In context it was a predictable red card. It might not have been a red card in a vacuum, but Italy was practially begging the referee to punish them for their ridiculous theatrics. So when Zola tried another Oscar-winning penalty dive and didn't get it, he lunged at the Nigerian defender in anger. With that red card the referee immediately put a stop to Italy's annoying behavior.
@@seven92023 Not according to any book rule. But the official rules are not always perfect. In my opinion, penalty dives are worthy of red cards in and of themselves. Nowadays a player will get sent off for denying the opponent a goal scoring opportunity, but for some reason this rule does not apply for a player who tries to trick the referee into handing him a goal scoring opportunity. You see where I'm going with this? This referee made a perfect decision. He had already booked an Italian player for diving earlier, and yet the players continued their antics. After the red card, which was given officially for making a kicking motion towards the opponent, Italy started playing actual football again. You could even argue that the referee helped Italy snap out of their delusions and spurred them on to victory.
@@schmuckpuppet4842 Funny explanation because the Nigerian player did exactly the thing that you criticise, he dived and if you consider that Germany won the World Cups of 74 & 90 through Penalty Dives...so the Oscar goes surely not to Italy but to Germany!
17 anni, una delle meglio estati della mia vita. Tanti pensarono che fosse persa. L'assist di Baggio prima del rigore rimane una delle giocate più geniali che abbia visto.
I was 10 years old during US 94. It is almost impossible to explain to anyone the feeling of sheer joy, happiness and euphoria on our street here in Milan when Baggio scored that equaliser. Less than 2 months before, I had gone to Athens with my uncle and cousins to witness my club beating Barcelona 4-0 in a champions league final - the most surreal experience for all the right reasons. But this game - the circumstances (Zola sent off) and with italy seemingly heading for the exit was just a match that will forever be a part of me. The all time footballing hero of my life is Franco Baresi. He is untouchable. BUT. Baggio made me love football. I loved to watch him play, and he is the only footballer whose name I've had on the back of my shirt other than Baresi. After every game, we would immediately run outside to play and me trying to recreate his dribbling. When that goal went in for the equaliser, honestly I still feel like it was only yesterday. Just a timeless memory.
Seeing these highlights I am reminded again how useful Dino Baggio could be in big games in an offensive capacity- he probably had more chances than any other italian, with near misses on several occasions. And he cleared a late Nigerian chance off the line! An important player for Italy.
Very smart comment! In fact, Dino Baggio was one of the most complete midfielders of all time, as he was ambidextrous, physically strong and almost insurmountable in duels, exceptionally strong with the head and able to perfectly fulfill both defensive and offensive tasks.
@@EVOZORE naaah overrated just like Paul Scholes disappears in big games. Thats why Italy has no medals cause Roberto Baggio and Maldini carry these generation without great midfield, literally every mid player in Italy is not great . when U compare playmakers and great midfielders Dino is not even top 200 in history I can name at least 100 now better than him.
@@gabrielesimionato1210 Yep. Guy is just solid player and most defender. Donadoni is more offensive midfielder. If I need to pick Ill take Donadoni cause Dino is not on high level of star players. Donadoni is closer to star rating.
@@PIP...33 I agree. Donadoni is far better player. I also can say you speak the truth bout Scholes. Paul always choke in England tho he has the talent but his potential never reached full level especially in national team. Thats why England never won single thing in life. I tho England had best league and best players every World Cup or Euro their squad is literally 22 players superstars or leaders in their clubs. No other country can say that even Brazil beside top 11 players never had so much stars on bench etc. But Scholes and Lampard are those players that media want you to believe they are great while in reality they are just solid and as you said around star rating never top class.
Waht a match! I am Ghanaian, but I supported the Super Eagles. I was however torn between the two teams because of my admiration for Roberto Baggio. I finally wished Nigeria had won though.
I was 10 years old.. Why did everyone love Baggio? I never followed this tournament much because of the late timing. It was nearly three in the morning. Baggio’s penalty kick. Silence prevailed in the place. It was a television screen brought by someone studying at the university. We lived in a small village. Staying up late means that you It's great, but this match brought together the old and the young. I'm neither Italian nor Brazilian, but we loved him. Yes, Baggio. Why do we cry over the memories of this boy? I wish it had been yours, legend.. one of your fans at the age of ten, number ten.
It was an epic game. One of my brothers was also 18 at the time. I was 8 years of age in the summer of 1994. I'm now 38 years of age. I still get goosebumps when I watch this. As an 8 year old, I cried for a whole week when Nigeria was knocked out, lol. What a time to be alive.
I remember this game .... 1994 I was 18 years old .......... I was so sad because I really started to panic and be sad Roberto Baggio never scored entire World Cup ........ Then he scores 2goals to defeat Nigeria ..... Forza Italia 🇮🇹🇮🇹🇮🇹🙏✝️❤️
It was an epic game. One of my brothers was also 18 at the time. I was 8 years of age in the summer of 1994. I'm now 38 years of age. I still get goosebumps when I watch this. As an 8 year old, I cried for a whole week when Nigeria was knocked out, lol. What a time to be alive.
@@AbdulKareem-uy6hk I'm italian and I remember it like if it was just yesterday too... This game and the final game were just crazy. I still remember the pressure i felt, the unexplicable joy for this unexpected win and the very sad tournament final ending... What a time... To think how trash today the world is
@utenteantimoralismo8549 - my Italian brother from another mother (I have a number of Sicilian friends), you have hit it on the head. Exactly my thoughts on your description. Times have changed. I no longer enjoy football today. No excitement. Overpaid and overrated players today.
@@AbdulKareem-uy6hk Same my friend, back in the day football was also full of valuable gentlemen... Nowadays just childish immature undeserved millionaires. The whole society became worse, especially here in Europe.
Incredibile e assurda l'espulsione a Zola, si è vero va con troppa irruenza, forza, ma non lo tocca e il calciatore nigeriano sembra essere quasi morto, assurdo, per non contare i rigori non dati all'Italia...
The dribble rate of Austin Jay Jay Okocha in this match was extraordinary. A record 15 dribbles. You can't talk about this match without mentioning the entertaining aspect of Jay Jay Okocha.
Why not talk about the missed chances. The fact that the Italians were reduced to 10 men for most of the match. The missed chances by yekini and others . Let's learn from the Missed opportunity.
Come on men. Let's be real. The red card was one of the most horrendous calls I have ever witnessed in the history of football. Such shocking refereeing through out the game, primarily in Nigeria's favour---- in our favour. Yet we still lost even though we were a goal up and a man up for large sections of the match. The Italians thoroughly dominated us and thoroughly deserved to win.
@@victoranyanwu-gz1tq It was never a controversial red card. Cameroon defeated Argentina in Italian 90 with two red cards. Of course, the Italian team were expected to dominate us because most players play for AC Milan who just won Barca 4-0 at the 1994 champions league final . It was a great side. Nigeria was appearing for the first time but held their own against such a great and complete team. Deal with it, red card and referees are part of the game. The red was not a controversial one. If you say the red card was a controversial, what about the penalty?
Roberto codino Baggio💙.... il più grande attaccante della storia della nazionale di calcio Italiana e nonostante tutto abbiamo vinto un mondiale ed un europeo da dopo lui la davanti c'è stata solo fuffa
Waktu nonton aslinya WC 1994, tegang banget ini, apalagi Italia Kiper nya Marchegiani dan setelah Zola yang kena kartu merah dlm hitungan detik setelah masuk 😊👍👍
I remember this game, I was actually cheering for NIGERIA, I got mad when ITALY won. Looking back I feel if NIGERIA had've won they would have likely beaten SPAIN & BULGARIA thereby becoming the first AFRICAN country to reach the WC FINAL.
@@ayrtonclaude1513 Perhaps they would've beaten BRAZIL but I feel that if it'd been BRAZIL V NIGERIA FINAL NIGERIA probably would've suffered stage fright due to the occasion. USA'94 however was an enjoyable WC, watching the games from that WC 30 years on brings back memories and makes me look forward to 2 years time wnen North America will host the WC with 48 teams playing. Who knows maybe ITALY & NIGERIA will play each with NIGERIA winning this time, that'd be interesting if it actually happens.
Saya Ingat masa itu saya nonton pada tahun 1994,waktu umur sya 9 tahun tapi saya sudah mengetahui bola antar bangsa lingkungan kami pecinta bola,indah masa kecil kami
They had the best team in paper with those players but not the best team . Sacchi tactics were awful . Italy had fantastic players in 90s but horroble coaches
I think nigeria had a very good defense. If not. But i blame Eguavoen for that second goal. He already had someone covering up. This was obviously a great performance by the Super Eagles. If it was this day eagles italy would have lashed us silly
Clemens Westerhof team was intact. Tactical discipline outsmarted him. Caused Nigeria this loss. Could have been History. ARRIGO SACCHI the Coach I love look at Zonal Marking, offside traps, offensive football
It was a decent tournament but the final sucked. I still maintain that France 98 was and still is the best WC that I have ever seen and I have been watching since 1990.
While i agree with you, i think the field had a lot to do with it. All the games at this world cup were in 90+ degree F temps, and the grass was probably the best to date for a world cup. Meanwhile a lot of the european leagues at the time had issues with the fields being shit like two games into the season. So most of these guys are used to shooting off of fields that were half mud, or at best good fields that got sprayed down with water pre-game. That probably didn't last long at the temps of this world cup, so it makes sense a lot of the shots went high with the dry fields and less water and mud on the ball
This Nigerian team was hopelessly overhyped. How can 10 men boss you for close to an hour? Italy 100% deserved this victory despite the idiotic ref giving an unjust red to Zola
Before the match, the ref got a letter from a mysterious Nigerian Prince offering 700,000$ in exchange for sending off an Italian player during the match
Una delle partite più belle e controverse della storia del calcio italiano, Baggio un Dio, espulsione di Zola una delle cose più false ed inutili di tutti i mondiali FIFA ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Those days during this match i remembered many Ghanaians cried,, All Africans were behind Nigeria! Can we see that today? You will support them but can they support you back? no they will wish your lose
Omo.. 10 mins more and Nigeria would have been world cup finalist ( Italy got final. Bulgaria got to Semi final ) And definitely winner. beating Brazil
