WORLD CUP USA ‘94: THE FINALS : Italy and Baggio Try to Get Leg Up on Brazil Today : Soccer: Hamstring injury to forward could be the deciding factor in classic matchup.
The heartbeat of a nation audible in his upper right leg, Roberto Baggio hobbled off a Loyola Marymount soccer field Saturday morning hoping to comfort his countrymen with an old Italian saying.
“Hope is the last thing to die,” he said.
Across town in Fullerton, the Brazilians smiled, strutted and hinted of a performance inspired by another traditional saying.
“Outta our way!”
From these varied perspectives the two best soccer teams in the world will march onto the prettiest lawn in Pasadena today for a game watched by billions, celebrated and suffered by millions and survived by only 22.
At the site of the granddaddy of all college bowl games, it is the mother of all sports events, the 15th World Cup championship, at the Rose Bowl at 12:30 p.m.
And the four-year wait has been worth it.
Italy vs. Brazil.
European tradition vs. South American birthright.
Age-old chants of “Eee-tal-ya” vs. “Ohh ohh, ehh ehh, Bra-sil.”
A belief in magic vs. a feeling of destiny.
Hope vs. haughtiness.
And Baggio vs. himself.
If the ponytailed wonder is unable to play because of his strained right hamstring, the Italians lose a man who has scored five of their six last goals.
They also probably lose the game.
The Brazilians, whose scoring stars Romario and Bebeto have never been stronger or happier, know that.
And Baggio knows that.
“I would feel a lot of anger, disillusion and desperation if I cannot play,” Baggio said. “It is the dream of all the children of the world to play in the World Cup final. You can imagine how I feel.”
Those who think Baggio is faking--and you Brazilians know who you are--should have seen him at practice Saturday.
He did not participate in team drills. He did not move faster than a jog during separate workouts. He was constantly using his hand to massage his upper right leg, wincing with each motion.
The injury was already serious enough to cause his removal with 20 minutes remaining in the semifinal game against Bulgaria, even though Italy led by only one goal.
He has been listed in the tentative starting lineup for today, but that can be changed up until an hour before the game. Giuseppe Signori, scoreless despite taking 14 shots in this tournament, will replace him if necessary.
Arrigo Sacchi, Italy’s coach, has already announced that if Baggio doesn’t start, he will not be brought in as one of two allowed substitutions.
Unspoken is Sacchi’s belief that if Baggio doesn’t start, by the time he comes in it will be too late.
“I am willing to take a risk,” Baggio said of playing at less than full strength. “But I don’t want to be an extra weight for the other 10 men.”
The Brazilians, who, like the Italians, are trying to become the first country to win four World Cup titles, don’t seem to be feeling any weight.
Not only do they have history on their side--they defeated Italy, 4-1, in the 1970 World Cup final, and no European team has won a World Cup outside of Europe--they have also had a great month.
After romping through preliminary bouts against mostly lightweights, outscoring opponents, 10-3, in six games with goalkeeper Claudio Taffarel making only 12 saves, Brazil practiced Saturday in a manner typical of its attitude.
Taffarel played midfield and scored a goal. Romario didn’t even show up. “We are feeling no pressure whatsoever,” midfielder Mauro Silva said. “We will just play our normal game.”
That would mean outstanding defense by fullbacks Aldair and Marcio Santos. And steady midfield play from Mazinho and Dunga. And about a goal each from Romario (he has five, equaling Baggio) and Bebeto (he has three).
“I think Romario and Bebeto are the strongest pair of soccer players in the world today,” Italian defender Luigi Apolloni said.
Italy doesn’t remember what it’s like to play a normal game.
Enduring much more difficult conditions and opponents on the East Coast than Brazil in the West and Midwest, Italy has reached this game only through opera-style dramatics.
The Italians required a short-handed goal by Dino Baggio to defeat Norway and survive the first round. And two late goals by Roberto Baggio to overcome Nigeria in the second round. Then another last-minute goal by Roberto Baggio to defeat Spain in the quarterfinals.
They have gone through 20 of their 22 players and now arrive at the finals without enough.
Alessandro Costacurta and Mauro Tassotti are serving suspensions for misconduct.
Defender Franco Baresi hasn’t played since the second game of the tournament because of arthroscopic knee surgery.
Midfielder Roberto Donadoni, who played one of his best games in the semifinal victory over Bulgaria, will play, despite a strained left hamstring.
“We have played against many odds,” Sacchi said. “The strength of our character can bring out hidden forces from our players. This possibly will be the edge that will give us the win.”
The Brazilians say they have plenty of other edges.
They say that if the Italians try to attack them as expected--something no other team has done for 90 minutes in the tournament--they are quick enough to run them out of the Rose Bowl.
“The people we’ve played against, it has been difficult for us to find space . . . but Italy will be trying to play, just like us,” suspended defender Leonardo said. “And when they do, Romario and Bebeto will have the freedom to move.”
Italy’s best hope is that Brazil’s most important defender, goalkeeper Taffarel, will choke against an offense capable of scoring twice, hitting the post once and forcing a great save in a span of six minutes.
The only time Taffarel has faced a fast break, against the Netherlands in the quarterfinals, he gave up two goals in 13 minutes.
“Hopefully, we will reach the end and there won’t be a tie,” Taffarel said.
The Italians are hoping to simply survive until the end. And once there, that there will be a Baggio.
Dino Baggio, a midfielder not related to Roberto, was certain the forward would start today’s final even if not 100% ready.
“Only 50% of Baggio will be good enough for this team,” he said.
