International career Roberto Baggio

1 international career

1.1 1990 fifa world cup
1.2 1994 fifa world cup
1.3 1998 fifa world cup
1.4 later career

international career

baggio totalled 27 goals in 56 caps national team, making him italy s fourth-highest all-time goalscorer, tied del piero, managed tally in 91 appearances. under cesare maldini, called 1 italy under-21 match against switzerland on 16 october 1987, although unused substitute, , strangely failed make appearance azzurrini.

his first senior international call-up given him manager azeglio vicini, , made first appearance italy on 16 november 1988 @ age 21 in 1–0 friendly victory on netherlands, assisting gianluca vialli s match-winning goal. scored first goal italy on 22 april 1989, free-kick in 1–1 draw against uruguay in international friendly in verona.

baggio made first , starting appearance italy s captain in 1994 world cup match in glasgow against scotland on 18 november 1992. however, substituted off in final minutes of 0–0 draw after injuring rib. italian player ever score in 3 world cups 9 career world cup goals, putting him qual christian vieri , paolo rossi italy s top world cup goalscorers.

despite performances italy in 1990, 1994 , 1998 world cups, never played italy in uefa european championship, , italian player caps never have played in european championship. baggio not called euro 1992 qualification matches, making 3 appearances , scoring 2 goals italy failed qualify tournament, finishing second in qualifying group behind soviet union.

after 1994 world cup, italy head coach arrigo sacchi , baggio infamously fell out. relationship deteriorated in september 1994 following 1–1 draw against slovenia in euro 1996 qualifying match, baggio benched. after 2–1 defeat croatia in euro 1996 qualifying match in november, relationship hit breaking point, , baggio, supported teammates, asked manager s dismissal. due disagreements sacchi, baggio called national team less frequently, making 1 more substitute appearance in 1–0 home win against slovenia in euro 1996 qualifier in september 1995. lost spot in squad, missing out on italy s euro 1996 squad, despite winning scudetto year milan. sacchi justified decision stating baggio not fit, , enrico chiesa helped team more when possession lost. italy eliminated in group stage of competition. baggio excluded cesare maldini s italian olympic squad in 1996.

baggio remembered performances italy @ 1994 world cup. after leading italy final, scoring 5 goals in process, infamously missed deciding penalty in final shootout, led italy losing trophy brazil.

1990 fifa world cup


— itv commentator alan parry s reaction baggio s goal in italy s group stage match against czechoslovakia, during 1990 world cup.

baggio called first world cup tournament in 1990, on home soil. baggio used substitute, appearing in 5 matches, starting in 4 of them, italy manager azeglio vicini preferred more experienced gianluca vialli. baggio still able display ability throughout tournament, , vicini s decision not use him more later criticised, baggio s creative combinations salvatore schillaci praised. baggio scored twice during tournament, including goal of tournament in 2–0 win in first competitive international fixture, in italy s final group match against czechoslovakia. goal, drew comparisons giuseppe meazza, involved exchange giuseppe giannini on left wing, followed dribbling run midfield, in baggio beat several players, wrong-footing last defender feint, before putting ball past goalkeeper. goal later recognised seventh-best goal in world cup history in fifa poll.

in round of 16 match against uruguay, italy won 2–0, baggio started play led italy s first goal, scored schillaci. baggio scored goal direct free-kick, disallowed referee had awarded indirect free-kick. baggio had goal incorrectly ruled offside in quarter-final against republic of ireland, italy won 1–0; baggio once again involved in build-up led schillaci s match winning goal. italy eliminated on penalties against defending champions argentina in semi-finals after 1–1 draw, although baggio able score penalty in shootout. baggio had come off bench in second half giannini, , came close winning match free-kick, saved sergio goycochea.

in bronze medal match against england, baggio returned starting line-up, playing behind schillaci. scored italy s first goal of match after stealing ball peter shilton. david platt momentarily equalised, 5 minutes left on clock, baggio set schillaci, fouled inside area paul parker. although baggio regularly designated penalty taker national team, stepped aside allow schillaci score , capture golden shoe, gesture praised italian media. baggio assisted goal nicola berti in dying minutes of match, incorrectly ruled offside. italy won match 2–1, capturing third place medal.

1994 fifa world cup

baggio italy s top scorer during qualifying campaign 1994 world cup, scoring 5 goals. helped italy top group , qualify 1994 world cup, notably helping set dino baggio s winner in decisive final group match against portugal. 1 of best performances during qualifying campaign occurred on 14 october 1992 against switzerland; italy trailing 2–0 @ home , baggio led team 2–2 draw comeback, scoring goal.

baggio expected 1 of stars of 1994 world cup, , after disappointing start, led team final 3 match winning performances in knockout rounds. in disappointing first match against republic of ireland @ giants stadium, new jersey, italy defeated 1–0. in second match against norway, appeared more inspired. however, italy goalkeeper gianluca pagliuca sent off handling ball outside area. luca marchegiani brought in replace him, , arrigo sacchi decided take off baggio in produced outcry amidst fans. baggio later stated sacchi crazy . italy won match 1–0. italy continued disappoint, final group match ended in 1–1 draw against mexico, , again failed influence result. italians finished third in group, drawing criticism press; gianni agnelli famously called baggio un coniglio bagnato ( wet rabbit ), referring despondent demeanour, hoping jab spur him on score.

after under-performing during group stage, baggio refound form in knockout stages, scored 5 memorable goals. scored 2 in round of 16, helping ten-man italy defeat nigeria 2–1 @ foxboro stadium in boston, after trailing of match. scored first goal of match 2 minutes left on clock, after receiving ball @ edge of area roberto mussi. went on score winning goal penalty in time after setting antonio benarrivo lobbed pass, fouled in penalty area.

baggio scored match-winning goal in quarter-finals defeat spain 2–1 3 minutes remaining. after receiving ball giuseppe signori, dribbled past spanish goalkeeper andoni zubizarreta, scoring off-balance tight angle. involved in build-up led italy s first goal dino baggio.

baggio gave man of match performance in semi-finals; scored 2 more goals beat bulgaria 2–1 @ giants stadium, leading italy world cup final first time in 12 years. scored first goal after beating 2 players , curling ball outside area bottom-right corner. second scored half volley tight angle, assisted demetrio albertini lobbed ball.

—baggio on physical , mental state before taking penalty in final.

baggio not fit final against brazil @ rose bowl in pasadena, california, after pulling hamstring during semi-final , playing aid of painkiller injection. despite being far less dominant in previous matches, still tested brazilian goalkeeper cláudio taffarel , able set few chances teammates. match ended 0–0 after time; took italy s last penalty in resulting shootout, kick went on cross-bar , brazilians won title in 1 of upsetting moments in world cup history.

baggio has described miss worst moment of career, stating affected him years. later reflected, penalties missed have courage take them. before him, 2 other italians, franco baresi , daniele massaro, had missed penalties. having led italy final, baggio received silver ball second-best player of tournament, behind romário, , silver boot finishing tied second in goals scored. named in world cup all-star team. baggio finished runner-up ballon d or, 136 points possible 245, , third place fifa world player of year in 1994.

1998 fifa world cup

after lengthy absence national team, baggio called cesare maldini world cup qualifying match against poland on 30 april 1997; baggio came off bench , scored goal in 3–0 win. subsequently selected 1 of italy s 22 players 1998 world cup following performances bologna.

—roberto baggio on penalty against chile in 1998 world cup.

in italy s opening match of 1998 world cup in france, against chile, baggio started alongside christian vieri, playing 90 minutes, alessandro del piero still recovering injury. vieri opened scoring baggio assist, chile managed equalise , take lead through marcelo salas. baggio created several chances, italy unable equalise. towards end of match, baggio played low cross box unintentionally touched chilean defender ronald fuentes s hand @ edge of penalty area, resulting in fortunate penalty italy. despite missing decisive penalty in 1994 world cup final shootout, baggio stepped take penalty, , scored italy s equalising goal, becoming first italian player score in 3 world cups. first penalty had taken italy since 1994 world cup final miss; baggio described goal liberating .

in italy s 3–0 second group match win on cameroon, baggio assisted luigi di biagio s opening goal. however, replaced del piero during second half after sustaining minor injury. baggio scored second goal of tournament in italy s final group match against austria, ended in 2–1 win italy. baggio came on during second half, replacing del piero, after crowd had begun chant name. scored winning goal of match, after combining francesco moriero , filippo inzaghi, italy topped group. goal, tied paolo rossi s record goals italian player in world cup finals, nine. 27th , final goal italy. left on bench round of 16 win on norway italy advanced quarter-finals.

in quarter-final match against eventual champions france, baggio came on substitute del piero in second half, , managed create scoring opportunities. score remained 0–0, , match went time, although baggio came closest scoring golden goal, volley lobbed pass albertini, shot put wide of fabian barthez s far post. match went penalty shootout. although baggio converted penalty, shootout won host nation, italy eliminated on penalties in world cup third consecutive time. italy s coach, criticised starting recovering del piero ahead of baggio, , not allowing 2 players play alongside each other. despite rumours substitutions had created rivalry between players, baggio , del piero remain friends. baggio stated in 2008 has great respect del piero, , there had never been disagreements between them. del piero in turn stated in 2011 baggio, along zinedine zidane, best player whom had ever played.

later career

baggio regular squad member under dino zoff, appearing substitute in 2 euro 2000 qualifying matches, in 2–0 win against wales in 1998, setting goal vieri; , in 1–1 draw against belarus in 1999. baggio made starting appearance in 0–0 friendly draw against norway in 1999, creating several chances, helping set-up goal ruled offside, , hitting post free-kick. however, later dropped squad after inter s poor 1998–99 season, , not called euro 2000 finals due limited playing time during 1999–2000 season, , accusations made against fitness. zoff centred squad around younger offensive players, such francesco totti, alessandro del piero, stefano fiore, marco delvecchio, filippo inzaghi , vincenzo montella. baggio voted italy s player of century in 2000.

baggio controversially excluded italy s 2002 world cup squad coach giovanni trapattoni, believed him not have recovered serious injury had sustained during season. although keen include baggio in final 23-man list, excluded him squad; baggio had made direct appeal him prior tournament writing him letter. fans , pundits criticised omission, italy eliminated co-hosts south korea in round of 16.

many fans hoped see him play italy @ euro 2004, or 2004 olympic squad managed bronze medal, not case. however, given international send-off trapattoni @ age 37 in friendly match against spain on 28 april 2004, in wore number 10 shirt final time, captain s armband part of match. although baggio entertained crowd creativity , skill, unable score, despite winning free-kick vieri s equalising goal arose. match finished 1–1 , baggio given standing ovation after being substituted off fabrizio miccoli. baggio s 56th , final match italy, , first time italian footballer s career had been celebrated way since silvio piola retired.