CLASSIC WORLD CUP ENCOUNTERS

ITALIA 90, Semi-Final: Italy v Argentina

As host nation the Italians were under tremendous pressure to deliver on a night of huge drama in Naples. Diego Maradona stoked the pre-match fires by pleading with the Napolitan people to support him (his club side was Napoli) rather than their native Italy. On paper Italy had the armoury to see off the defending champions, but there was something about the way Argentina had bluffed their win through to the last four that cast a doubt in the back of the minds of many.

This was the clash between the last two winners of the World Cup; the Hosts v the Holders. Argentina had lost the tournament opener to Cameroon and consequently only just sneaked through their group in third place, meaning that they faced Brazil in their first knock-out match. They sneaked an extremely lucky 1-0 win with a late Claudio Caniggia goal, and only won their quarter-final against Yugoslavia on penalties, despite a potentially key spotkick miss by Maradona. The gods appeared to be smiling on the Albiceleste.

Italy had grown in stature as the tournament had progressed; they hadn't conceded a single goal in their five matches and Salvatore Schillaci was leading the line with four goals to date. He duly delivered again 17 minutes into the semi-final to calm home nerves, but Italy could not add a second goal and Caniggia equalized midway through the second half with a flicked header. The pendulum didn't swing however, and it was the Italians who pushed more to find a winning goal, coming close in the closing stages. Extra-time was typified by the inevitable fear of losing, and the emotional roller-coaster of the penalty shootout loomed large. With the scores tied at 3-3, Roberto Donadoni saw his kick saved by Goycochea, and the brave Maradona stepped up to banish the memory of his quarter-final miss and put Argentina ahead. Aldo Serena's next penalty was also saved by Goycochea, and the Italian dream of becoming the first country to win a fourth World Cup was over.

CLASSIC WORLD CUP ENCOUNTERS

MEXICO 1986, Quarter-Final: Brazil v France



A pulsating quarter-final in Guadalajara. Brazil's possession football saps the energy out of the opposition at the best of times; factor in the searing heat of that mid-summer's day and the Samba Stars were favourites to progress. Mexico had also been the scene of their last World Cup win 16 years earlier, and an expectant nation would settle for nothing less than an emulation of that triumph. France on the other hand were still dealing with the scars of four years earlier and a heart-breaking semi-final defeat. But having just ended Italy's reign as World Champions in the round of 16, Platini and co. knew that, if they could get past Brazil, there would be a chance to lay to rest the ghosts of Seville 1982. Mexico and West Germany were playing their quarter-final later that day with the two winners to meet for a place in the Final.

In thirty years of watching football I can't remember a match in which there was so much offensive play and so little time to take breath. The Brazilian teams of the 1982 and 1986 tournaments were two of the best sides never to win the World Cup. There are only two ways to stop Brazil; break their rhythm with cynical, periodic fouling, or play them at their own game. Thankfully, for the worldwide audience and for the sake of the 'beautiful game', France did the latter, counteracting Brazil's brilliance with an artistry of their own, weaved predominantly by the magical midfield quintet of Tusseau, Fernandez, Tigana, Giresse and Platini.

Careca's goal after 17 minutes was trademark Brazil; a sudden increase in tempo, a bamboozling interchange of split-second, one-touch passes to create space from nothing, and an unerring finish. They failed to build on their lead though, and France drew level four minutes before half-time through Platini, playing one of the biggest games of his life on his 31st birthday. An amazing second half saw Brazil miss an open goal (Socrates) and a penalty (Zico). Attacks continued to reign down at both ends. It was natural to assume that extra-time would see French legs tire, but their reprieve seemed to inject a new resolve into the team and they surged forward with purpose, out-possessing Brazil and looking the more likely to emerge victorious. It's a credit to both teams that neither played for penalties, especially given the heat, but destiny had in store that the French were to revisit the cauldron of the shootout - a place that held so much fear for them after the heartache of four summers before.

Socrates missed with the opening spot-kick, and France held the advantage until Platini stepped up to take the fourth kick and sent it over the bar. Julio Cesar, however, failed to level matters as his spot-kick hit the post, leaving Luis Fernandez to send France through to what appeared to be a date with destiny -another semi-final against West Germany, and an opportunity for revenge.

It was not to be. The Germans won a lame game 2-0. Perhaps it was not such a surprise; the quarter-final took everything out of Les Bleus, and the Germans were the beneficiaries of their extreme fatigue. Brazilian misery was compounded eight days later as their fierce South American rivals Argentina lifted the World Cup.

CLASSIC WORLD CUP ENCOUNTERS

SPAIN 1982, Semi-Final: France v West Germany



This game had everything. Considering what was at stake on that extraordinary summer evening in Sevilla, southern Spain, this has to be remembered as one of the most dramatic football matches ever played. It's the sort of game that will never be forgotten by those who watched it. The sort of game that will haunt the players who played on the losing side all the way to their graves. A game which summed up so perfectly how football mirrors life through the intertwining of the cruel, the absurd, and the triumphant. A game that one almost feels it would be a insult to try and describe.

Let me leave it with the words of Michel Platini, who played on the losing side:

"That was my most beautiful game. What happened in those two hours encapsulated all the sentiments of life itself. No film or play could ever recapture so many contradictions and emotions. It was complete. So strong. It was fabulous."

CLASSIC WORLD CUP ENCOUNTERS

USA 1994, Second Round: Argentina v Romania

On July 3 at the Rose Bowl, Pasadena, in Los Angeles, 90,000 spectators witnessed a classic Second Round clash and a major upset. Even without star player Diego Maradona, who had been expelled from the tournament after failing a drugs test, the South Americans giants and Finalists of the previous two tournaments were not expected to fall to Romania. But the East Europeans had a hero of their own in the form of Gheorghe Hagi, and the belief of the team was evident from the off.

An explosive start saw three goals scored in the opening 18 minutes - two excellent strikes by Illie Dumitrescu scored either side of an Argentinian penalty that should never have been given. Gabriel Batistuta conned the ref into believing he had been held back in the box and scored the penalty himself. Within two minutes the Romanians were deservedly back in front, however, with a sublimely worked exchange between Dumitrescu and Hagi.

With a tearful Maradona watching on from the stands, Hagi rounded off a fine breakaway move in the 58th minute to extend the lead to 3-1 and leave Argentina's World Cup hopes ebbing away. They did manage to pull one back from Balbo with 15 minutes left following a goalkeeping lapse, but - perhaps missing the inspiration of Maradona - couldn't find the thrust they needed to find the equalizer, and found themselves on an early plane home.

Romania's victory was richly deserved. The outstanding quality of the three goals they scored, the self-belief and work ethic of the team, and the brilliance of Hagi all contributed to a memorable encounter. Romania's reward for seeing off one of the pre-tournament favourites was a quarter-final clash with Sweden, which turned out to be another classic. The Scandinavians emerged triumphant in a penalty shoot-out after the game had finished 2-2.

CLASSIC WORLD CUP ENCOUNTERS

MEXICO 1986, Second Round: Belgium v Soviet Union



The teams had reached the second phase in very different circumstances. The Soviet Union had won group C convincingly following wins against Canada and Hungary and a draw with France. Belgium had had to rely on being one of the four best third-placed teams (in the six groups) who made it through to the knock-out stages. They lost their group opener to host nation Mexico before beating Iraq and drawing with Paraguay. The Soviets were clear favourites when the two countries met on the dramatic afternoon of June 15 in Leon, with a place in the last eight at stake.

The Soviets began positively, moving the ball intelligently in and around the Belgium box with slick passing, while their opponents were restricted in the early exchanges mainly to set pieces and shots from distance. It was in keeping with the balance of the game when Igor Belanov shot the Soviets ahead in the 27th minute with a superb strike across the goalkeeper from outside the penalty area.

If the Soviet Union had been able to press home their advantage and add a second goal in that first half, then it may well have put the match beyond the reach of Belgium. But their impressive build-up play wasn't matched by a cutting edge in front of goal and chances were wasted. The Soviets were punished ten minutes into the second half for some slack defending that gave Enzo Scifo an eternity inside the box to control Frank Vercauteren's floated cross and equalize.

Although the Soviets restored their lead - again through Belanov - in the 70th minute, there was something increasingly tenacious about Belgium as the match wore on. Belanov received the ball from Aleksandr Zavarov and clipped his shot perfectly past Pfaff to put his side within sight of the quarter-finals, but the Belgians were a team growing in belief, and the crowd could sense it. The Soviet rearguard was again at fault in the 77th minute when a long ball forward from Demol found captain Jan Ceulemans with time to chest the ball down, turn and finish adroitly to level the match for a second time.

The Soviet Union were looking vulnerable as extra time loomed. A last minute free kick in a threatening position was wasted, and there was a growing sense that their chance had come and gone.

Belgium took the lead for the first time 12 minutes into extra time when the highly impressive Stephane Demol exposed the frailties of the Soviet defence yet again to find the space to power a superb header past goalkeeper Dasaev from an Eric Gerets delivery from the right hand side. The game appeared to be settled when Nico Claesen reacted first to a loose ball in the Soviet penalty area to add a fourth with just 10 minutes remaining. Amazingly, however, within a minute Igor Belanov had completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot. The Soviet Union rallied in desperate search of an equalizer to take the match to penalties, but Belgium hung on to book a quarter-final place.

A game of great goals and high drama - memorable for all the right reasons. How many times does a player score a hat-trick and end up on the losing side? Belanov had an outstanding match, but his team's potential remained unfulfilled. Some will argue that the Soviets would have graced the latter stages of Mexico 1986, but football is not only about skill. Belgium were twice behind but came through - a triumph of stamina and tenacity over the Soviet Union's superior brand of attacking football.

Belgium met Spain in the quarter-finals and beat them on penalties after a 1-1 draw. Maradona and Argentina lay in wait in the semi-final and proved too strong for Ceulemans and co, the South Americans and eventual tournament winners progressing to the Final by virtue of a 2-0 victory.