F.I.F.A. World Cup Team Spotlight: Colombia’s 🇨🇴 F.I.F.A. World Cup 1994 U.S.A. 🇺🇸 high expectations dashed by politics and team turmoil

Credits: SKopp

Credits: Biser Todorov

Credits: NFCC#4

Credits: El Gráfico

Credits: Futbolero

After an impressive performance in F.I.F.A. World Cup 1990 Italia in which Colombia reached the elimination stages of the competition, expectations for “Los Cafeteros” were sky-high entering F.I.F.A. World Cup 1994 U.S.A. The United States was selected as the host nation for the first time in World Cup history; dating back to the first World Cup (1930) where Uruguay was the venue. When the former-Brazilian soccer legend and three-time world champion Pele was asked about his pre-tournament predictions, he declared, “Colombia is my favorite to become world champion”.

Colombia’s pre-tournament national press coverage was plagued with rumors that extensive gambling rings and powerful local drug cartels were influencing major decisions of the squad’s internal matters. Colombia head coach Francisco Maturana was reported to have received local death threats regarding discrepancies in team selection. On December 5, 1993, Colombia shockingly thrashed Argentina 5-0 in the second leg of the C.O.N.M.E.B.O.L. (Confederación Sudamericana de Fútbol in Spanish) South American World Cup qualifying match at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Nobody, including respected international soccer analysts and fans alike expected Colombia to defeat the Diego Maradona-led, star-studded Argentina team in such a convincing manner. “You can’t change history, history shouldn’t be changed: Argentina up, Colombia down,” quipped 1986 World Cup champion Maradona, before the game.

Columbia’s high pre-World Cup expectations were largely a result of the performances of their spectacular offensive trio: Atlético Junior (Colombia) midfielder Carlos “El Pibe” Valderrama and strikers Faustino Asprilla of Parma (Italy) and Bayern Munich’s (Germany) Adolfo Valencia, respectively. Reknowned for his elegant ball control and pinpoint-accurate passing, “El Pibe” (translates into “The Kid” in colloquial Colombian Spanish) Valderrama was one of my favorite midfielders of his generation along with the Romanian midfield maestro, Gheorghe Hagi and the great Italian field general, Roberto Donadoni. His trademark unorthodox gold-dyed unkempt hairstyle as well as his ubiquitous jersey number 10, never caused me to lose sight of Valderrama on the field. Valderrama and company played for Colombia; a team that tended to be overshadowed in international soccer by two South American world soccer powerhouses, Brazil and Argentina.

Nonetheless, Colombia had a historical proven track record of South American success, frequently producing strong performances at continent-wide competitions. Colombia looked nervous and uneasy during their shocking 3-1 loss in their opening group game against Romania at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California before 93,000+ anxious spectators. Although Columbia displayed periodic moments of their trademark South American passing and flair, the Romanian onslaught was too overwhelming for Colombia to overcome. Romania’s talented A.C. Milan striker Florin Răducioiu broke the proverbial “ice” when he took on three defenders, before slipping a goal past Colombian goalkeeper Óscar Córdoba, placing Romania ahead 1-0 in the 16th minute.

Then followed Romania’s Gheorghe Hagi’s infamous distant curling goal over an out-of-position Córdoba during the 34th minute of the first-half. Hagi’s goal seemed to dampen the spirit of Colombia, consequently forcing them to switch to an attack-oriented formation, sacrificing the team’s defensive posture in the process. Adolfo Valencia finally tallied for Colombia in the 43rd minute of the first-half, when he headed in a Wilson Pérez corner, making the score 2-1. Răducioiu once again delivered in the 88th minute, making it 3-1 and sealing the victory for Romania. Their second group game versus the underdog United States, however, really raised the soccer world’s collective eyebrows. Colombia conceded two goals to the U.S., including a controversial own-goal courtesy of the late-Colombian defender Andrés Escobar.

Ernie Stewart tallied the U.S.’s second goal in the 52nd minute of the first half, while Valencia scored Colombia’s concession goal in the 90th minute of the second half. “Humiliated by the United States” was the headline of the Colombian newspaper La Prensa, after the loss versus the United States. Another Colombian newspaper, El Tiempo, declared, “Colombia’s illusions die in the United States.” Sadly, Escobar was killed on July 2, 1994 after an alleged altercation outside of a Medellin bar following Colombia’s early exit from F.I.F.A. World Cup U.S.A. 1994. In Colombia’s third group game against Switzerland, Colombia finally prevailed in a 2-0 win by virtue of goals from midfielders Hermán Gaviria (44th minute) and John Lozano (90th minute), respectively. However, Romania’s final group game win against the U.S. meant that Colombia was mathematically eliminated from F.I.F.A. World Cup U.S.A. 1994. Three group match losses and just like that Colombia’s dreams of F.I.F.A. World Cup U.S.A. 1994 success had vanished right before their very eyes.

Brazil would eventually become F.I.F.A. World Cup U.S.A. 1994 world champions, defeating Italy 3-2 in a memorable penalty shootout at the Rose Bowl before 93,000+ fans. Colombia’s national team possessed so much talent during that era, that it is a shame they did not fare better at F.I.F.A. World Cup U.S.A. 1994. 24 years have passed since F.I.F.A. World Cup U.S.A. 1994 and I am still shaking my head. Colombia’s F.I.F.A. World Cup U.S.A. 1994 disappointing results are another classic tale of professional sports’s what-could-have-been.

Below are some F.I.F.A. World Cup U.S.A. 1994 Colombia men’s national soccer team statistics:

F.I.F.A. World Cup U.S.A. 1994 Colombia Men’s National Soccer Team Roster – 🇨🇴

F.I.F.A. World Cup U.S.A. 1994 Qualification C.O.N.M.E.B.O.L. (Group A) Colombia Results – 🇺🇸

F.I.F.A. World Cup U.S.A. 1994 Qualification C.O.N.M.E.B.O.L. (Group A) Colombia Final Standings – 🇺🇸

F.I.F.A. World Cup U.S.A. 1994 Qualification C.O.N.M.E.B.O.L. (Group A) Colombia Detailed Match Results – 🇺🇸

F.I.F.A. World Cup U.S.A. 1994 (Group A) Colombia Final Standings – 🇺🇸

F.I.F.A. World Cup U.S.A. 1994 C.O.N.M.E.B.O.L. Qualifying Match Highlights – Colombia 1-1 Paraguay (August 22, 1993) – 🇺🇸

F.I.F.A. World Cup U.S.A. 1994 C.O.N.M.E.B.O.L. Qualifying Match Highlights – Colombia 5-0 Argentina (September 5, 1993) – 🇦🇷

F.I.F.A. World Cup U.S.A. 1994 Group A Full Match – Colombia 1-3 Romania (June 18, 1994) – 🇺🇸

F.I.F.A. World Cup U.S.A. 1994 Group A Match Highlights – Colombia 2-0 Switzerland (June 22, 1994) – 🇺🇸

Andrés Escobar funeral – 1994 Colombia – 🇨🇴

Sources: Wikipedia–https://www.en.wikipedia.org, Associated Press News–https://www.apnews.com, E.S.P.N.–https://www.espn.com, YouTube–https://www.youtube.com