On July 17, 1994, Brazil won the fourth world championship in the United States after defeating Italy on penalties – the game at the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena had over 94,000 in attendance and ended goalless in the 90 minutes and extra time. Romário, Branco and Dunga converted the penalties, while the Italians wasted three shots, one of them saved by Taffarel.
On that occasion, both teams were in search of the tetracampionship. Brazil had previously won the World Cup in 1958, 1962 and 1970. Later, they reached the pentacampionato in 2002. Italy had been champions in 1934, 1938 and 1982. They would go on to win the title again in 2006.
The Brazilian cry of “champion” echoed around the world when striker Roberto Baggio kicked the ball over the crossbar and put his hands to his head. Brazil closed the dispute with 3-2 on penalties, to the delight of millions of fans and also of coach Carlos Alberto Parreira and his technical coordinator Zagallo.
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An image that had a lot of projection at the time and that still remains alive in the memory of many is the celebration of the members of the Brazilian National Team’s technical staff, as soon as Baggio missed the shot. They went onto the field with their arms raised and masseur Nocaute Jack appeared on the screen doing a somersault.
In the 1994 World Cup, Brazil began the path to the title by beating Russia 2-0, with goals from Romário and Raí, at Stanford Stadium in San Francisco. In the next game, three more points: 3-0 over Cameroon, with goals from Romário, Bebeto and Márcio Santos, again at Stanford. To close the group stage, a 1-1 draw with Sweden (Romário’s goal), at the Pontiac Silverdion in Detroit, Michigan.
The round of 16 came and Brazil had to face the hosts, the United States. It was a very balanced game and our luck is that we had Romário in great form. It was his pass that set up Bebeto to score the only classic goal: 1-0: again at Stanford. The play occurred after the middle of the second half, when Brazil was playing with ten – Leonardo had been sent off at the end of the initial half.
In the quarterfinals, in an electrifying game at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, Brazil defeated the Netherlands 3-2. The match was tied until the 36th minute of the second half, when Branco took a perfect long-range free kick and sealed the victory. Before that, Romário and Bebeto had scored for the Brazilian National Team.
Qualified for the semifinals, the Seleção would face the strong Swedish team. In front of more than 91 people at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Romário was the author of the only goal of the match, in the 35th minute of the second half, which ensured Brazil’s presence in the grand final.
The clash with Italy in a final recalled many people to the last match of the 1970 World Cup in Mexico, when the Brazilian National Team won the third title with a rout over the Italians: 4-1. For the Azzurra, this game in the United States represented revenge. But, during the 120 minutes, the European team created few chances and did not capitalize on them.
Brazil was more daring in attack and was close to opening the scoring several times, but lacked finishing. Even in extra time, the Seleção could have settled the decision given the ease with which they reached Italy’s area. With the 0-0 in 120 minutes, the penalty shootout came and the fourth title of the Brazilian National Team.
The celebration on the field with much crying, hugs, jumps, kisses and somersaults, infected the Brazilian fans who were watching the feat on TV. Throughout Brazil, crowds took to the streets to celebrate. July 17, 1994 would go down in history as a landmark date for Brazilian and world football.
A consecration for all the champions and especially for Romário, elected by FIFA as the best of that World Cup.
The tetracampionship players: Taffarel, Jorginho, Aldair, Márcio Santos, Branco, Dunga, Mauro Silva, Mazinho, Zinho, Bebeto, Romário, Zetti, Gilmar, Ricardo Rocha, Ronaldão, Cafu, Leonardo, Raí, Paulo Sérgio, Muller, Ronaldo and Viola.
