I always wantes to know the colombian perspective of what really happened to that wonderful team that floped in the 94 WC. After doing the unthinkable (beating Argentina 5-0 in Buenos Aires) they were immediataley launched as one of the favorites to win the World Cup in 1994. Do you think that was the major factor of the failure? That world class team that included Valderrama, Asprilla, Valencia, Rincón, etc. were not prepared to handle the status of favorites?
oh no, this was a tragic World Cup for Colombia, cause well like you said we were the favorites and came up empty. we beat Argentina 2 - 0 at home and then 5 - 0 at Buanos Aires, but also cause we were sent home by USA. The sadest part was that Escobar had the own goal that sent us home, but upon returning to Colombia, some crazy fan took it out on him. Some say it was because Pablo Escobar (not the player) had lost a lot of money when Colombia lost against the US, and that he had order the hit. All in all, this was the darkest year for Colombia, and after this Colombia was sent in a footballing free fall that reached the bottom when we didn't make it to WC 2002. The team was as solid as it will ever get, we had Cordoba as the rising keeper he is today, Valderrama, Asprilla was at his best, Valencia who scored the 3 against France the year before, Rincon who with and assist by Valderrama tied the game in Italy 90 between Colombia and W.Germany. A lot of experience, but for some reason once we get to the WC or got there at that time, things weren't like they were before, and Colombia lost to Rumania, had to win against USA, and that unfortunate own goal by Escobar that cost us the WC and worse cost him his life. We're making some progress now, but it will take several more years for Colombia to fully put the 94 performance behind them. Someone here on the boards, said that greatest thing, he said "Colombia always manages to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory." Hopefully that will change.
that is the best description! argentina, kind of walk over all of us in conmebol, before the wc02 colombia did not walk over all in 93 to qual, was made by the press a favorite team, they were good, and did not have what it takes during the games vs rumania and USians at this point bolillo or pacho or Pibe with asprilla can not explain what really happened, Just a bad afternoon! the dead of andres was a lil different in my Information, from what Pibe describes.
You must never forget that every soccer match is a war. Colombia forgot this in 1994. In 1994 Romania was a very good team and the USA, playing at home, was very motivated. That's two losses. Finally in the Switzerland game, Colombia played with some passion. I think what happened to Colombia is what happened to Romania against Switzerland. They were overconfident and didn't play with passion. No game at the World Cup should ever be taken lightly. You have to play with passion for 90 minutes.
But Colombia didn't have the opponents that Argentina had in 2002. Romania, USA and Switzerland in 94 weren't in the same league of last year's Group of Death. And back then 3 teams could qualify for the 2nd round.
yo pibe didn't your boy pablo escobar die in 1989? i think it was regular street gangsters that ordered andres' hit...
well, here goes the sad true to andresito last day in earth: he was a month away from getting married, he went out with friends (brother too) to drink and no girlfriends allowed (that is how the nite began) some how they end up half drunk and with ladies company to restaurante el Indio (a place well Known in the skirts of medellin for easy buys of coke after hrs), the place sells good food and great bean soup to kill the alcohol out your system....He was there past 1 0r 2am............all places that yr were banned from alcohol sells after midnite in the city area. In an open seatting athmosphere, a cuople of drunk gansters shout at Andres, he responded with vulgarity and went on to his car..... (normally you do that in medallo to get your piece), on his way back to the restaurant the others were already waiting, in the middle of a heated argument andres Moved his arms to his waist and got shot! the killer is on the streets.... after 20 or 28 months on prision - during the investigation, he walked out protected by the body guard laws of colombia! Yes, he was protecting his boss from a "beligerant and aggressive man" as the records set forward. sad day..... but the goal and the bets had nothing to do with end result, Andres was at the wrong place with the wrong crowd!
correcto! para mi parece que fue ayer! varias veces visite la tumba de andresito en mis visitas al club el rodeo en medellin.... adyacente a campos de paz a una parte del campo de golf. participe tambien en la vigilia de colombianos abanderados en orlando, el dia del juego Holanda vs Irlanda at the tangerine bowl...... what a nightmare it was for all of us~!