Friday, April 26, 2024
Friday, April 5, 2024
Tuesday, April 2, 2024
Sunday, March 31, 2024
CONCACAF Champions And Vice-champions Cup
Copa de Campeones y Subcampeones CONCACAF 1990. With African and Asian international tournaments becoming more orderly, CONCACAF sunk down as the foggiest: not just withdrawals, but discrepancies about participants (Juventus was listed as a team representing Belize, but since two other clubs from Belize played, this was impossible – so it was a phantom team of unknown origin) and unknown to this very day results. The tournament's formula, dividing teams geographically into 2 sections – Northern and Central amalgamated at the end and Caribbean – clearly discriminated against the stronger teams from North and Central America, especially the Mexican participants, but perhaps there was no other way to avoid constant Mexican finals and to keep the small nations in the many islands interested in the Cup. At the end, the final was against America (Mexico City) and Pinar del Rio (Cuba) – the winners were known in advance...
Final (Feb 19 & Mar 12, 1991) Pinar del Río Cub América Mex 2-2 0-6 2-8 First leg February 19, 1991, La Habana, ref: Ramesh Ramdhan (TRI) Pinar del Río 2-2 América [Oswaldo Alonso 20, Osmín Hernández 43; Guillermo Huerta 25, Antonio Teodoro Dos Santos "Toninho" 31] Pinar del Río: Martínez, Torres, Osmin Hernández, Cata, Sainz, Reyes, Dacourt (43 Del Pino), Rivera, Oswaldo Alonso, Pedel, Mezquia; América: García, J.Hernández, Rodón, Tena, De Los Santos, Farfán, Domínguez, Guillermo Huerta, Antonio Teodoro Dos Santos "Toninho", Luis R.Alves Zague, Cristóbal Ortega. Second leg March 12, 1991, Ciudad de México, ref: Majid Jay (USA) América 6-0 Pinar del Río [Antonio Teodoro Dos Santos "Toninho" 3, 9, 84, Luis R.Alves Zangue 68, 80, Osmín Hernández 85og] América: García (46 Chávez), J.Hernández (70 Guillermo Huerta), Rodón, Tena, De Los Santos, Domínguez, Cristóbal Ortega, Farfán, Muinguia, Antonio Teodoro Dos Santos "Toninho", Luis R.Alves Zague; Coach:Carlos Miloc Pinar del Río: Martínez, Cata, Osmin Hernández, R.Torres (74 C.Torres), Sainz, Dacourt, Reyes, Pérez (62 Rivera), Mezquia, Oswaldo Alonso, R.García.
America won the final. Pinar del Rio played a second CONCACAF final in a row and no doubt the team did their best, but the difference in class was enormous. In any case, this was perhaps the highest moment in Cuban football – two consecutive CONCACAF finals – so, nothing to be ashamed of, but the contrary.
Sure winners and perhaps America even allowed their Cuban opponent to get a draw in the first leg, but that was all grace or pity could permit. America won the continental trophy for 3rd time.
Sunday, March 24, 2024
Friday, March 22, 2024
Sunday, February 25, 2024
World Cup. Group F
Group F. England, Holland, Republic of Ireland, Egypt
England
Head coach: Bobby Robson
No. |
Pos. |
Player |
Date of birth (age) |
Caps |
Club |
||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
18 September 1949 (aged 40) |
118 |
|||||||
2 |
27 March 1963 (aged 27) |
39 |
|||||||
3 |
24 April 1962 (aged 28) |
24 |
|||||||
4 |
30 July 1963 (aged 26) |
19 |
|||||||
5 |
26 November 1965 (aged 24) |
18 |
|||||||
6 |
28 December 1958 (aged 31) |
72 |
|||||||
7 |
11 January 1957 (aged 33) |
85 |
|||||||
8 |
14 December 1960 (aged 29) |
52 |
|||||||
9 |
18 January 1961 (aged 29) |
40 |
|||||||
10 |
30 November 1960 (aged 29) |
51 |
|||||||
11 |
7 November 1963 (aged 26) |
53 |
|||||||
12 |
4 April 1964 (aged 26) |
5 |
|||||||
13 |
14 November 1959 (aged 30) |
16 |
|||||||
14 |
1 August 1963 (aged 26) |
24 |
|||||||
15 |
31 December 1965 (aged 24) |
3 |
|||||||
16 |
20 August 1961 (aged 28) |
12 |
|||||||
17 |
10 June 1966 (aged 23) |
5 |
|||||||
18 |
25 October 1962 (aged 27) |
22 |
|||||||
19 |
27 May 1967 (aged 23) |
11 |
|||||||
20 |
21 September 1963 (aged 26) |
26 |
|||||||
21 |
28 March 1965 (aged 25) |
7 |
|||||||
22 |
19 September 1963 (aged 26) |
3 |
|||||||
No. |
Pos. |
Player |
Date of birth (age) |
Caps |
Club |
|
|||
22 |
20 March 1959 (aged 31) |
2 |
|
- * David Seaman was originally selected, but after the first game in Italy, he had to pull out of the squad due to a thumb injury and was replaced by Dave Beasant.
- Group F deserved to be called 'the group of death' not only because this was not a group with one big favourite, but two, but largely because of the specifics of the participants. England could be seen as the best candidate for top place largely because of the internal frictions in the Dutch team. Bobby Robson was not only coach with massive reputation, but also considered the best man for the job in England and he had all best players at his disposal. The late injury of David Seaman was not a problem – not only because England used the new regulation of FIFA permitting to replace injured player after the team selections were officially submitted, but largely because Seaman was a mere third choice and Shilton, nearing his 41st birthday, was undisputed starter. High expectations in England, but outside it... the English national team lost edge long ago and was not seen as a prime candidate for the title. Opinions were cautious and skeptical and Robson somewhat concurred with his statement that there was never before so many equal teams at the finals and anybody could win, hard to predict.
Netherlands
Head coach: Leo Beenhakker
No. |
Pos. |
Player |
Date of birth (age) |
Caps |
Club |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
4 October 1956 (aged 33) |
52 |
|||
2 |
8 December 1962 (aged 27) |
22 |
|||
3 |
30 September 1962 (aged 27) |
42 |
|||
4 |
21 March 1963 (aged 27) |
43 |
|||
5 |
16 June 1957 (aged 32) |
40 |
|||
6 |
17 July 1960 (aged 29) |
30 |
|||
7 |
20 September 1961 (aged 28) |
23 |
|||
8 |
5 March 1964 (aged 26) |
36 |
|||
9 |
31 October 1964 (aged 25) |
35 |
|||
10 |
1 September 1962 (aged 27) |
44 |
|||
11 |
20 September 1969 (aged 20) |
4 |
|||
12 |
12 November 1962 (aged 27) |
27 |
|||
13 |
26 March 1960 (aged 30) |
7 |
|||
14 |
30 November 1963 (aged 26) |
22 |
|||
15 |
12 February 1970 (aged 20) |
2 |
|||
16 |
25 December 1958 (aged 31) |
6 |
|||
17 |
5 November 1963 (aged 26) |
2 |
|||
18 |
7 July 1966 (aged 23) |
2 |
|||
19 |
4 February 1965 (aged 25) |
6 |
|||
20 |
1 March 1967 (aged 23) |
11 |
|||
21 |
1 August 1961 (aged 28) |
5 |
|||
22 |
15 October 1963 (aged 26) |
1 |
The reasons the reigning European champions were somewhat less likely to top the group were the following: yes, Holland had had the best core of mega-stars among all finalists (Gullit-vanBasten-Rijkard-Ronald Koeman), surrounded by fantasticly talented teammates, but... on one hand, the internal tremors and scandals. The coach was replaced in the last minute, but Beenhakker was not ready-made solution – Gullit had problem with him, which poisoned the atmosphere. Himself, Gullit was not at its best and the same could be said for the other mega-stars, coming tired from grueling Italian and Spanish championships and European tournaments. The opponents in the group were another challenge – the Dutch had traditional respect for British football, seeing themselves as inferior, which made playing against British team always problematic and this time they had not one, but two British opponents. Nobody seriously thought the Dutch could be knocked down in the first round of the finals, but most likely they would finish second and with lots of sweat. However, the ironic words of Cruijff eventually proved prophetic – he said something like 'they wriggle sensing disastrous failure', which at first looked like his usual jab at the Dutch Federation, but as the championship progressed...
Republic of Ireland
Head coach: Jack Charlton
No. |
Pos. |
Player |
Date of birth (age) |
Caps |
Club |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
24 May 1960 (aged 30) |
38 |
|||
2 |
24 December 1963 (aged 26) |
21 |
|||
3 |
19 January 1969 (aged 21) |
13 |
|||
4 |
7 February 1959 (aged 31) |
42 |
|||
5 |
29 April 1956 (aged 34) |
55 |
|||
6 |
25 September 1961 (aged 28) |
38 |
|||
7 |
4 December 1959 (aged 30) |
36 |
|||
8 |
9 January 1962 (aged 28) |
29 |
|||
9 |
18 September 1958 (aged 31) |
30 |
|||
10 |
1 September 1962 (aged 27) |
21 |
|||
11 |
21 October 1959 (aged 30) |
28 |
|||
12 |
2 May 1958 (aged 32) |
51 |
|||
13 |
23 July 1963 (aged 26) |
12 |
|||
14 |
11 December 1958 (aged 31) |
50 |
|||
15 |
13 November 1960 (aged 29) |
4 |
|||
16 |
1 October 1964 (aged 25) |
8 |
|||
17 |
6 October 1966 (aged 23) |
15 |
|||
18 |
10 July 1956 (aged 33) |
71 |
|||
19 |
25 November 1965 (aged 24) |
6 |
|||
20 |
1 February 1961 (aged 29) |
19 |
|||
21 |
20 April 1967 (aged 23) |
1 |
|||
22 |
20 May 1956 (aged 34) |
28 |
* Niall Quinn was registered as Ireland's third goalkeeper
A team admired not for skills, but for spirit and after their brave performance at the 1988 European finals, the team was on a roll. It was expected not to disappoint, but to finish third anyway. Jack Charlton repeatedly said that motivation was not his concern – the Irish always gave their best and having England to play against was enough motivation. Skills were also not a concern – Charlton knew very well that he had a team with limited abilities and did not even thing of creating some fancy schemes. He only wanted the boys to do what they could and to press their opponents away from the Irish net. Simple concept, but realistic one. As a curious note, the Irish team was the only one at the finals with 2 goalkeepers – normally, every coach got the fear of some terrible injuries and took three keepers to the finals, but the new FIFA rule permitted late changes in the team lists, so why still keeping three keepers? Colombia listed just 2 keepers, but Charlton went outdid them by listing striker Niall Quinn as eventual third goalie. And why not? He had Irish at his hand – not particularly skillful players, but spirited enough to play at any position.
Egypt
Head coach: Mahmoud Al-Gohari
No. |
Pos. |
Player |
Date of birth (age) |
Caps |
Club |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
28 September 1960 (aged 29) |
52 |
|||
2 |
10 August 1966 (aged 23) |
45 |
|||
3 |
7 September 1960 (aged 29) |
81 |
|||
4 |
10 March 1969 (aged 21) |
28 |
|||
5 |
10 August 1962 (aged 27) |
35 |
|||
6 |
25 July 1966 (aged 23) |
38 |
|||
7 |
28 June 1964 (aged 25) |
29 |
|||
8 |
27 July 1959 (aged 30) |
N/A |
|||
9 |
10 August 1966 (aged 23) |
49 |
|||
10 |
24 November 1957 (aged 32) |
76 |
|||
11 |
24 January 1962 (aged 28) |
N/A |
|||
12 |
10 April 1962 (aged 28) |
57 |
|||
13 |
25 October 1965 (aged 24) |
27 |
|||
14 |
19 January 1963 (aged 27) |
N/A |
|||
15 |
1 May 1959 (aged 31) |
N/A |
|||
16 |
24 February 1964 (aged 26) |
N/A |
|||
17 |
9 December 1962 (aged 27) |
N/A |
|||
18 |
22 January 1962 (aged 28) |
N/A |
|||
19 |
11 December 1967 (aged 22) |
N/A |
|||
20 |
8 July 1965 (aged 24) |
42 |
|||
21 |
7 January 1966 (aged 24) |
N/A |
|||
22 |
16 September 1953 (aged 36) |
87 |