Berlin: In 1994 the World Cup took place for the first time in the new venue of the United States of America, the first host country where football was not the king of sports. However, it turned out to be an organisational, economic and popular success in which Brazil won its fourth World Cup title and Diego Maradona reached rock bottom.

The United States was formally granted host privilege in 1988 but the preparations were made behind the scenes as far back as 1980. The former secretary of state, Henry Kissinger, an avid football fan, managed to convince his government of the economic benefits and an improvement in the country's image of organising a prestigious World Cup football tournament.

The United States, with the then President Ronald Reagan fully involved, could count on considerable support within FIFA, which saw the competition in the North American continent as a possibility to increase ``World Cup business.'' FIFA gave its tacit approval to the U.S. bid at an executive meeting in Stockholm in 1983.

Surprise results

In a World Cup in which Africa fielded three competitors for the first time, the qualifying rounds were marked by the elimination of both France and England, by the surprise presence of Bolivia, which had returned after 44 years' absence, and finally, the difficulties of Argentina, which had to suffer a ``play-off'' against Australia.

In fact Argentina was a protagonist, although in a negative sense, in the final phases of the tournament, which took place from June 17 to July 17 at nine venues. Argentina began with a convincing 4-0 win over Greece, followed by a 2-1 victory against Nigeria. But then it was revealed that Maradona had been tested positive for the banned substance pseudoephedrine.

Ignominious exit

FIFA, as it had already done in the past with Scottish player Willie Johnston in 1978, immediately expelled Maradona from the competition. The star had already been involved publicly in cases of drug use and after this incident never returned to being even a shadow of his former self.

Argentina, the team demoralised by the loss of its idol, fell ignominiously in the second round against Romania.

The tournament, played in high temperatures but with an attendance record of 3.5 million spectators, was not defined by high quality football, although the equal standard of the teams and a goal average higher than in Italy '90 helped a great deal in lifting the emotions.

However, these positive aspects were eclipsed by the dull final, in which Brazil faced Italy in front a 95,000 crowd in Pasadena's Rose Bowl. In a confrontation dominated by fear, with both teams entrenched in their own halves, a goalless draw was inevitable and, for the first time, a World Cup final was decided on penalties.

Roberto Baggio, the star who had taken Italy into the final with last minute goals, missed a penalty as Brazil won its fourth World Cup crown after 24 years.

The team, led by multiple goal-scoring duo of Romario and Bebeto (eight goals between them) and directed by Carlos Alberto Parreira, was the successor of the magical Brazil of Mexico '70, scoring a victory which stars of the stature of Zico, Socrates, Junior, Careca, Falcao, Dirceu or Eder had not managed to achieve.

Salenko's distinction

Russian Oleg Salenko, scorer of a record five goals in one match, shared the honour of top goal-scorer with Bulgarian Hristo Stoichkov, and 42-year-old Cameroon ace Roger Milla became the oldest player to score a goal in a World Cup. A tragic footnote was the murder in Colombia of defender Andres Escobar, who with an own goal against the United States, caused his team's elimination from the competition. — DPA

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