- [Interviewer] What do you know about the World Cup?
- About the what?
- [Interviewer] The World Cup?
- World Cup, that's in soccer?
- [Interviewer] Yes.
- I don't even know, I'm sorry,
I don't know anything about it
when we're here out in the desert.
All you think about is the heat, and how to survive.
(laughing)
- Soccer.
- Yeah.
- What about soccer?
- Well, I don't know anything about soccer.
I'm sorry.
- Soccer?
As in like, English Football?
- [Interviewer] Right.
- It's very good.
Gotta go.
- Soccer, soccer is a...
- It is a game between two team,
and each team supposed to have 11 player.
One is one we call goalkeeper,
so they should play with the foot,
no hands, I mean foot and head and other,
but no hands.
- Americans need scoring.
If it's too low scoring a game,
it's too boring for American audiences.
- Soccer is fun, we've been watching it lately
and it's fun.
For us it's...
It's new to us.
(sirens blaring)
- Hi, my name's Karen,
and this is my daughter Amy and my son Trev,
and we're really excited that the World Cup
is in the United States.
- Control of the ball.
The simple rules in that game is
as long as you control the ball,
the other team cannot score against you.
- You kick, you know, you do all kinds of things,
go with your head,
and it's pretty exciting, shoulder.
- Like this, like this, like this, like this.
- Boom, boom, with the hands, and the feet,
and the hands, and he loved it,
and he used to win all the games.
- I don't know anything about the World Cup.
(exciting instrumental music)
- Hello, I'm Donald, this is my daughter Nicole.
If you'd like, we can go in and watch the game.
(uplifting guitar music)
(cheering)
- World Cup, Saudi Arabia gonna win,
that's all I know.
(cheering)
- Who's gonna win?
- Well, my favorite team is Cameroon.
(cheering and drumming)
(uplifting music)
- There's only one winner, and that's Norway!
- Yeah!
(uplifting music)
- [Better] Well, the World Cup soccer favorites right now,
we have Brazil at seven to five,
which is, you lay five dollars to win seven,
and then we have Germany at seven to two,
which is a three and a half to one favorite.
(uplifting music)
(speaking in foreign language)
- [Narrator] On all the continents,
this is the game, played with passion,
in dusty fields, grassy playgrounds, huge stadiums.
They yearn for the gold that can change everything.
(cheering in foreign language)
(chanting)
- Get your programs!
(speaking in foreign language)
(catchy music)
- [Narrator] The new contenders, the old champs.
Since 1930, every four years.
(catchy music)
(loud screaming)
Africa is flexing its muscles,
Asia is on the horizon,
Eastern Europe is reasserting itself,
and one day soon, so they say in America,
all those youth leagues
will produce the next great soccer power.
This time, the United States of America
has become a gigantic television studio,
and the whole world is watching.
(cheering)
- Brazil, Brazil.
- Deutschland.
- The Americans are gonna win it!
- Brazil.
- Argentina!
- [Narrator] Expectations are always high in Argentina.
Two World Cup championships will do that.
After a painful 5-0 loss to Colombia,
the fans demand that Diego Armando Maradona
be called back.
In 1986, he punched in a goal
and maintained it was the hand of God.
Is he still a creative genius,
or just a character actor?
Maradona comes back, Argentina qualifies.
(cheering)
The old and the new collide head on.
Nigeria has been studying, training, working.
(intense music)
(cheering and chanting)
(relaxing music)
(cheering and chanting)
Maradona helps Claudio Caniggia score twice to come back.
(chanting)
But the old champions get the distinct impression
life is getting tougher all the time.
(intense exciting music)
Marked by three or four defenders,
Maradona shows the moves and the passes
that once made him the most feared player on earth.
Argentina seems renewed.
Once again, the old champs are contenders.
- And, I mean, Maradona, what can you say?
I mean, he just controlled that game.
It was too bad that he couldn't finish off the tournament.
- [Narrator] Maradona has been selected at random
for drug testing.
Only recently he was reinstated
from a suspension from for drug abuse.
To get back in shape, he has lost over 20 pounds.
The laboratory results find five separate
banned substances,
normally used for quick weight loss.
Maradona concedes nothing,
but he is quickly suspended.
He departs from competition
in the same manner he has spent his entire career.
The center of attention.
Argentina must forget about Maradona.
Redondo, Simeone, Batistuta, and Ortega,
knees pumping, eyes flashing, hair flying,
are out to prove their nation
did not produce just one soccer player.
The Argentines lose to a rising Bulgaria,
but advance to the second round.
Without Maradona, they must deal with
the other tough guys from Eastern Europe, Romania.
(speaking in foreign language)
Too many games in recent World Cups have been defensive.
This year, the rules have been adjusted
in favor of the offense.
Referees have been warned to call more fouls,
and offsides only when they're sure.
All that careful study pays off today.
Rather than wait for a mistake late in the game,
both teams attack from the start,
counter-attack, and attack again.
(classical music)
(cheering)
(classical music)
This is Los Angeles, showbiz.
The game is full court soccer,
a present to the new world.
Americans want high scoring sports,
they get high scoring sports.
Romania three, Argentina two.
Many say this is the best game of the World Cup.
(whistle blowing)
The crowd cheers both sides.
Argentina, without its flamboyant troubled genius,
can leave with respect.
Romania brings folk dancing to the grass of the Rose Bowl.
They have gone further than they have ever gone before.
(chanting in foreign language)
(intense rock music)
The old songs take on a new beat.
Romania rocks, Romania rolls.
Romania had many great soccer players,
but they were expected to play at home.
Now things are different.
Most of the Romanians play in Western Europe,
and when they return to the national team,
they bring back new skills, new confidence.
Romania has been let loose on the world.
- Hagi, Hagi, Hagi, Hagi, Hagi!
- [Narrator] Everything flows through Hagi.
The great schemer, the great ball handler.
He is playing with a freedom denied
to many great players in recent World Cups.
(intense rock music)
(chanting)
(speaking in foreign language)
Many Colombians think they can win it all
after the 5-0 beating of Argentina
in the qualifying round.
The players have the support of many Hispanic fans
in Southern California.
Perhaps it is too much.
The Colombian players have great individual skills,
but they can't seem to play as a unit.
From such lofty expectations,
it is all to easy to fall to earth.
(cheering)
(dark ambient music)
(speaking in foreign language)
Colombian is sleepwalking through a national nightmare,
they lose heart.
(speaking in foreign language)
- Haji, a tremendous football player,
great view about the game,
and he has a tremendous left food.
(intense music)
- [Narrator] This game is like a chess match.
The Swedes trying to fill the spaces,
obstruct the Romanians.
Disappointing in the 1990 World Cup,
the Swedes are a revelation in the States.
Sweden has figured out how to bottle up
the Romanian attack.
No score for 78 minutes.
(whistle blowing)
(cheering and chanting)
(uplifting music)
(cheering)
(intense music)
(cheering)
The goalkeeper can only make up his mind
which way to jump,
and hope he guesses right.
Ravelli goes low and left to stop Romania.
Sweden has moved to the semifinals
for the first time since 1958.
(uplifting music)
(chanting)
(speaking in foreign language)
(rock music)
Here come the Germans.
Always there, relentless, methodical,
proud, consistent, and good.
Two goals down, they will strike back.
As West Germany, they won three World Cups
and were finalists in four of the past five.
Much of their squad is leftover
from the 1990 champions.
Never count the Germans out.
(speaking in foreign language)
The Cotton Bowl.
A shrine of the American version of football.
Klinsmann and the others pick up
where they left off in 1990.
(dramatic music)
Most games are being played in the midday sun
for European television.
Good for ratings, not so good for stamina.
Germany takes a 3-0 lead on South Korea.
(strange music)
The Koreans never stop running.
Habler has cramps, Illgner has the sweats,
Klinsmann thinks the clock is stalled.
Germany wins this game 3-2.
It's hard to tell watching Matthaus
hobble off the field.
(speaking in foreign language)
Cold and drizzly, Chicago weather suits
this Northern European showdown.
(cheering)
(clapping)
(cheering)
Fizzy haired Rudi Voller retired from the national team
after 1990, now he and Klinsmann
are reunited for two goals in 11 minutes.
Voller makes it 3-1 at halftime.
(cheering)
(speaking in foreign language)
Weber insists he was fouled,
Belgium demands a penalty kick.
The referee says play on.
(cheering)
In the 91st minute, the Belgians are desperate.
You owe us one, they say.
- It was very exciting, especially at the end
when the goalie came and decided he was gonna try
to keep the German from coming out,
and he tried to get it with his head.
(speaking in foreign language)
- [Narrator] Despite the loss, Preud'homme's gallantry
and skill are recognized.
Long after his wife's tears have dried,
he'll be named best goalie
of the 1994 World Cup.
(cheering)
(intense music)
(cheering)
(intense ambient music)
Germany seems to be on the march again.
They have raced to Chicago, to Dallas, to Chicago.
And now they have roared east to the Meadowlands,
just across the river from New York.
Their quarterfinal opponent, the improbable Bulgaria,
is ranked 31st in the world,
right behind the United States.
Except for Stoichkov, they are not household names.
Not like Klinsmann, not like Voller, not like Matthaus.
(relaxing ambient music)
The Bulgarians don't expect any breaks.
Matthaus is awarded a penalty kick, his specialty.
(speaking in foreign language)
The World Cup is about to change
for Germany and Bulgaria in the next five minutes.
The relentless Voller puts the rebound in the net.
The New Jersey scoreboard duly notes the German goal.
(loud whistling)
The referee signals Voller was offsides.
On this hot afternoon,
the Germans get an emotional cold shower.
Given a life, Bulgaria strikes back.
Pressure on the Germans, pressure leads to a foul.
(loud cheering)
Stoichkov's missile over the wall
touches off the hopes and dreams
of the tiny nation.
(loud cheering and drumming)
The Germans stand around, looking for an opening.
They have lost their edge.
You never see this from the Germans.
Bulgaria is in charge now.
They push the ball downfield
against a stumbling Matthaus.
What happened to the myth of the unflappable Germans?
The ball moves from center, to the side, to center.
The hunters are being stalked
by the new force from the East.
(loud cheering)
(intense rock music)
The world has turned in five minutes.
From 2-0 Germany for a few false seconds,
to 2-1 Bulgaria.
The defending champions have gone down.
(catchy dance music)
(speaking in foreign language)
The Bulgarian players came to America
to reverse their gloomy World Cup history.
16 games, six ties, ten losses.
They believe they are better than that.
(speaking in foreign language)
(catchy music)
The Bulgarians are anxious,
they cannot quite finish their attack.
This is Nigeria's first game ever in the World Cup,
and they play hard.
(cheering)
(relaxing uptempo dance music)
(cheering)
For Bulgaria, even the shots that go in don't count.
Stoichkov's perfect free kick is nullified.
Bulgaria had been signaled to make two touches
after the foul.
(relaxing uptempo dance music)
The Bulgarians are no strangers to suffering.
The streak is now 17 games without a victory.
Sometimes suffering is rewarded.
The next game, Bulgaria beats Greece, then Argentina.
And when the suffering ends, the celebrating begins.
The Bulgarians don't want the party to stop.
(catchy dance music)
(speaking in foreign language)
(chanting)
The Bulgarians gather themselves to confront Mexico,
first in its own group.
(catchy drum music)
Stoichkov quiets the partisan crowd early.
(catchy music)
Mexico draws even on a penalty kick.
Both teams play roughly,
afraid to make a mistake.
Four yellow cards each, one expulsion each.
(catchy music)
The game must go into the much criticized shootout.
Tension shows, as Mexico misses three straight penalties.
Bulgaria is getting good at celebrating.
In perhaps the biggest shock of this World Cup,
Bulgaria will now stun Germany.
Some of the old powers are suffering too.
(catchy music)
(speaking in foreign language)
(calming classical music)
Italy has won three World Cups.
It is the richest national league in the world.
The blue shirts of the Azzurri
are respected and feared wherever they play.
But things are not going right here.
Coach Arrigo Sacchi has been tinkering with the lineup
ever since he took over this team two years ago.
Never a professional player,
he is a self possessed man, a thinker, a questioner.
Italian fans are confused,
what is Sacchi thinking,
what does he want?
(speaking in foreign language)
- You'll never beat the Irish,
you'll never beat the Irish!
- Ireland and Italy are playing today,
and I hope Ireland wins.
(catchy music)
- [Narrator] The ultimate ethnic game for New York.
In the 11th minute, all Italy is in pain
when Irish eyes are smiling.
(speaking in foreign language)
For the Azzurri, it seems there is no easy way.
(speaking in foreign language)
(chanting)
Italy must win this game against tall and rugged Norway.
The players know they will be vilified back home
if they are eliminated in the first round.
It has happened before.
(dramatic music)
(loud whistling)
Pagliuca is expelled for fouling the dribbler.
Sacchi must send in his second goalkeeper,
but he must remove one of his 10 players.
Who will it be?
Roberto Baggio, the best player in the world, is out.
(piano music)
(speaking in foreign language)
(intense music)
(loud cheering)
Sacchi is given some breathing room
when Dino Baggio beats Norway.
Italy cheers.
Italy debates Sacchi's decision.
(speaking in foreign language)
(loud chanting)
(speaking in foreign language)
The group of death lives up to its name.
All four teams are tied going into the final game.
Two games are played simultaneously
to heighten the suspense.
Roberto Baggio's back in the lineup,
nervous and withdrawn.
So are the Italian fans.
(loud cheering)
Massaro scores when Sacchi inserts him
in the second half,
but Campos rallies his team.
Sometimes the Mexicans seem like
the true home team in the States.
By time, Mexico has advanced.
Italy must sweat it out before learning
it has slipped into the next round.
(speaking in foreign language)
(loud chanting)
(speaking in foreign language)
(catchy music)
Brazil was the first nation to win three World Cups.
Many soccer fans think Brazil
should always be in the finals.
The vibrant fans, the mystical globe
on the Brazilian flag,
and players in blue and yellow
racing up and down the field, happy football.
- I have learned from Brazil.
Brazil came to Spain, Socrates,
all these good players.
And they make entertainment football.
But with football, there is defense
building up an attack.
And Brazilian only were looking for
how many goals we can score,
and they forgot to defend.
And therefore they went away.
They were the best team in Spain,
and they went away home.
So also now, Brazil has make a mix
from players from abroad, to now.
Brazil is the best team in the tournament.
- [Announcer] Leonardo!
Defender number 15, Marcio Santos.
(speaking in foreign language)
- [Narrator] Brazilian fans criticize
Carlos Alberto Parreira and his defensive tactics.
The purpose of the game is to score, isn't it?
After an embarrassing loss in Bolivia
during the qualifying round,
Parreira started to use Romario for offense.
In their last game at home,
the Brazilians entered the field holding hands, and won.
They have been practicing togetherness ever since.
- [Announcer] Number eight, Dunga.
Number nine, Zinho.
- [Narrator] Under Parreira's system,
defenders like Dunga and Mauro Silva
are expected to stay close to home.
Brazil must show its determination first,
then scorers like Bebeto and Romario
can do what they do so well.
(catchy hiphop music)
(speaking in foreign language)
(cheering)
(speaking in foreign language)
(loud cheering)
- [Announcer] And number 11, Romario.
(loud cheering)
- [Narrator] Cameroon was the delight
of the 1990 World Cup.
The Indomitable Lions are now strapped for money,
short on morale.
(loud cheering)
(speaking in foreign language)
The Americans have brought grass indoors, the Silverdome.
Pontiac, Michigan.
- I think Brazil plays
a faster passing game.
They try to pass the ball around much more.
(speaking in foreign language)
(catchy music)
- [Narrator] Sweden scores first,
but Romario scores in the 47th minute.
Both teams advance.
Brazil's next game is in the sunlight,
on the 4th of July, against the home team.
(speaking in foreign language)
♪ Oh say can you see ♪
♪ By the dawn's early light ♪
♪ What so proudly we hail ♪
♪ At the twilight's ♪
(loud chanting)
- Soccer is a game you play with a ball,
you never touch it with your hands.
(catchy music)
- It's a shame that Americans
are too big and clumsy to play as well.
(catchy music)
♪ Oh say can you see ♪
♪ By the dawn's early light ♪
♪ What so proudly we hail ♪
♪ At the twilight's last gleaming ♪
♪ Whose broad stripes and bright stars ♪
♪ Through the perilous fight ♪
♪ O'er the ramparts we watch'd ♪
♪ Were so gallantly streaming ♪
♪ And the rockets' red glare ♪
♪ Moving right through the air ♪
♪ Gave proof through the night ♪
- [Narrator] For the first time in this generation,
Americans know the intense joy
of winning a World Cup game.
These players with no major league of their own
have learned a trick or two.
Marcelo Balboa's bicycle kick
would've been the shot of the World Cup,
if it had gone in.
♪ Oh the land of the free ♪
♪ And the home of the brave ♪
- The difference between Germany or Brazil,
with Germany you jump off a roof of
the Empire State building,
and with Brazil you jump off a bridge.
So, it's the same thing, you know?
- We have a great attitude,
we believe in ourselves,
and we have great individual players.
And we can beat anybody.
We're hosting the tournament,
we're playing in our country,
we have a lot of things going for us.
(speaking in foreign language)
- Number one, USA!
(speaking in foreign language)
(loud drumming)
- [Presenter] Celebrate the 4th with Team USA,
as they take on Brazil in a do or die battle live!
It's the World Cup Monday here in ABC.
- Fourth of July, Independence Day,
greatest day of American history.
- 4th of July?
It's a big day, big day, we're gonna win.
- The scene is set.
4th of July, against the you know, strong guys.
And it could happen, anything could happen.
(fireworks exploding)
(cheery music)
(loud chanting)
(intense music)
- [Narrator] The home team advances to the second round,
and runs into the old champions.
Bora Milutinovic doesn't speak much English,
but he constructs a rugged defense.
As long as the American lads don't mind
being a big aggressive.
Actually, it seems to come naturally
to some of them.
(suspenseful music)
Frustration leads to an ugly gesture.
Leonardo breaks a bone
behind Tad Ramos's ear.
Playing a man short seems to stimulate the old champs.
(whistling)
(loud chanting)
Suddenly the Americans are slipping and sliding.
Tony Meola studies acting,
and Alexei Lalas plays guitar.
Both of them at this moment
are thinking only of holding off Brazil.
(loud cheering)
Romario draws the American defense,
sends the ball forward to Bebeto, who scores.
Now the great ball control skills
of Brazil assert themselves.
This large crowd has witnessed
Americans pestering Brazilians
on the 4th of July,
it's a nice memory.
(catchy piano music)
(intense music)
(catchy music)
- I'm sure for the future,
the world champion is coming out of Africa.
- [Narrator] Coach Clemens Westerhof
brings the Dutch vision of soccer.
Speed and skill, exuberance and experience.
The Nigerians are professionals.
- Most of the players that play
in the top clubs in Europe
use the African and European
style of play combined together.
♪ Would you believe it ♪
♪ We do ♪
♪ Everybody wants to shoot the moon ♪
♪ To be the one to kiss the sun ♪
♪ Would you believe it ♪
♪ No matter what you do ♪
♪ Would you believe it ♪
♪ Everybody wants to be the man ♪
♪ Everybody wants control ♪
(speaking in foreign language)
- [Narrator] The enigmatic Sacchi keeps juggling.
Somebody compares him to Fellini,
a grand ringmaster who moves people around.
"Well," Sacchi says...
"I admire his work."
Massaro, Donadoni, Maldini, they all hit the ground.
The Italians are not going to be able
to intimidate the Nigerians.
(speaking in foreign language)
(catchy music)
(speaking in foreign language)
The Italian players are running out of time.
Roberto Baggio can get nothing going.
Sacchi searches for more energy,
he takes out Signori, the leading scorer
of the Italian League, and sends in Zola.
14 minutes later, Zola is red carded.
With two minutes remaining,
Nigeria ignores Baggio for a split second.
Mussi centers the ball,
and Baggio hammers it past Rufai.
(loud cheering)
(speaking in foreign language)
After the salvation goal by Baggio,
everything starts to work for Italy.
(foreign language music)
(loud cheering)
The silky pass to Benarrivo and penalty kick
demonstrate why Sacchi kept Baggio in this game.
Never underestimate the greatest players.
The Nigerians learn this the hard way.
(speaking in foreign language)
(catchy dance music)
(speaking in foreign language)
(chanting in foreign languages)
(intense guitar music)
- Well I hope we as a Dutch team
can play a good championship,
and can come a long way.
(intense guitar music)
- [Narrator] The Dutch fans are among
the happiest in this World Cup.
Of course, with Dennis Bergkamp,
they have reason to be happy.
(relaxing music)
(speaking in foreign language)
For two decades, the Dutch
have been playing an open style called Total Football.
Only trouble is, they have no yet won a World Cup.
(intense rock music)
(speaking in foreign language)
(loud cheering)
In 1990, Ireland put out the Dutch.
This year, the Dutch eliminate the Irish
in the second round,
after Packie Bonner fumbles Jonk's very catch able shot.
(loud chanting)
- But it's gonna be a very good game
because both team have very quality players,
and they both play offensive.
So it's gonna be a good game.
- It's gonna be a real good game.
- [Announcer] Number 18, Stan Valckx.
Number 19, Peter van Vossen.
- [Narrator] The quarterfinals,
a sea of orange in Dallas.
The Dutch meet the other practitioner of joyous soccer.
No score in the first half,
but with a new emphasis on offense,
Aldair and the other backs advance the ball,
bypassing the midfield.
(loud cheering)
(intense calming music)
(loud cheering)
The odd couple arrives.
Romario scores to put Brazil ahead,
then Bebeto scores and plays
"Rock-a-bye Baby"on the sideline
for his newborn son, Mattheus,
named after the great German strike, Matthaus.
Brazilians call this "The Baby Goal".
But the Netherlands come back,
as Bergkamp catches the Brazilians
taking a nap of their own.
(cheering)
Then Winter scores a header from a corner kick.
Very impressively, the Dutch have tied the game.
(loud whistling)
(intense calming music)
(loud cheering)
Romario diverts the goalkeeper,
as Branco delivers his specialty,
a left footed free kick.
For the first time since 1978,
Brazil is back in the semifinal.
(speaking in foreign language)
(uptempo guitar music)
(speaking in foreign language)
Flourishing modern Spain,
one of the richest soccer leagues in the world,
bringing in great players from other countries.
Sometimes the homegrown players feel ignored.
For proud young players like
Caminero and Luis Enrique,
this is the chance to show their ability.
Spain has never been a major force in a World Cup,
now it has reached the final eight,
with aspirations of going even higher.
(speaking in foreign language)
(whistle blowing)
(intense guitar music)
Spanish fans remember how Italy slumped
through the first round in 1982,
but then beat Brazil and Argentina
in one historic week, on route to the title.
In tapas bars and outdoor cafes all over Spain,
the fans pray Italy won't continue
its revival against them.
(intense music)
(speaking in foreign language)
For the first time in this World Cup,
Italy dominates early.
Exactly what the Spaniards fear.
(crowd cheering)
(intense guitar music)
Italy's defenses fall apart,
and Caminero ties the score.
(loud cheering)
His suspension over, Pagliuca is back in goal.
Bursting with energy, he rallies his team to action.
(intense guitar music)
This shot by Julio Salinas will be considered
the worst miss of the 1994 World Cup,
and Spain loses its momentum.
(intense guitar music)
Signori and Baggio are finally getting acquainted.
This is the genius of Baggio,
he turns games around two minutes from the end.
(speaking in foreign language)
It is hard getting back on your feet
after something like this.
(intense guitar music)
In the closing minute,
Luis Enrique takes an elbow in the face.
Rarely is a role level player so enraged.
The referee has missed the foul,
but the world soccer body known as FIFA
will review the tape,
and suspend Tassotti for eight games.
(loud whistling)
The Italian players embrace
on the grass in Massachusetts,
while long evening shadows form in Spain.
An evening that will last four long years.
(speaking in foreign language)
(intense rock music)
- I mean, I'm glad that I can score goals,
but I mean the most important thing
is that the team wins,
and that I'm playing well.
(intense rock music)
(loud chanting)
- [Narrator] The Swedes earn everything they get.
They play together under Tommy Svensson.
They play defense, and they are not afraid to attack.
(loud cheering)
(intense rock music)
Sweden's best known star is Tomas Brolin,
who plays for Parma in Italy.
The Italian teams tend to go for foreigners
with a nose for the goal.
(intense rock music)
(loud cheering)
Ravelli is closing in on 35,
but goalkeepers tend to age well.
Yashin, Shilton.
Dino Zoff won a World Cup at 40.
You'd have to say, Ravelli doesn't hide his emotions.
- We are very pleased with the result today,
and the performance,
but we are not fully satisfied.
We are trying to make our best
also to beat Brazil on Wednesday.
- [Announcer] Today's officials,
and the national teams of Sweden and Brazil.
(cheering)
(clapping and cheering)
- [Narrator] Brazil and Sweden
tied each other in the first round.
Sweden is coming off of an exhausting
overtime victory over Romania on Sunday.
Brazil finished off the Netherlands
in regulation time on Saturday.
The extra day of rest is showing.
(loud cheering)
With Brolin and Dahlin hobbling,
and Schwarz red carded,
Sweden tries to hang on.
(speaking in foreign language)
The Brazilian players get anxious
when the ball does not go in,
so do the fans back home.
(loud cheering)
Jorginho roams down field,
and serves a perfect pass to Romario.
Ravelli is the last hope,
but he can't hang on forever.
(loud cheering)
At only five foot six,
how does Romario rise above the Swedes?
(catchy music)
Romario's skills were developed at the beach.
Play footvolley for fun in your bare feet on sand,
and you will always have the touch inside your shoes.
Even in the biggest stadiums,
in the biggest games of your life.
(speaking in foreign language)
- From what I hear, Romero is very good.
- Romario.
(chanting)
(speaking in foreign language)
- Extremely dangerous inside the 16 meters.
(speaking in foreign language)
(catchy music)
(speaking in foreign language)
(catchy rock music)
- [Narrator] The hopes of a nation
are on Roberto Baggio's slender shoulders.
(speaking in foreign language)
(intense rock music)
(speaking in foreign language)
(rock music)
(speaking in foreign language)
(loud cheering)
(speaking in foreign language)
The Bulgarians are further
than they ever dared to dream,
the Italians are merely where they're supposed to be.
This is a huge difference.
The Bulgarians are in a state of grace,
the Italians, a state of anxiety.
(speaking in foreign language)
Always in the right place,
always moving forward, always anticipating.
Sacchi's defense nullifies
the Bulgarian game plan.
(calming ambient music)
(loud cheering)
(speaking in foreign language)
Baggio does not want to wait
for any last minute miracles this time.
(intense music)
These are the Azzurri the fans back home demand.
The fans say this is how they should play all the time.
(loud cheering)
This is the best half Italy has played,
yet the Bulgarians will not give in.
Sometimes the human spirit
must reject the laws other people have written for them.
They must cross the frontiers,
still striving for their own utopia.
(speaking in foreign language)
(loud cheering)
Stoichkov cuts the lead in half.
(speaking in foreign language)
Maybe a penalty call would've changed everything,
Bulgaria will never known.
Maldini and Costacurta work in perfect tandem
to shut down Bulgaria.
(speaking in foreign language)
Baggio's hamstring has been tightening up all afternoon.
The Italian players do not relish
having to play without the man known as "Il Codino",
the pigtail.
Baggio must somehow heal in three days.
Italy is in the finals.
(loud cheering)
- We've come all the way from London, England,
to see the final in Los Angeles.
These are the tickets.
(intense music)
- [Narrator] They come from everywhere.
Rich and poor, brothers and sisters of different races,
different languages,
find themselves with the same passion for the sport.
A passion which colors the faces,
the streets, the windows of the imagination.
This passion launches a parade
of hopes and dreams for all the people.
It floats through the air, the seas,
the rivers, all these diverse paths
lead to these temples
where we celebrate soccer.
This passion that beats deep down in our hearts,
two billion hearts.
(intense music)
(loud cheering)
- Brazil, Brazil!
(speaking in foreign language)
(suspenseful music)
(speaking in foreign language)
(suspenseful choral music)
(ominous music)
(intense music)
(ominous music)
(intense music)
(soft violin music)
(triumphant music)
(somber music)
(crowd cheering)
- It's not the game, it's the people.
(loud chanting)
- And we'll really shake 'em up, when we win the world cup,
ole, ole, the greatest football team.
(loud chanting)
(calming violin music)
(loud cheering)
(cheerful music)