Tag: Meanwhile In Moscow

World Cup One-Hit Wonders: Schillaci, Crownless King of Italia 90

Argentina, Germany, Italy, Meanwhile In Moscow, Serie A, The Azzurri, The Grass Is Greener, World Cup, World Cup 2022
As World Cup 1990 approached, Italy's coach Azeglio Vicini could lineup strikers such as Gianluca Vialli and Roberto Baggio. Still, he decided to add to his squad a little known Sicilian forward from Juventus. His name was Salvatore Schillaci, and he became the underdog King of the Notti Magiche ("Magic Nights") of Italia '90, scoring 6 goals and leading the Azzurri to the 3rd place.
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Defender Fabio Grosso is the man who in 2006 led Italy to their 4th world title, despite not being part of coach Marcello Lippi's initial lineup

World Cup One-Hit Wonders: Grosso, the Man of the Last Minute

France, Germany, Italy, Meanwhile In Moscow, Serie A, The Azzurri, The Grass Is Greener, World Cup, World Cup 2022
“You will take the last penalty, because you have always been decisive so far.” This is what coach Marcello Lippi told Fabio Grosso before the penalty shootouts that determined the outcome of World Cup 2006 Final between Italy and France. Lippi’s choice to bet on a player who was not even part of his original starting lineup proved to be a winning one.
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Sergio Goycochea was not even supposed to play in World Cup 1990 but he ended up leading the Argentina all the way to the Final, shattering Italy's dreams

World Cup One-Hit Wonders: Goycochea, the “Notti Magiche” Killer

Argentina, Brazil, Germany, Italy, Meanwhile In Moscow, Serie A, The Azzurri, The Grass Is Greener, World Cup, World Cup 2022
Sergio Goycochea was not even supposed to play in World Cup 1990, as the starting goalkeeper of Argentina was undoubtedly Nery Pumpido. But when Pumpido suffered an injury, the first choice became this unknown goalie who ended up leading the Albiceleste all the way to the Final, shattering Italy's Notti Magiche dreams in the process.
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The sad story of Mario Gotze, a true World Cup "one-hit wonder" and the man who made Germany celebrate their fourth world title

World Cup One-Hit Wonders: Gotze, Hero for One Night Only

Argentina, Germany, Meanwhile In Moscow, Serie A, The Grass Is Greener, World Cup, World Cup 2022
Scoring the decisive goal during a World Cup Final: Could you ask more from a 22-year-old boy? Mario Gotze is the man who in 2014 made Germany celebrate their fourth world title. Everybody would have bet on a shining future for him. Instead, Gotze slowly declined in the following years, up to the point that he has not played for Germany since 2017.
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Scoring five goals in a single match at a World Cup is somethint that has happened only once, courtesy of Russian striker Oleg Salenko

World Cup One-Hit Wonders: Salenko’s Day of Football Insanity

Cameroon, Meanwhile In Moscow, Russia, Serie A, The Grass Is Greener, World Cup, World Cup 2022
Scoring five goals in a single match surely is a heck of an exploit. Doing it in a world championship game makes it even more noteworthy. Indeed, this is something that has happened only once, as of today. The author of that astonishing glut was Oleg Salenko, Russia’s top striker during the 1994 World Cup in the U.S.A. It happened on June 28, in Stanford, California.
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Who doesn’t remember Cuauhtemoc Blanco's cuauhteminha, a feat that consisted in dashing past your opponents with the ball tied between your feet?

World Cup One-Hit Wonders: Blanco, the Mexican Juggler of France 1998

Meanwhile In Moscow, Mexico, Serie A, The Grass Is Greener, World Cup, World Cup 2022
When you manage to give your name to a specific trick, it means you have made it to the history of football. Raise your hands, those of you who don’t remember the cuauhtemina, a feat that consisted in dashing past your opponents with the ball tied between your feet. This is what Mexican attacking midfielder Cuauhtémoc Blanco showed during the 1998 World Cup in France.
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Asamoah Gyan will never forget that moment when he hit the crossbar from a penalty kick that could have consigned him to the history of African football

World Cup One-Hit Wonders: The Asamoah Penalty Nightmare

Ghana, Meanwhile In Moscow, Serie A, The Grass Is Greener, Uruguay, World Cup, World Cup 2022
It is said that, just one moment before dying, a person relives their whole life in an instant. In the case of Asamoah Gyan, one of the top images will likely be that moment when he hit the crossbar from a penalty kick that could have consigned him to the history of African football, making his native Ghana the first African team to ever each a World Cup Semi Final.
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Stephen Guivarc'h is the France striker who won the World Cup 1998 title without scoring a single goal in the process. A true !World Cup One-Hit Wonder

World Cup One-Hit Wonders: Guivarc’h, the Goalless World Champ

Meanwhile In Moscow, Serie A, The Grass Is Greener, World Cup, World Cup 2022
Sometimes, you make it to history not because of what you did, but because of what you didn't do. The France squad that won World Cup 1998 featured strikers like Thierry Henry and David Trezeguet. Yet, their starting forward was Stéphane Guivarc'h. This World Cup One-Hit Wonder is a striker who won a world title without scoring a single goal.
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Meanwhile in Moscow: Vive La France! The World Cup Is Bleu!

Croatia, France, Meanwhile In Moscow, World Cup, World Cup 2018
The World Cup Winners remains an elite club with very strict admission rules. France covered themselves with glory for the second time, while brusquely rejecting Croatia’s application to join the club. The Final in Moscow ended 4-2 for Didier Deschamps’ side, but we need to thank both teams for giving life to one of the most entertaining finals in decades.
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Meanwhile in Moscow: Third Spot of WC Podium Goes to Belgium

Belgium, England, Meanwhile In Moscow, World Cup, World Cup 2018
The World Cup Third Place Playoff is probably the saddest game in the whole football season calendar. The match no team would like to be playing, having just lost the chance to be part of the real deal that happens the following day. Belgium earned the third spot by beating England 2-0 in Saint Petersburg with goals by Thomas Meunier and Eden Hazard.
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Meanwhile in Moscow: Perisic-Mandzu Take Croatia to Last Act

Croatia, England, Meanwhile In Moscow, World Cup, World Cup 2018
Croatia are the second finalist of World Cup 2018. Ivan Perisic and Mario Mandzukic pushed the Balkan side into their first world final ever, overturning Kieran Trippier’s initial lead for England. The Vatreni will thus face France next Sunday at Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow for the last act, a totally deserved achievement for the white-and-red checkered squad.
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Meanwhile in Moscow: Umtiti Brings France Back to WC Final

Croatia, France, Meanwhile In Moscow, World Cup, World Cup 2018
A flash in the night of Saint Petersburg, Samuel Umtiti’s header brought France back to a World Cup Final, 12 years after the bitter outcome of Berlin 2006. Didier Deschamps’ side prevailed in their Semi Final over Belgium with a lone goal by their Barcelona-based center back. Just like 4 years ago in Brazil, the Red Devils faded away in the decisive moment.
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