Continuing our look back at some of the most iconic and brilliant victories for the Brazilian football team over the years, we remember the classic from USA ’94 and that game in Dallas.
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Played at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, Brazil were in their change strip of blue jerseys and they were up against a very strong-looking Dutch team containing players like Koeman, Bergkamp, Rijkaard and Overmars. The Brazilians came into the tournament having not won the trophy since 1970 and were determined to end their ‘drought’.
After a very cagey opening 45 minutes, the match exploded into life in the second half when, in the 52nd minute, following an uncharacteristic mistake from Frank Rijkaard, Bebeto pounced and played in his strike partner Romario (pic above) who duly dispatched it into the Dutch goal. The blue touchpaper had been lit and we were bracing ourselves for a classic.
The Dutch defence had another moment to forget in the 63rd minute as they all stopped in unison trying to play offside, but Bebeto kept playing and rounded the Dutch goalkeeper, Ed de Goey, to make it two nil to the South Americans. Bebeto had just become a father and celebrated accordingly with team-mates doing his now- famous baby-cradling celebration (pic above).
The Dutch looked all but buried now at this stage, but only a minute after Bebeto had scored, Dennis Bergkamp (pic above) reduced the arrears with a sumptuous finish from a long throw. It came out of nothing and, all of a sudden, it was game on. In the 76th minute a corner for Holland resulted in Aron Winter (pic below) meeting the ball on the six yard box and burying it into the Brazilian net. It was a remarkable comeback by the Dutch.
With the clock ticking down and only nine minutes remaining, the Brazilians won a free-kick from about 30 yards out. It’s always a dangerous thing conceding free-kicks to Brazil, especially within the 35 yards radius to goal. Up stepped their legendary full-back Branco (pic below)and he hit an absolute arrow of a shot which nestled into the corner of the Dutch net leaving De Goey helpless.
It was enough to seal the semi-final place for Brazil who went on to win the tournament, beating Italy in the final on penalties.
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