1994 WORLD CUP
USA 94 ALBUM FACTS – UK AND EIRE EDITION
Winners: BRAZIL
PAGES: 48 ALBUM PRICE: 50P
Runners-up: ITALY
NUMBER OF STICKERS: 444 (INTERNATIONAL); 416 (UK AND EIRE)
Third: SWEDEN
PACKET COST: 25P FOR SIX STICKERS Lechkov’s (mostly) bald head had changed little from his sticker by the time he headed in the winning goal for Bulgaria in their quarterfinal with holders Germany.The Republic of Ireland were generally underwhelming, but still gave us Ray Houghton’s memorable winner and celebratory forwardroll in their opening match against Italy. Houghton had also stayed with the reliable haircut that had seen him through many Panini albums of the ’80s and ’90s. Saudi Arabia’s Saeed Owairan (as listed on his USA 94 sticker, although he went by the more commonly used Saeed AlOwairan by the time of Panini’s France 98) scored one of the all-time great World Cup goals with his lung-busting dribble past half of the opposition in a 1–0 win against Belgium. Barcelona’s Hristo Stoichkov was Bulgaria’s talisman, scoring six goals on the way to sharing the Golden Boot with Oleg Salenko, who also scored half a dozen times for Russia despite
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getting knocked out in the first round. Salenko scored a penalty in his team’s second match (against Sweden), before adding five more in an astonishing 6–1 win over Cameroon, when they had already been eliminated. The African side’s consolation goal came from Roger Milla – back in a Panini World Cup album for the first time since Espana 82, at the grand old age of 42. Sweden qualified (along with Brazil) from Group A in what was a golden period for them, having reached the semi-finals of Euro 92. Tomas Brolin and Martin Dahlin were once again their attacking threat, along with Kennet Andersson, who missed out on a Panini sticker to a dreadlocked Henrik Larsson. Goalkeeper Thomas Ravelli became another well-known face during the tournament, his penalty-saving heroics against Romania securing the Swedes a place in the last four. Nigeria left an indelible mark on their first World Cup, from the moment Rashidi Yekini cavorted
with the goal net after putting his side ahead on the way to a 3–0 opening win over Bulgaria. Daniel Amokachi scored twice in the group stage as the Super Eagles reached the last 16, where they met Italy. Emmanuel Amuneke scored early on and Nigeria held firm until the 88th minute, when Roberto Baggio equalised. Despite being down to 10 men –
Italy kept up the pressure in extra time and Baggio, whose ‘Divine Ponytail’ could be seen peeking from behind his right shoulder in USA 94 added his second from the penalty spot Gianfranco Zola having been sent off – Italy kept up the pressure in extra time and Baggio, whose ‘Divine Ponytail’ could be seen peeking from behind his right shoulder in USA 94, added his second from the penalty spot. Baggio was again the matchwinner in the quarter-final and semi-final against Spain and Bulgaria respectively to set up a final with Brazil.
The South American side’s charge to the final had been underpinned by a mixture of flair – led by attackers Romario and Bebeto, he of the baby-rocking celebration – and pragmatism, exemplified by captain Dunga. Their most exciting match on the way to the final came against the Netherlands when their formidable strike duo put them 2–0 up, seemingly coasting. Dennis Bergkamp – fixing a steely gaze in his first Panini World Cup sticker – pulled one back before Aron Winter levelled. Branco then did what one expects from Brazilians – he pulled a long-range screamer out of the bag to win the game with nine minutes left. After everything that had gone before, there was much anticipation for the heavyweight final between Brazil and Italy. As it turned out, the 120 minutes – including extra-time – were dull. Italy missed three times from the spot – Franco Baresi, Daniele Massaro and Roberto Baggio all failed to hit the net – while Brazil scored three out of four to win their fourth World Cup.
Fourth: BULGARIA Golden Boot: HRISTO STOICHKOV AND OLEG SALENKO (6)
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