge Fernando SERÉ Nacional 13 Daniel Felipe REVELEZ Nacional 14 José Luis PINTOS SALDAÑA Nacional 15 Santiago Javier OSTOLAZA Nacional 16 Sergio Daniel MARTÍNEZ Defensor Sporting 17 Carlos Alberto AGUILERA Peñarol 18 Ruben Fabián PEREIRA Danubio 19 Ruben Fernando DA SILVA Danubio 20 Pablo Javier BENGOECHEA Sevilla (ESP)

Coach: Oscar Washington TABÁREZ
There were no missing players, but Uruguay had new coach and at the time Tabarez was little known young coach, untested and unproven. The positive indication was no famous player was out because of disagreement with the coach, but what authority would be able to establish Tabarez on the team was unknown. Even less what were his ideas. But Uruguay was reigning South American champion, having won not only Copa America in 1987, but the previous one as well. The clash with Argentina was always big motivating spur and no matter what Uruguay was most successful continental team having a solid base of world famous stars, led by Francescoli.

Chile.

1 Roberto Antonio ROJAS São Paulo (BRA) 2 Oscar Patricio REYES Universidad de Chile 3 Patricio Nazario YÁÑEZ Real Betis (ESP) 4 Leonel CONTRERAS La Serena 5 Hugo Armando GONZÁLEZ Colo Colo 6 Jaime Augusto PIZARRO Colo Colo 7 Héctor Eduardo PUEBLA Cobreloa 8 Raúl Elías ORMEÑO Colo Colo 9 Juan Carlos LETELIER La Serena 10 Juan Carlos COVARRUBIAS Cobreloa 11 Fernando Enrique ASTENGO Grêmio (BRA) 12 Marco Antonio CORNEZ Universidad Católica 13 Jaime Andrés VERA OFI Crete (GRE) 14 Jorge CARRASCO Huachipato 15 Juvenal Mario OLMOS Universidad Católica 16 Osvaldo Heriberto HURTADO Charleroi (BEL) 17 Jaime Patricio RAMÍREZ Unión Española 18 Alejandro Manuel HISIS OFI Crete (GRE) 19 Lukas Nicolás TÚDOR Universidad Católica 20 Oscar Raúl WIRTH ANFP (unattached)

Coach: Orlando Enrique ARAVENA
Chile left very positive impressions in the 1987 Copa America, so the ascend was expected to continue. Considered 3rd finisher, but having a chance to reach the final stage too. Chile was probably the most affected by players not released by their clubs and that was most serious handicap.

Bolivia.

1 Luis Esteban GALARZA Bolívar 2 Carlos ARIAS Bolívar 3 Carlos Fernando BORJA Bolívar 4 Marco Antonio ETCHEVERRY Destroyers 5 Marco Rodolfo FERRUFINO Bolívar 6 Ricardo FONTANA The Strongest 7 Arturo GARCÍA Oriente Petrolero 8 Eligio MARTÍNEZ The Strongest 9 José Milton MELGAR Bolívar 10 Rolly PANIAGUA Blooming 11 Guillermo Alvaro PEÑA Blooming 12 Marco Antonio BARRERO Bolívar 13 Miguel Angel RIMBA Bolívar 14 Romer Antonio ROCA Oriente Petrolero 15 Marciano SALDÍAS Oriente Petrolero 16 Luis Fernando SALINAS Bolívar 17 Erwin SÁNCHEZ Bolívar 18 Luis Francisco TAKEO Destroyers 19 Eduardo Andrés VILLEGAS The Strongest 20 Ramiro CASTILLO Argentinos Juniors (ARG)

Coach: Jorge Carlos HABBERGER (ARG)
In the battle of the outsiders Bolivia seemingly had the edge because of some very talented players – Borja, Etcheverry and Erwin Sanchez.

Ecuador.

1 Carlos Luis MORALES Barcelona 2 Jimmy Alfonso IZQUIERDO Barcelona 3 Hólger Abraham QUIÑÓNEZ Barcelona 4 Wilson Homero MACÍAS Filanbanco 5 Kleber Emilio FAJARDO Emelec 6 Luis Enrique CAPURRO Emelec 7 Pietro Raúl MARSETTI LDU Quito 8 Alex Darío AGUINAGA Deportivo Quito 9 Byron Zózimo TENORIO El Nacional 10 Hamilton Emilio CUVI Filanbanco 11 Nelson José GUERRERO LDU Quito 12 Víctor MENDOZA Aucas 13 Geovanni Claudio ALCÍVAR Barcelona 14 Ney Raúl AVILÉS Emelec 15 Enrique Wilfrido VERDUGA Emelec 16 Julio César ROSERO El Nacional 17 Carlos Antonio MUÑOZ Filanbanco 18 Tulio Tayron QUINTEROS Barcelona 19 Hermen de Jesús BENÍTEZ El Nacional 20 Jimmy Gustavo MONTANERO Barcelona

Coach: Dussan DRASKOVIC (YUG)
Perhaps with some luck could finish ahead of Bolivia, but no more.

Copa America.
One has to go a couple of years back, when a plan for revitalizing the oldest continental championship was designed. CONMEBOL decided on championship every 2 years hosted by each country. Argentina was the first host in 1987 and the last was to be Venezuela in 2007. Long term plan, well thought. Reality was against it, as always – the first was the formula. Given the limited number of countries, it was hard to find a formula exciting enough to lure the fans. Travel was expensive for them. Aging venues were also becoming severe problem – pitch, players and journalists facilities, new era of fan violence and security. There were also old habits – for years many countries used the tournament for experiments, not always fielding their best, especially when World Cup was near, as it was in 1989. Copa America was scheduled just before the World Cup qualifications and for the strongest teams it was a tournament of secondary importance. And on top of it many clubs refused to release players for Copa America – not a new problem, but looming larger by the end of the 1980s. As ever, there were newly appointed coaches, who started building their teams anew and that in passionate South America most often was met with severe criticism and scandals. No matter the intentions of CONMEBOL, South American attitudes were capable of blocking any reasonable planning.
So, this was the second issue of the new plan and Brazil was the host – something happening for the first time since 1949. The formula of the 1987 Copa America was harshly criticized and changed – this time it was 2 round-robin groups of 5 teams each at first. The top 2 teams qualified for the final stage, also playing round-robin. To the displeasure of the hosts, CONMEBOL did not allow 24-players rosters, but – also as usual – decided on compromise making little sense: 20 players were allowed in the first phase, but for the final stage – 24. The tournament was to be played in the cities of Goiania, Recife, Rio de Janeiro, and Salvador. The first stage was scheduled in Goiania, Recife, and Salvador and the final stage was entirely to be played on Maracana, Rio de Janeiro. The choice of cities created enormous scandal for team Brazil and its coach. Most teams, Brazil included, had new coaches, so they were somewhat ‘raw’, in building stage, hoping to be ready for the World Cup qualifications. For Carlos Bilardo’s Argentina it was clearly preparatory tournament – the only competitive games the reigning World champions had to play between 1986 and 1990. Bilardo indicated that Copa America was not all that important – it was more or less a training stage, getting ready for defending the world title next year. Yet, Argentina was a favourite. Uruguay too – they won the previous 2 continental championships. Brazil – always a favourite, although success in Copa America was lacking. Along with the traditional favourites, Colombia, Chile, and Paraguay were likely candidates to reach the final stage – rapidly rising Colombia, very promising Chile in the previous Copa America, and unpredictable Paraguay, which was always viewed with caution in South America, for they were traditionally difficult to beat and capable of surprises.
Few teams were weakened by absence of stars – European clubs refused to release players, so Paraguay was without Roberto Cabanas (Brest), Julio Cesar Romero (Barcelona), Jose Luis Chilavert (Real Zaragoza), and Jorge Nunes (Deportivo Cali). Chile was without Ivo Basay (Reims), Ivan Zamorano, Hugo Rubio, and Jorge Aravena. On the other hand, the veteran goalkeeper Oscar Raul Wirth was in the team without playing for any club, the only player without a club in the tournament. Argentina and Brazil had similar problems – Maradona was unhappy with Italy by now and there were rumours for his transfer from Napoli to Olympique Marseille. Mentally, he was tired and involved with other things. Since Argentina depended on him, it was not at all sure the team will play strong football and Bilardo indicated so as well. There were various new players to be tested – one of them was new only for Bilardo’s selections: Gabriel Calderon had strong season with Paris St. Germain and was called
back to the national team for the first time since 1982 World Cup. To a point, it was experimental squad eventually to be shaped slowly for the 1990 World Cup.
Brazil, with new coach – Sebastiao Lazaroni – presented plethora of problems. The first was Lazaroni’s approach – he declared that his team will play modern European football, which in Brazil always translated as defensive football both as real coach’s intentions and popular perception. The battle between ‘Jogo Bonito’ and ‘European’ football was old and tiresome by now – more or less, started around 1970 and not moving an inch so far. Lazaroni proclaimed that his team will play 5-3-2, with a libero and 2 stoppers in defense. ‘European’ football brought nothing good for Brazil so far, yet, coach after coach (including generally attacking minded coaches like Zagalo and Tele Santana) proclaimed their desire to bring the country up to date. In the case of Lazaroni, trouble started right away – not only he wanted defensive team, but designated Mauro Galvao as his libero – and it was the position Mauro Galvao played in his club. Further, Lazaroni’s selection was torpedoed by absences – Jorginho and Careca were injured. Julio Cesar and Carlos Mozer were not released by Montpellier and Olympique Marseille. Muller (Torino) was eventually released, but arrived only 3 days before the star of Copa America and Lazaroni judged him not ready and will select him for the World Cup qualifications. Muller left the team in anger. Out of regulars, Lazaroni hastily called Baltazar (Atletico Madrid) and Charles (Bahia). The last call proved to be a bomb, which exploded and almost finished the coach – outside the state of Bahia, the inclusion of Charles was immediately criticized: it was seen as only diplomatic call to gall locals, for team Brazil was playing its opening games in Salvador, the capital of Bahia. Locally, everybody thought their star must be a regular. Lazaroni had no real intention of using Charles and the locals rebelled, the coach was nastily criticized in the local media, his abilities were questioned, team Brazil was booed and met with great hostility instead of support. In part, that came from CONMEBOL’s refusal to allow 24-man squads in the opening stage of the tournament. Lazaroni wanted the big number in order of trying various options and Charles was part of this building process – but with only 20 players allowed the team had to be reduced and Charles (along with goalkeeper Ze Carlos) was out.Perhaps Lazaroni did not want that at all, but was forced by circumstances, but the people of Bahia were infuriated. Locally, it was predicted that Lazaroni will be fired right away and the coach immediately was on very slippery slope, for his defensive ‘European’ football was severely criticized nationwide. Suddenly Brazil was in big trouble – much bigger than any other team.
So, scandals from start and in such typically South American atmosphere little attention was paid on more significant and real changes: the most important one was change of guard – most teams had not only new coaches, but young coaches (including 38-years old Lazaroni). A new generation with new ideas and better tuned to contemporary football. Colombian Francisco Maturana was also young, but also experienced, cutting his teeth at the 1987 Copa America. He was the chief representative of the new wave at the moment, yet, it was the debut of fairly unknown Uruguayan perhaps the most important – Oscar Washington Tabarez was just appointed as coach of Uruguay and although his team presented no revolutionary changes (in terms of selected players), he immediately created a long term plan for developing the national team of Uruguay, which practically involved the whole Uruguayan football – from kids to first team, clubs included. This plan is still in use and produced wonderful results for many, many years. From another angle modernization came from Ecuador – they appointed the Yugoslav Dusan Draskovic as a coach of the national team. It was direct employ of European modern methods by hiring an European. At a glimpse, the old guard of South American football was practically represented only by Carlos Bilardo and Brazilian Pepe, coaching Peru – all others, whether domestic or imported coaches (5 countries had foreign coaches) were quite young. The new wave as refreshing, yet, to a point – the problems of South American football were a big barrier to those trying to implement new ideas and could be said that coaches largely depended on the talent at hand – Maturana was lucky to have exciting players, lead by Valderrama, but Tabarez had to tailor his ideas to the players he had, most of them experienced and defensive minded. If Draskovic was relatively free to try his vision in Ecuador, Pepe had little options – Peruvian football was in decline and virtually lacked new talented players. As good as the new Chilean generation was, it was a matter of few players – not enough for full team even, so Wirth, without a club to play for, had to be included. Take a handful of stars and most countries had almost nothing left. Take away a few players and even Lazaroni’s ideas were curtailed – and that speaking a such enormous pool of talent as Brazil. Anyhow, enough of that – Copa America was starting.

1989
Copa America was the big event of the year.
At least for one country, the South American championship was historic moment. Of course, Copa America was not all. Growing displeasure with the football of 1980s was leading to changes. Some were already occurring, somewhat quietly – the 3-point for a win rule was increasing implemented by the European countries. Somewhat without notice 3 foreign players were allowed to play. AC Milan was perhaps the team most associated with this change not only because they were wonderful and dominating team, but also because very soon the club will make the next step towards further increase of the foreign players. It was inevitable: by the end of the 80s European football was firmly professional and imported players were essential to the growing professionalism – at the end of the 1988 only two European countries did not export players (Albania and East Germany) and only 7 did not import (USSR, Albania, East Germany, Bulgaria, Poland, Romania, and Czechoslovakia). In 1989 all that changed with the sudden collapse of Communism. Political changes, impossible to imagine at the end of 1988, changed Europe and with that – the football world. Yet, there was little real optimism at the end a decade considered overall ugly in every football aspect – from fan violence to dirty and unpleasant football on the pitch and aging crumbling venues.