In the week that followed I naturally as a football (calcio in Italian) fan watched the other games even if Italy’s held the most importance to me. Germany made an impressive start seeming like tanks as they cut up Yugoslavia 4-1, while Uruguay managed a 0-0 draw with Spain in spite of having a penalty called in their favor which they obviously missed and controlling much of the game. Danilo and I also became better friends during this time often going to Studio M or other places, while we talked about things other then football. Danilo telling me he had played semi-pro basketball which was not surprising he did so as a guard with his physical height of 6′2″. I at that time did very little else apart from photography, though I vaguely recall telling Danilo that I might some day become a writer, given that I was thinking of a story I might some put down on paper or pen drive which I have yet to do.
After Austria, it was the United States and though I was born in New York, I was rooting for Italy all the way when they faced the USA. Again like the first match we all got together at the ICC to watch Italy defeat the United States 1-0 and assure itself of not making history for the wrong reason of being the first host nation not to go past the first round. The game against the USA was harder then originally imagined though we did win thanks to a beautiful goal by Giannini. This in an otherwise boring match that held few highlights apart from the goal and Italy missing their third penalty in as many world cups. The US, for all its qualities on defense only came close to scoring once but fortunately Ferri was standing on the line to prevent what would have been the tying goal.
Italy however despite boring the tifossi had won, its second game and had even assured its place in the second round as there was no way that it would not be going in to next round with four points, at least as the second place team. The question was could they win their group and qualify to the next round as the first place team? This of course they could do but they would have to beat Czechoslovakia, who had also won their first two games however with a better goal difference of 6-1 while Italy’s was 2-0.
By the third game, those of us who made it a point of going to ICC to see Italy play had become a sort of family, taking an interest in each other’s lives and what we were doing in Poland. I being the one who they referred to as the photographer; given my large Minolta camera which accompanied me everywhere I went. As for our confidence it had taken a slight turn down in direction after barely beating the US who had lost 5-1 to Czechoslovakia but we still felt we could go all the way to the final and beyond. We putting pessimism aside had four points in two games and had not conceded a goal but we needed to win against Czechoslovakia; more for our moral then anything.
Italy in this match got of to a good start as Schillaci playing as a starter for the first time put us ahead at 8 minute mark. His goal was screamed by all as it really brought us back to the level we wanted to see from Italy specially after the near disgrace of drawing to the United States at home. Schillaci had taken over for Carnevali, who had not lived up to expectations and thanks to him we were now going to qualify for the next round in first place, that is if we could remain on top in the score.
Czechoslovakia in what was the remainder of that first half scored a goal of their own which did dampen moods at first but fortunately it was disallowed unjustly I might add for a non-existent offside. Actually I will never forget how even the Italian announcer felt the goal should have been allowed as did all of us but unfortunately for Czechoslovakia it was not to be. The second half saw, the man who would become one of my all time favorite players; Roberto Baggio, specially during USA 94 score one of the best goals of the tournament after 78 minutes had past which more or less clinched first place for Italy.
Italy had qualified to the next round; winning its first three matches and not even allowing one goal against. This was something to celebrate and we did so by going to a restaurant after the match. I was in a good time of life as well, my photography was going nicely with much of my work just starting to get published and I even noticed I enjoyed Warsaw during the summer. The nice ladies in their clothes of the season and the world cup was going beautifully too. I even remember speaking to a fellow student of mine from Brazil from the university in the days that followed our win over Czechoslovakia and him telling me how Brazil was not playing as well as he would like; while Italy was doing marvelously.
Regarding the first round, many things of interest happened for instance the Netherlands and Ireland finished in a tie for second place with the exact goal difference and head to head their encounter had finished in a 1-1 draw, something which today would be a problem but then was not given that third place could also qualify. In this case the Netherlands was given third place and had to play Germany, while Ireland against Romania. Uruguay had qualified by the skin of their teeth with a last minute goal against South Korea that gave them a 1-0 victory though some felt the game should have been ended by the referee before. Actually if it had not been for this almost last second goal then Uruguay would surely not have qualified as they would have had two points, same as Austria and Scotland but would have missed out because both these countries had a better goal ratio at 2-3 while Uruguay would have been at 1-3. Germany had looked good but against Colombia; who also got a lost minute goal had been brought down a level or two perhaps because they were already qualified but still Colombia did play them well in a 1-1 draw.
To me however none of that mattered as I along with the rest of the “tifossi” were feeling we could go all the way and win and that last game had only confirmed it after which we even started feeling like champions. As for me I had one of the scariest moments of my life when one day before our match against Uruguay, I woke up with what unquestionable was the biggest pain in my life. I had urinated blood the night before but did not pay it much attention at the time but the next morning the pain was like a knife in me, which prompted me to call for an ambulance. I must say I had no idea what it was fearing I had something wrong with either my appendix or perhaps worse as the pain was excruciating. I had never thought about death but at that moment I felt close to it. It however turned out to be a simple kidney stone which the doctor in English explained to me was as painful for a man as it was for a woman to deliver a child. It in a way it was strange because my sister in Rome; who had had her children through suzerain had not experienced the pains of a normal birth but she however had been through the one of a kidney stone which she got in Ecuador. The doctor also told me it was really nothing but would prefer to keep me in the hospital one night for observation, which is precisely what happened apart for me getting a bill for 100 hundred dollars the following morning.
In the hospital I saw Germany vs. the Netherlands thanks to a TV set a patient had in another room. This a match which ended in a 2-1 victory for Germany in a game that will be mostly remembered for the way Rijkaard (Netherlands) and Voller (Germany) were both sent off. The first of these two players being shown the red card for clearly spitting at Rudi Voller for no apparent reason while it was never clear why Voller himself received his marching orders.
By the time the night game came that day I had accepted the idea that I would have to spend the night in the hospital and got cozy next to the TV for the South American classic that was sure to be Brazil vs. Argentina in Turin, which I would later find out was attended by my daughter’s future godfather whom I did not even know at the time. Brazil attacked, while Maradona was kept under extremely tight marking, though this came mostly assisted by vicious fouls just when he was about to get something going for his team.
Brazil came close on many occasions but like they say that only counts for horseshoes and hand grenades which this was not and as time wore on 0-0 was still the score, until Maradona put back the fear of him in all with another play that like his famous goal of four years earlier will live forever. Maradona got the ball in midfield and passed four players, almost one after the other and then with the last of these pulling him down by his jersey he managed to get off the perfect pass with his right foot to Caniggia, who put Argentina in front 1-0 and in to the next round.
The next day I got out of the hospital, relieved to be ok and going back to the place where we all had become one voice behind Italy and to celebrate that I was not going to die or at least not then. It was in Studio M that I had me a shot of Johnnie Walker red though in all honesty I would have preferred Glenfidich and would have had ordered it if they had had it but sometimes one must make do.
Danilo and I met at Studio M as had come to be our custom before matches and I told him much to his near shock how I had spent the night in the hospital but had gotten out just in time for the match. Uruguay had always been difficult for Italy as their style is one of physical play. The last time Italy and Uruguay had played in a world cup had been 20 years earlier in 1970. This in a game that not only failed to produce a goal in a 0-0 draw but to even render any moments of interest in a match that was one of the most boring ever seen in a world cup or any where else for that matter.
Once at the ICC with us arriving almost late we took our seats for what would be a close first half that would end 0-0. by then it was clear that this World Cup was one that would not see any big victories as most games would be limited to scores of 1-0 or 2-1; as was the case with most games as even a match between Argentina and Brazil had only produced one goal. Tense however we were as we waited for the second half with me telling all about my plight of the previous day, which brought some relief to all those who had come to know me that I apparently had come through it ok. The second half started and again it would be Schillaci at 65 minute mark with a great shot from outside the box to bring joy and shouts of goal in to the ICC one more time. Another goal would be coming for Italy that day as Serena also managed to get on the score board twenty minutes after Schillaci and give Italy its pass in to the quarterfinals.
The quarterfinals came and so did Ireland; a team with a stubborn defense which we knew could upset us as they did four years later in USA 94 but that was for another time. Again like in the previous match it was Schillaci who only needed 38 minutes to put us ahead for good when he struck the back of the net. Italy would go on to win that match 1-0 though Schillaci came close to scoring another from a free kick only to have his shot bounce off the post and the line, in an effort that would have been a great goal had it gone in. Ireland however one must say left with their dignity as they only lost by one goal against Italy, who all things considered did have the home field advantage.
My name is Gianni Truvianni, I am an author who writes with the simple aim of sharing his ideas, thoughts and so much more of what I am with those who are interested in perhaps reading something new. I also am the author of the book entitled “New York’s Opera Society” which is now available on Amazon.
