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1994 FIFA World Cup Group D
Group D of the 1994 FIFA World Cup was one of six groups of four teams competing at the 1994 World Cup in the United States. The first match was played June 21, 1994, and the final games took place simultaneously on June 30, 1994. The group consisted of Argentina, Greece, Nigeria, and Bulgaria. Nigeria won the group on goal difference, Bulgaria finished second, and Argentina qualified as one of the best third-placed teams (Bulgaria defeated Argentina in the group stage, thus their higher rank). Bulgaria and Argentina had previously met before in the group stage, in 1962; neither team advanced into the knockout stage. Bulgaria and Argentina had also met in 1986, both teams advanced to the knockout stage. Group D was also notable for the end of Diego Maradona's international career. Maradona, who was Argentina's captain and star player, was found to contain ephedrine, a performance-enhancing stimulant, in his system after being subjected to an anti-doping test held during their ma ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
1994 FIFA World Cup
The 1994 FIFA World Cup was the 15th FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national soccer teams. It was hosted by the United States and took place from June 17 to July 17, 1994, at nine venues across the country. The United States was chosen as the host by FIFA on July 4, 1988. Despite soccer's relative lack of popularity in the host nation, the tournament was the most financially successful in World Cup history. It broke tournament records with overall attendance of 3,587,538 and an average of 68,991 per game, figures that stand unsurpassed as of 2022, despite the expansion of the competition from 24 to 32 teams starting with the 1998 World Cup. Brazil was crowned the winner after defeating Italy 3–2 in a penalty shootout at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, near Los Angeles, after the game had ended 0–0 after extra time. It was the first World Cup final to be decided on penalties. The victory made Brazil the first nation to win four World Cup titles. ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Oscar Ruggeri
Oscar Alfredo Ruggeri (born 26 January 1962) is an Argentine former professional association football, footballer who played as centre-back. Nicknamed ''El Cabezón'' ("The Big-head One"), Ruggeri achieved success at the international level with the Argentina national football team, Argentina national team, being part of the teams that won the 1986 FIFA World Cup, two editions of the Copa América and the 1992 FIFA Confederations Cup. At the club level, Ruggeri's most successful stint was with Argentine club Club Atlético River Plate, River Plate, where he won the 1986 Copa Libertadores (also the club's first title win in this tournament) the 1986 Copa Interamericana and the 1986 Intercontinental Cup. Known for his rough style of play when marking opposing players and aerial ability, Ruggeri is considered one of the all-time best defenders to come out of Argentina. Following his retirement as a player, Ruggeri turned to managing, where he held posts in Argentina, Mexico and Spain ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Giannis Kalitzakis
Giannis Kalitzakis (; born 10 February 1966) is a former Greek professional footballer who played as a center back. His nickname was ''"The Ninja"'' due to his hard acrobatic tackles and very strong defensive style. He is currently the general manager at Panathinaikos B. Club career Kalitzakis started his career in Panelefsiniakos, where he played for three and a half seasons and after playing for another half season at Diagoras he signed for Panathinaikos. In the "greens" he quickly established himself as a key player and irreplaceable, he became especially loved by the world and did a lot important career for a whole decade, being also captain of the team, winning 4 championships, 6 Greek Cups and 3 Super cups, including 3 doubles. He participated in very important European nights for the club, including the course of the team to the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League in 1996. In the summer of 1997, he was released by Panathinaikos and the people of AEK Athens did ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Stelios Manolas
Stelios Manolas (, born 13 July 1961) is a Greek former professional footballer who played as a center back for AEK Athens and a current manager. Widely regarded as the best Greek defender of his era, he is one of the few Greek footballers to have played his entire professional career for a single club. In 2021, the IFFHS chose him in Greece's best XI of all time. Club career Manolas started football from a young age, playing on the streets and vacant lots in and around the Athens suburb of Galatsi, where he lived during his childhood. In his early teens he, alongside his friend Kostas Antoniou, played for the small amateur club, Aetos Galatsi, where he was discovered by scouts and brought to the attention of AEK Athens. At the age of 15, he was playing for the AEK Youth teams. Over time, he was noticed for his technical skill, intelligence and tactical mind. In January 1980, he signed his first professional contract with the club. As a young player, his solid technical trainin ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Stratos Apostolakis
Stratos Apostolakis (; born 17 May 1964), nicknamed The Turbo, is a Greek former professional footballer who played as a defender or a defensive midfielder. Career Apostolakis was no stranger to controversy as a player, his switch from Olympiacos to Panathinaikos in 1990 led to the cancellation of the Greek Super Cup as the authorities feared riots. As a footballer he played his best years for Panathinaikos being one of the key players behind club's European runs in 1991–92 and 1995–96. He played with Panathinaikos through 1998. During his playing career, Apostolakis was capped 96 times by the Greece national team scoring five goals. and was a member of the 1994 World Cup squad. His 96 caps stood as a Greek record until it was broken by Theodoros Zagorakis. He also spent six months as a coach with Panathinaikos in 2001, before resigning from his position at the end of the year and eventually taking up the task of coaching the Olympic team for Athens 2004. Per ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Antonis Minou
Antonis Minou (, born 4 May 1958) is a Greek former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper. Club career Minou began his career with Almopos Aridea, signing for Kastoria in 1980, and two years later, he moved to Panathinaikos, where he became known to the general public and was called to the national team. At Panathinaikos, he won two league titles and three cups. However, the difficult competition for a first-team place with Nikos Sarganis forced him to look for another team, and in the summer of 1988 he was transferred to AEK Athens. In his first season with AEK, he was a second choice behind Spyros Ikonomopoulos, but from the following season he became a regular and then never lost his place again, until the end of his spell at AEK. The decision by the club's management to release him in the summer of 1993 was said to be surprising, since he was the first-choice goalkeeper in his last two seasons in which the team won the league, while also playing in the nation ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Alfio Basile
Alfio "Coco" Basile (born 1 November 1943) is an Argentine football manager and former player. He played for Racing Club de Avellaneda and Huracán before becoming a manager. He coached many teams during his career, being most notable Racing Club de Avellaneda (where he won the Supercopa Libertadores, the first international title for the club since 1967), the Argentina national team (with 4 titles won) and Boca Juniors, where he won five titles in two years. Basile holds the distinction of being the only manager to coach both Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi internationally, having called both up to the national team during his two separate tenures as Argentina's manager. The last team managed by Basile was Racing Club de Avellaneda, which he left in 2012. Playing career Born in Bahía Blanca, Basile started his playing career at Club Bella Vista in his home city. From 1964 to 1970 he played for Racing Club, where he played as midfielder until the arrival of coach Juan Jos ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ariel Ortega
Arnaldo Ariel Ortega (born 4 March 1974) is an Argentine former professional footballer who played as an attacking midfielder. His nickname is "El Burrito" (''The Little Donkey''), thus he is called "Burrito Ortega". Ariel Ortega first played for River Plate on 14 December 1991 and until 1996 and returned in 2000–02, 2006–08 and 2009–11. Ortega also played for Spanish club Valencia, Turkish club Fenerbahçe and Italian clubs Parma and Sampdoria. A former Argentina international, Ortega played for his country in the 1994, 1998, and 2002 World Cups. He was also a member of the team that won the silver medal at the 1996 Summer Olympics. Club career Beginnings in Argentina Ortega began his professional football career in 1991 with Argentine club River Plate. With the club, he won the Primera División in 1991, 1993, 1994 and 1996, as well as the Copa Libertadores in 1996. He lost out on the 1996 Intercontinental Cup final to Juventus. Europe Ortega left Argentina in 1 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Alejandro Mancuso
Alejandro Víctor Mancuso (born 4 September 1968 in Ciudadela) is an Argentine former footballer who played as a midfielder. During his club career in Argentina he played for Ferro Carril Oeste, Club Atlético Vélez Sársfield, Boca Juniors and Club Atlético Independiente. He is one of the best friends of Alejandro Sabella. After leaving his country, he played in Brazil, Spain and Uruguay. In 1996, he played for Flamengo where he won the Rio de Janeiro State Championship and the 1996 Copa de Oro. Flamengo's supporters still remember his class and his courage in the matches. In November 2008, Diego Armando Maradona was named coach of Argentina national football team and Mancuso joined him in the commission. He also said that after this cycle he intends to manage Flamengo. Honours Club ;Boca Juniors * Copa de Oro Sudamericana: 1993 ;Flamengo * Campeonato Carioca: 1996 * Copa de Oro Sudamericana: 1996 International ;Argentina * CONMEBOL–UEFA Cup of Champions: 1993 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Abel Balbo
Abel Eduardo Balbo (; born 1 June 1966) is an Argentine football manager and former player who played as a striker. Balbo played for various clubs in Argentina and Italy during the course of his career. He was also an Argentine international. Club career Balbo was born in Empalme Villa Constitución, Santa Fe. At club level, Balbo played for Newell's Old Boys (1987–88), River Plate (1988–89), before moving to Italy and Udinese (1989–93), Roma (1993–98 and 2000–02), Parma (1998–99) and Fiorentina. He played four games for Boca Juniors before finally retiring. He scored a total of 138 goals in Serie A; his best seasons came in 1992–93 for Udinese and 1994–95 for Roma, with 22 goals in each of them. In 2000, Roma paid Fiorentina 1.75 billion Italian lire to re-sign him and offered him a two-year contract with 1.7 billion annual salary before tax. International career For Argentina, Balbo scored eleven goals in 37 caps, and played at the 1990, the 1994, the 19 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Claudio Caniggia
Claudio Paul Caniggia (; born 9 January 1967) is an Argentine former professional footballer who played as forward or winger. Caniggia played 50 times for the Argentina national team. He appeared in three World Cups, and was a member of both rival clubs River Plate and Boca Juniors. At the 1990 FIFA World Cup, Caniggia scored two goals to help Argentina reach the final but was suspended for the final against West Germany. Caniggia also scored two goals at the 1994 FIFA World Cup in a first-round match against Nigeria. As well as appearing for River Plate and Boca Juniors, his other clubs include Atalanta, Benfica, Dundee and Rangers. Throughout his playing career, he played for clubs in Argentina, Italy, Portugal, Scotland and Qatar. Club career At club level, Caniggia played for River Plate (1985–88), Hellas Verona (1988–89), Atalanta (1989–92 and 1999–2000), Roma (1992–93), S.L. Benfica (1994–95), Boca Juniors (1995–98), Dundee (2000–01) and ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Captain (association Football)
The captain of a association football, football/soccer team, sometimes known as the skipper, is a team member chosen to be the on-pitch leader of the team; they are often one of the older or more experienced members of the squad, or a player that can heavily influence a game or has good leadership qualities. The team captain is usually identified by the wearing of an armband. In the 2024/25 edition of the Laws of the Game (association football), Laws of the Game, it was made mandatory for each team to have a captain and for each captain to be identified by the previously traditional but non-mandatory captain's armband. Responsibilities The only official responsibility of a captain specified by the Laws of the Game (association football), Laws of the Game is to participate in the Coin flipping, coin toss prior to Kick-off (association football), kick-off (for choice of ends or to have kick-off) and prior to a penalty shoot-out (association football), penalty shoot-out. Captain ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
