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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 21 June 1994 and the final games took place simultaneously on 30 June 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 match with ... [...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, marks that stood unsurpassed as of 2022 despite the expansion of the competition from 24 to 32 teams starting with the 1998 World Cup. Brazil were crowned the winners after defeating Italy 3–2 in a penalty shoot-out 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 footballer who played as centre-back. Nicknamed ''El Cabezón'' ("The Big-Headed One"), Ruggeri achieved success at the international level with the Argentina national team, being part of the teams that won the 1986 FIFA World Cup, two editions of the Copa América and the 1992 King Fahd Cup. At the club level, Ruggeri's most successful stint was with Argentine club River Plate, where he won the 1986 Copa Libertadores (also the club's first 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. His last job as a manager was in 2006 with Argentine club San Lorenzo. Since then, Ruggeri w ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ioannis Kalitzakis
Giannis Kalitzakis ( el, Γιάννης Καλιτζάκης; born 10 February 1966) is a Greek former 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 three and a half season 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 of 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 an ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Stelios Manolas
Stelios Manolas ( el, Στέλιος Μανωλάς, born 13 July 1961) is a Greek former international football player who played as a centre back for AEK Athens and a manager. Arguably the best Greek defender of his era, being one of the few Greek footballers to have played his entire professional career for a single club. In 2021, IFFHS chose him in the best XI of all time of Greek football. 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 pla ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Stratos Apostolakis
Stratos Apostolakis ( el, Στράτος Αποστολάκης; 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 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Antonis Minou
Antonis Minou ( el, Αντώνης Μήνου, born 4 May 1958) is a Greek former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper. Club career Minou took his first football steps in Almopos Aridea and to Kastoria in 1980 and two years later 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 with Nikos Sarganis forced him to look for another football team and in the summer of 1988 he was transferred to AEK Athens. In his first season in the team, he was a second choice behind Spyros Ikonomopoulos, but after 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 caused quite a surprise, since he was the first-choice goalkeeper in his last two seasons in which the team won the respective championships, while ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Alfio Basile
Alfio () is an Italian given name. Notable people with the name include: * Alfio Basile, Argentina football coach * Alfio Bonanno, Australian tenor * Alfio Caltabiano, Italian actor * Alfio Contini, Italian cinematographer * Alfio Fazio, Italian composer * Alfio Fontana, Italian footballer * Alfio Giuffrida, Italian sculptor * Alfio Marchini, Italian entrepreneur * Alfio Molina, Swiss ice hockey player * Alfio Musmarra, Italian journalist * Alfio Oviedo, Paraguayan footballer * Alfio Peraboni, Italian sailor * Alfio Piva, Costa Rican politician * Alfio Quarteroni, Italian mathmetician * Alfio Bruno Tempera, Italian property master * Alfio Vandi Alfio Vandi (born 7 December 1955) is an Italian former professional racing cyclist of the 1970s and 1980s. The highlight of his career was winning the Young rider Classification in the 1976 Giro d'Italia. He placed seventh overall in that Giro ..., Italian racing cyclist {{given name Italian masculine given names ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ariel Ortega
Ariel Arnaldo 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 Club Atlético 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 ... [...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. 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 ;Ferro Carril Oeste * Copa San Martín de Tours: 1987 ;Vélez Sársfield ´Argentine Primera División: 1992-93 ;Boca Juniors * Copa de Oro Sudamericana: 1993 ;Flamengo * Campeonato Carioca: 1996 * Copa de Oro Suda ... [...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. He is the current manager of Estudiantes de La Plata. 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 11 goals i ... [...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, Qatar and England. 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 team captain of an association football 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. Responsibilities The only official responsibility of a captain specified by the Laws of the Game is to participate in the coin toss prior to kick-off (for choice of ends or to have kick-off) and prior to a penalty shootout. Contrary to what is sometimes said, captains have no special authority under the Laws to challenge a decision by the referee. However, referees may talk to the captain of a side about the side's general behaviour when necessary. At an award-giving ceremony after a fixture like a cup competition final, the captain usually leads the team up to collect their medals. Any trophy won by a team will ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
