My most disappointing World Cup moments
WE’RE JUST a week away from football’s biggest sporting spectacle and the most watched event in TV history, the FIFA World Cup.
While everyone will be glued to their TV sets and devices to watch the stunning displays from June 14 to July 15, we’ve all had some memorable moments, and some that were completely heart-wrenching.
This week, I’ll recap some of the most disappointing World Cup moments, purely based on what I’ve watched. This means, of course, no mention will be made of Maradona’s 1986 ‘Hand of God’ which was as controversial as his entire career; nor will you hear how England strangely lost the 1966 World Cup trophy which was later found, miraculously, by a wandering dog.
Here are my three most disappointing World Cup moments which, mind you, start at 1994, when I first fell in love with football.
ANDRES ESCOBAR & COLOMBIA
Football is a matter of life or death for some people, just ask the Colombians! Colombia were one of the dark horses of the 1994 World Cup with an excellent run during qualifications. They had an amazing team that had lost only one match in 26 outings on their way to the World Cup.
Colombia had historically beaten Argentina 5-0 in 1993. Many, including Pelé had listed the team as one likely to win the 1994 title. Miraculously, the team failed to deliver at the 1994 World Cup and the final straw for Colombian fans was when their captain, Andres Escobar, scored an own goal against the USA. Sadly, Escobar was gunned down in Colombia a month later. Brazil’s Ronaldo
GERMANY WHIP BRAZIL 7-1
Usually, having home advantage in the World Cup can go a far way. As far as to the trophy! This has actually happened on six previous occasions with Uruguay, Italy, England, Germany, Argentina, and France all winning the World Cup in front of their massive home crowds. Ironically, Brazil, the only country that can boast all of five World Cup titles, has actually never won on home soil. The year 2014 was their chance to do so, but with an injury to
Neymar, many gave Germany the nod to win the semi-final encounter in front of a capacity 64,000 with included mostly Brazilians!
While many tipped Germany to win, nobody expected a massacre! Germany first scored in the 11th minute, then went on to hit the back of the net with rapid succession in the 23th, 24th, 26th, and 29th minute.
The onslaught continued as Germany scored all of seven goals in 79 minutes. The humiliation was already sealed by the time Oscar pulled one back for Brazil in the 90th.
As a Brazil fan, it was heartwrenching! Sadly, it wasn’t the worst moment I’d experienced watching the World Cup. That’s reserved for the 1998 World Cup Final!
BRAZIL LOSE TO FRANCE, 1998
It was 1998, and the world’s biggest football sensation was Brazil’s Ronaldo de Lima and Brazil were into the World Cup final against France, a country that had never won a title.
Ronaldo had already experienced a World Cup final when Brazil won in 1994, as he
was a part of that squad at just 17 years old. By France 1998, the 21year-old was already a two-time FIFA World Player of the Year.
In the final against France, something inexplicable happened. Ronaldo, and Brazil, looked disoriented and made their worst showing all tournament. France went on to win the match 3-0 and lifted the Jules Rimmet Trophy in front of a capacity home crowd.
But football fans were left flabbergasted as to how a Brazilian team, that had made such a remarkable run to the final had such a lacklustre final.
One still wonders what happened to Ronaldo and Brazil in 1998. Some said that he had an epileptic fit minutes before the final and thus the team was disoriented. Others suggest that even though he was unwell, he was forced to take to the pitch anyway. None of these reports have ever been confirmed. Whatever happened remains one of the biggest mysteries in World Cup history and certainly my most disappointing moment. Hopefully, all goes well in 2018 for Brazil! One Love.