Arrigo Sacchi has drawn sharp criticism from Aldo Serena for misrepresenting the 1994 World Cup after claiming the ‘only difference’ with Italy in 2006 was Roberto Baggio missed a penalty.
On the 30th anniversary of that torrid Final in Pasadena, when Italy were held to a stalemate by Brazil and capitulated in a penalty shoot-out, Sacchi wrote about the experience in his Gazzetta dello Sport column.
“Seeing the recent results of the Nazionale, I say strongly that our second place at the 1994 World Cup should make us even prouder of that team.
“We lost on penalties, we were in the game to the end despite having no more energy, what could we reproach ourselves for?
“The difference between my Italy in 1994 and Marcello Lippi’s Italy in 2006 is in one penalty: Roberto Baggio missed his, Fabio Grosso scored it.”
This summary of the competition really did not sit well with former Italy striker Serena, who had already retired before the competition in the United States of America.
“With all due respect, we cannot read these things,” he wrote on social media.
“Defensive and poor football (the kind he has always criticised). Roberto Baggio who after the humiliation against Norway saves his face with creativity and not a single gesture of thanks.”
How Baggio got Sacchi and Italy to 1994 World Cup Final
The most famous image was that of Baggio blazing the final spot-kick over the bar, one leg strapped up heavily due to a muscular injury sustained in the semi-final, having practically dragged the Azzurri to the end of the tournament.
The rapport between Baggio and Sacchi was famously fraught, as the Divine Ponytail did not fit into the coach’s rigid tactical ideas and was seen as a creative loose cannon.
The same was also true of Beppe Signori, at the time the top scorer in Italian football, who was used completely out of position to suit Sacchi’s idea of 4-4-2, as a left-winger or even at times in midfield.
Sacchi famously hauled Baggio off as a substitute just 22 minutes into the 1-0 win over Norway after goalkeeper Gianluca Pagliuca had been sent off, the player clearly mouthing ‘he is crazy’ to teammates when seeing his number come up on the touchline.
Italy scraped through the group stage with a 1-0 defeat to the Republic of Ireland, 1-0 win over Norway and 1-1 draw with Mexico.
They were moments away from an embarrassing elimination at the hands of Nigeria in the Round of 16 until Baggio – already struggling with injury then – fired in out of nowhere to force extra time and then converted a penalty to see them through.
He scored in the 2-1 win over Spain, then bagged both goals to defeat Bulgaria 2-1, finishing in tears as he was carried by teammates following that thigh strain.
Baggio played all 120 minutes of the Final against Brazil practically on one leg and had he not blazed that penalty over the bar, Brazil probably would’ve won with their next kick in the shoot-out anyway, as Franco Baresi and Daniele Massaro had already missed.
Italy scored eight goals in the 1994 World Cup and Baggio netted five of them.
Many at the time considered Sacchi’s approach to be too rigid and not taking into account the qualities of his players, believing Baggio got them to the Final despite the coach and not because of him.
Reading this idealised version of the events 30 years on, where Sacchi rants on about referees, the humidity of playing on the East Coast of America to get more Italian-American fans and the fatigue of his players, culminating in the blame on Baggio has angered more than just Aldo Serena.
I believe Sacchi likes to hear himself talk: I guess he gets paid for his opinions. if so, he is stealing.
Sacchi tactics were. I better than Southgate . All that talent wasted . Italian coaches have ways been the national teams issue until this day . For the players we had in the 90s that team should have won much more
Bravo Serena. Sacchi is delusional like Spalletti. They are like 2 peas in a pod, that’s why Sacchi speaks so highly of Spalletti. Baggio saved you numerous times in 94. Grande Baggio!
Indeed Sacchi is delusional and full of self importance. The idea that Baggio is the only difference between 1994 & 2006 is an outrageous and a selective comment. In fact there are too many differences to mention yet Sacchi conveniently overlooks that in 1994 Italy missed three penalties whilst in 2006 Italy scored all of their penalties.