WORLD CUP USA 1994 : Italian Coach Sacchi Stays Cool While Quelling Fires Around Him

Arrigo Sacchi, Italy’s shoe salesman turned coach, remembers the last World Cup final between Brazil and his beloved Azzurri. It was 1970 and Brazil won, 4-1.

Sacchi, then 24, was ill before the defeat.

“It was an evening game, and in the afternoon I had a lunch of mussels and I got sick,” he recalled Saturday. “So, I was sick in bed (during the match).”

Twenty-four years later, on the day before his biggest match, Sacchi was feeling better. As his players filed off the field at Loyola Marymount after a light midday workout, Sacchi stayed behind to do sit-ups and pushups.

Belying the building tensions of today’s final, Sacchi and his players appeared loose during their hour training session, even as star forward Roberto Baggio stayed on the sidelines testing his right hamstring.

“I am very serene,” Sacchi said. “We have done everything we have had to do to win this World Cup. We will be satisfied only with the final victory.”

An Italian reporter wanted to know if Sacchi ever resorted to “pre-tactics,” the practice of pregame subterfuge. In other words, is Baggio’s injury a put on?

“I have never done that,” Sacchi declared. “I have definite plans on how we are going to proceed. Maybe a defensive team, or a team that is not that secure would try pre-tactics.”

Because of the injuries and suspensions in Italy’s lineup, the armchair midfielders also were talking about the return of defender Franco Baresi, who 23 days ago had knee surgery. Baresi received rave reviews after Friday’s practice, but Sacchi was not inclined to start him today.