1994: Football conquers America

1994: Football conquers America
After a disappointing tournament in 1990, FIFA decided to try to clean up the game and make it more exciting. Tackling from behind became a sending-off offence and, in an attempt to combat negative play, three points were awarded for a win.

Thrilling tournament
The policy undoubtedly worked as the 15th FIFA World Cup in the United States was one of the most exciting with just three goalless draws in the entire competition. The only negative aspect was that one of those was the final itself.

Controversial choice
The US - without its own professional league - was a controversial choice to host the tournament, but FIFA were keen to open up the game's final frontier. However, on a more practical level the large distances teams had to travel and the extreme heat in some of the venues made it a gruelling competition.

Notable absentees
Qualifying was also a struggle with some top names failing to make the final 24. England, Denmark, Portugal and Poland all fell by the wayside, as did France, who were eliminated by the last kick of their final qualifier against Bulgaria. Meanwhile, Norway, Greece, Nigeria and Saudi Arabia all reached their first World Cup finals.

Tragic event
Once again the group stage was a long-winded way of reducing the field to the last 16 - the most notable casualties being Colombia, one of the pre-tournament favourites who were eliminated after a 2-1 defeat by the hosts, the United States. Football was put, sadly, into perspective a few weeks later when, on his return home, Andres Escobar, whose own goal had put the USA ahead, was murdered.

Five for Salenko
The group stage also saw the Russians depart - despite Oleg Salenko's five goals in a 6-1 thrashing of Cameroon (for whom Roger Milla, at 42, became the oldest scorer in the World Cup finals). Norway also bowed out, unluckily losing on goals scored in Italy's group in which all four teams finished on four points.

Unbeaten runs
Brazil, inspired by their thoughtful captain Dunga, and Sweden emerged unbeaten after a 1-1 draw between them, while also unbeaten were Germany and Spain, despite both struggling against South Korea - Germany winning 3-2 and Spain managing only a 2-2 draw.

Owairan wonder-goal
The group stage also saw the goal of the tournament from Saudi Arabia's Saeed Owairan, who scored a dazzling Maradona-esque goal in a sensational 1-0 defeat of Belgium. Sadly, the real thing did not do quite so well. Argentina made it through but Maradona himself did not. Recalled to the squad after serving a lengthy ban for drug use he scored in the 4-0 defeat of Greece but then, after Argentina's 2-1 win against Nigeria, he again failed a drugs test and was sent home.

Hagi takes over
Ironically, it was then the ‘Maradona of the Carpathians’ - Gheorghe Hagi - who masterminded Romania's 3-2 defeat of the Argentinians in the best of the second-round matches.

Brave Ireland bow out
The second round was also as far as the Republic of Ireland got. Despite a battling 1-0 win over Italy in the group stage they were no match for a Dennis Bergkamp inspired Netherlands, losing 2-0. The Saudis also bowed out, 3-1 against Sweden, as did the hosts, who were far from overawed or overwhelmed in a 1-0 defeat against the favourites, Brazil.

Late drama
The most exciting encounter, however, was between Italy and Nigeria. The Italians were on the verge of an embarrassing exit, 1-0 down and down to ten men after Gianfranco Zola was sent off, before Roberto Baggio found an 89th-minute equaliser and then scored the winner from the penalty spot in extra time. Baggio was the saviour again in Italy's 2-1 quarter-final win against Spain, scoring a breakaway winner two minutes from time in a match the talented Spanish should have won.

Bulgaria stun Germany
The biggest shock, however, was Germany's 2-1 defeat by Bulgaria. Inspired by Hristo Stoichkov, the Bulgarians had beaten Mexico in the second round on penalties. Then, against Germany, they recovered from 1-0 down with two quick goals - the first a 76th-minute free-kick by Stoichkov, the second, two minutes later, a diving header by Yordan Lechkov - to reach the semi-finals.

Branco boosts Brazil
Meanwhile, Brazil's 3-2 win against the Netherlands was the highest quality quarter-final. Romario and Bebeto put Brazil 2-0 up before the Dutch, incensed at what they thought was an offside goal, battled back through Bergkamp and Aron Winter to make it 2-2. However, Branco's 28-metre free-kick won the game for the Brazilians nine minutes from time.

Baggio magic
In the semi-finals Brazil met Sweden for the seventh time in the World Cup - and a second time in 1994. Not at their best they still had the edge over a negative Swedish side, with Romario scoring the winner ten minutes from time. Meanwhile, the Baggio story was advancing at a pace, the pony-tailed striker scoring both goals in Italy's comfortable 2-1 semi-final victory against Bulgaria.

Goalless final
The final between Brazil and Italy at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on 17 July was a replay of the 1970 final but sadly it produced five fewer goals. The game, between teams who had both won the World Cup three times, was goalless at half-time, goalless at full time and goalless after extra time.

Brazil triumph
It was, after such an entertaining tournament, a hugely disappointing climax - for nobody more than Baggio, whose luck ran out when he missed a penalty in the first-ever World Cup final shoot-out, thereby handing the crown to Brazil for a fourth time.