Group C. Brazil, Sweden, Scotland, Costa Rica
Brazil
Against Sweden – Top, left to right: Cláudio André Mergen ‘Taffarel’, Mauro Geraldo Galvão, ‘Ricardo’ Raimundo Gomes , José Carlos Nepomuceno ‘Mozer’, Jorge de Amorim Campos ‘Jorginho’ , Cláudio Ibrahim Vaz Leal ‘Branco’ , Bottom, left to right: Luís Antônio Corrêa da Costa ‘Müller’, Ricardo Rogério de Brito ‘Alemão’, Antônio de Oliveira Filho ‘Careca’ , Carlos Caetano Bledorn Verri ‘Dunga’, ’Valdo’
Head coach: Sebastião Lazaroni
No.
Pos.
Player
Date of birth (age)
Caps
Club
1
GK
Cláudio Taffarel
8 May 1966 (aged 24)
26
Internacional
2
DF
Jorginho
17 August 1964 (aged 25)
22
Bayer Leverkusen
3
DF
Ricardo Gomes (c)
13 December 1964 (aged 25)
30
Benfica
4
MF
Dunga
31 October 1963 (aged 26)
21
Fiorentina
5
MF
Alemão
22 November 1961 (aged 28)
32
Napoli
6
DF
Branco
4 April 1964 (aged 26)
34
Porto
7
MF
Bismarck
11 September 1969 (aged 20)
10
Vasco da Gama
8
MF
Valdo
12 January 1964 (aged 26)
38
Benfica
9
FW
Careca
5 October 1960 (aged 29)
46
Napoli
10
MF
Paulo Silas
27 August 1965 (aged 24)
29
Sporting CP
11
FW
Romário
29 January 1966 (aged 24)
24
PSV
12
GK
Acácio
20 January 1959 (aged 31)
6
Vasco da Gama
13
DF
Carlos Mozer
19 September 1960 (aged 29)
27
Marseille
14
DF
Aldair
30 November 1965 (aged 24)
18
Benfica
15
FW
Müller
31 January 1966 (aged 24)
31
Torino
16
FW
Bebeto
16 February 1964 (aged 26)
26
Vasco da Gama
17
FW
Renato Gaúcho
9 September 1962 (aged 27)
23
Flamengo
18
DF
Mazinho
8 April 1966 (aged 24)
17
Vasco da Gama
19
DF
Ricardo Rocha
11 September 1962 (aged 27)
14
São Paulo
20
MF
Tita
1 April 1958 (aged 32)
31
Vasco da Gama
21
DF
Mauro Galvão
19 December 1961 (aged 28)
20
Botafogo
22
GK
Zé Carlos
7 February 1962 (aged 28)
3
Flamengo
Eternal favourite and naturally expected to win the group. There was optimism about Lazaroni’s team – nice additions came from the bright 1988 Olympic team and Brazil won Copa America in 1989. More than solid names, playing largely in Europe – a big sign of recognized stardom, but also a matter of concern, for players were often unavailable. Brazil made its customary tour of Europe as a part of World Cup preparations and then the team was blasted by heavy criticism: the team did not play good, especially in attack. The battle raged for many years – to play like Europeans or like Brazilians. Lazaponi’s emphasis on defense was more than questionable and with that – his choices. The last friendly unleashed a fury: Brazil ended 3-3 at home against DDR. So, that’s the defense? And not everything was fine in the team itself – stars are not easy to handle anyway, but this time big mouths vented their pretenses and ultimatums. Notably, Muller – he went very public, demanding guaranteed starting position. Just leave him on the bench and you will see! Quite a rotten internal climate, but still Brazil was expected to win the group – and more.
Sweden
Head coach: Olle Nordin
No.
Pos.
Player
Date of birth (age)
Caps
Club
1
GK
Sven Andersson
6 October 1963 (aged 26)
1
Örgryte
2
DF
Jan Eriksson
24 August 1967 (aged 22)
1
AIK
3
DF
Glenn Hysén (c)
30 October 1959 (aged 30)
64
Liverpool
4
DF
Peter Larsson
8 March 1961 (aged 29)
36
Ajax
5
DF
Roger Ljung
8 January 1966 (aged 24)
19
Young Boys
6
DF
Roland Nilsson
27 November 1963 (aged 26)
32
Sheffield Wednesday
7
MF
Niklas Nyhlén
21 March 1966 (aged 24)
8
Malmö FF
8
MF
Stefan Schwarz
18 April 1969 (aged 21)
6
Malmö FF
9
MF
Leif Engqvist
30 July 1962 (aged 27)
15
Malmö FF
10
MF
Klas Ingesson
20 August 1968 (aged 21)
11
IFK Göteborg
11
MF
Ulrik Jansson
2 February 1968 (aged 22)
0
Östers IF
12
GK
Lars Eriksson
21 September 1965 (aged 24)
3
IFK Norrköping
13
MF
Anders Limpar
24 September 1965 (aged 24)
21
Cremonese
14
MF
Joakim Nilsson
31 March 1966 (aged 24)
19
Malmö FF
15
MF
Glenn Strömberg
5 January 1960 (aged 30)
49
Atalanta
16
MF
Jonas Thern
20 March 1967 (aged 23)
21
Benfica
17
FW
Tomas Brolin
29 November 1969 (aged 20)
2
IFK Norrköping
18
FW
Johnny Ekström
5 March 1965 (aged 25)
32
Cannes
19
DF
Mats Gren
20 December 1963 (aged 26)
10
Grasshopper
20
FW
Mats Magnusson
10 July 1963 (aged 26)
29
Benfica
21
FW
Stefan Pettersson
22 March 1963 (aged 27)
19
Ajax
22
GK
Thomas Ravelli
13 August 1959 (aged 30)
72
IFK Göteborg
Sweden was most likely to finish second – the qualifications went smoothly and perhaps for the first time since 1974 Sweden had so talented and well balanced team. Good coach, relaxed atmosphere, and also Sweden had a tradition of playing very well at finals. Traditionally, a pleasant and dependable team. No big egos, plenty of talent and seriousness.
Scotland
Against Sweden: Top, left to right: Maurice Daniel Robert Malpas, Craig William Levein, James Leighton, David McPherson, Alexander McLeish, Bottom, left to right: Andrew Stuart Murray ‘Stuart’ McCall, Robert Sime ‘Roy’ Aitken, Gordon Scott Durie, Murdo Davidson MacLeod , Maurice Johnston, Robert William Fleck
Head coach: Andy Roxburgh
No.
Pos.
Player
Date of birth (age)
Caps
Club
1
GK
Jim Leighton
24 July 1958 (aged 31)
55
Manchester United
2
DF
Alex McLeish
21 January 1959 (aged 31)
69
Aberdeen
3
DF
Roy Aitken (c)
24 November 1958 (aged 31)
53
Newcastle United
4
DF
Richard Gough
5 April 1962 (aged 28)
49
Rangers
5
MF
Paul McStay
22 October 1964 (aged 25)
46
Celtic
6
DF
Maurice Malpas
3 August 1962 (aged 27)
34
Dundee United
7
FW
Mo Johnston
13 April 1963 (aged 27)
33
Rangers
8
MF
Jim Bett
25 November 1959 (aged 30)
24
Aberdeen
9
FW
Ally McCoist
24 September 1962 (aged 27)
23
Rangers
10
MF
Murdo MacLeod
24 September 1958 (aged 31)
14
Borussia Dortmund
11
DF
Gary Gillespie
5 July 1960 (aged 29)
11
Liverpool
12
GK
Andy Goram
13 April 1964 (aged 26)
9
Hibernian
13
FW
Gordon Durie
6 December 1965 (aged 24)
6
Chelsea
14
FW
Alan McInally
10 February 1963 (aged 27)
7
Bayern Munich
15
DF
Craig Levein
22 October 1964 (aged 25)
5
Heart of Midlothian
16
MF
Stuart McCall
10 June 1964 (aged 25)
5
Everton
17
DF
Stewart McKimmie
27 October 1962 (aged 27)
4
Aberdeen
18
MF
John Collins
31 January 1968 (aged 22)
4
Hibernian
19
DF
David McPherson
28 January 1964 (aged 26)
4
Heart of Midlothian
20
MF
Gary McAllister
25 December 1964 (aged 25)
3
Leicester City
21
FW
Robert Fleck
11 August 1965 (aged 24)
1
Norwich City
22
GK
Bryan Gunn
22 December 1963 (aged 26)
1
Norwich City
The Scotland squad was numbered according to the number of caps that each player had won at the time. The exception to this was Goalkeeper Jim Leighton who was given the traditional number 1 jersey.
With some luck, Scotland could end second, most likely – third and may be chance could take them to the next stage. Scottish talent was getting thinner with time – compared to 1974, this vintage was just a poor relation: what had been a well balanced and competitive squad, eventually came to the current of point of having only a handful of real stars. Yet, it was spirited team, always giving a good fight and difficult to beat. So, it was possible finish above Sweden. Possible… under the right circumstances.
Costa Rica
Head coach: Bora Milutinović
No.
Pos.
Player
Date of birth (age)
Caps
Club
1
GK
Luis Gabelo Conejo
1 January 1960 (aged 30)
N/A
AD Ramonense
2
DF
Vladimir Quesada
12 May 1966 (aged 24)
N/A
Deportivo Saprissa
3
DF
Róger Flores (c)
26 May 1959 (aged 31)
N/A
Deportivo Saprissa
4
DF
Rónald González Brenes
8 August 1970 (aged 19)
4
Deportivo Saprissa
5
DF
Marvin Obando
4 April 1960 (aged 30)
N/A
CS Herediano
6
MF
José Carlos Chaves
3 September 1958 (aged 31)
N/A
L.D. Alajuelense
7
FW
Hernán Medford
23 May 1968 (aged 22)
18
Deportivo Saprissa
8
MF
Germán Chavarría
19 March 1958 (aged 32)
N/A
CS Herediano
9
MF
Alexandre Guimarães
7 November 1959 (aged 30)
N/A
Deportivo Saprissa
10
MF
Oscar Ramírez
8 December 1964 (aged 25)
25
L.D. Alajuelense
11
FW
Claudio Jara
6 May 1959 (aged 31)
N/A
CS Herediano
12
MF
Róger Gómez
7 February 1965 (aged 25)
N/A
CS Cartaginés
13
MF
Miguel Davis
18 June 1966 (aged 23)
N/A
L.D. Alajuelense
14
MF
Juan Cayasso
24 June 1961 (aged 28)
N/A
Deportivo Saprissa
15
DF
Rónald Marín
2 November 1962 (aged 27)
3
CS Herediano
16
FW
José Jaikel
3 April 1966 (aged 24)
N/A
Deportivo Saprissa
17
MF
Roy Myers
13 April 1969 (aged 21)
0
AD Limonense
18
DF
Geovanny Jara
20 July 1967 (aged 22)
N/A
CS Herediano
19
DF
Héctor Marchena
4 January 1965 (aged 25)
N/A
CS Cartaginés
20
DF
Mauricio Montero
19 October 1963 (aged 26)
21
L.D. Alajuelense
21
GK
Hermidio Barrantes
2 September 1964 (aged 25)
N/A
AD Municipal Puntarenas
22
GK
Miguel Segura
2 September 1963 (aged 26)
N/A
Deportivo Saprissa
Anonymous debutantes, expected to lose all games and go home. The usual exotica… the most famous name in the team was the coach, but even Bora Milutinovic was not a major star. His second World Cup, well respected name, but his reputation was largely built in Mexico, he was not some world-famous coach. Wise, though – seeing the poisonous atmosphere in the Costarican football, he moved the national team quite early to finish preparation in Europe – not only to get his players used to Italy, but also to keep the team away from domestic ‘influences’. At least, this was easy – all players were domestic, so they were at hand and compact, nobody to wait until the last minute to come from foreign club. Yet, Costa Rica was an outsider, surely to finish last.