1994 FIFA WORLD CUP
Part 1
By the mid '90's, football's appeal across the world was reaching to new and greater levels than before, mostly in the United States [1]. That all said, despite the prospect that Morocco, a so called 'non' footballing country might host the 1994 World Cup were not to be as it was then decided that Argentina would host the World Cup [2] and for the South American nation it had been third time lucky to finally host football's biggest tournament.
After the embarrassment of being stripped to host the World Cup in 1978 and being looked over in favour of the United States, Argentina's football authorities went all out to host and this time there was to be no mess up or nothing to make them lose it this time, though as part of FIFA's rotation policy to switch between Europe and the Americas to host the World Cup, Argentina did seem like the most certain nation in South America to host it.
That said, it seemed Argentina's long wait to host the World Cup was in some ways a blessing in disguise as by this point in the mid 90's the country was undergoing an economic boom in which the government boasted that the country was about to enter the first world after many years of inner turmoil [3] and it seemed like nothing would better to show this than to host the World Cup to show that they meant it.
Venus of the 1994 World Cup
As what many felt, Argentina spared no expense though they allowed private companies to contribute the capital needed for the construction of stadiums, such as the case of Tucuman, and the acceleration of the works of the unique stadium of La Plata. Despite some cost overruns, the work needed to get the country ready for the World Cup in 1994 was ready for the world to arrive.
The teams for the 1994 World Cup
While all the usual suspects were seen here, there were a few new teams playing in the World Cup for the first time with Ivory Coast making their debut, as well as Russia (not as the Soviet Union this time) while this would be the first World Cup that saw a united Germany playing at a World Cup for the first time since 1938 [4]. It also saw the return of many teams after many years such as New Zealand, Norway, Wales and Japan who were all hoping to making an impact.
The big difference was that following the lack of attacking play at the last World Cup, the points for a win would be brought up from 2 to 3 points with the hopes that things would be better [5]. With that, many hoped that the 1994 World Cup would see exciting results...
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Though not the opening match, all eyes were on Argentina's opening game with Sweden in which after the rather shambolic performance in 1990, many expected better from them, especially as they were hosting this World Cup. It would a victory in their opening match which would end up leading them to win the group, though it would see a troubling moment for Maradona in which despite suspicious of doping which despite find nothing against him, much to the relief of the nation, he was out for Argentina's final group game [6].
Apart from Argentina, the group would be known as the Scandinavian group in which saw both Sweden and Norway in the same group, however neither side would get out of the group as instead it would be an up and coming United States team who was on the rise to show that they were starting to become a nation that was hoping to be a football (soccer) nation even since they hosted the World Cup in 1986.
Happy Argentine players after their victory over the United States
To say this for Argentina this was a major change would be saying a lot and now with them group winners, the quest to try and get their hands on their third World Cup and who was going to doubt them?
Final results of Group A of 1994 World Cup
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A rather strange group of teams on vastly different levels would be played out in Group B which had two big European teams in the form of the Dutch and Spanish up against the likes of a mediocre Japan and a poor Canadian side, only making their second World Cup appearance. The group however wouldn't be all what many expected as Japan nearly upset the odds in their final group game with the Netherlands as they were holding onto a 2-1 lead for most of the second half, however the Dutch would get a goal near the end which proved to be enough for them to go through. A frustrating kick in the teeth.
Spain would do quite well that saw them win the group though it must be said that with the exception of the Dutch who held them to a point, Spain never really had much standing in their way which might've given them a fear that they might not take their next opponent seriously. All in all, the group went the way that many expected and once again, poor Canada finished bottom with no points.
The Spanish team of 1994
Final results of Group B at the 1994 World Cup
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Group C would see the opening match of the World Cup, England vs Romania, take place. Despite being favourites to go through, England were undergoing a transition period with some thinking that if they didn't have the advantage of qualifying via from being champions that they might've not gone through to this World Cup in the first place [7]. England were quite a lacklustre side as they struggled to victory over Romania before we losing to Uruguay in their second group game which made things look bleak for England.
Fortunately for them, they had a poor New Zealand side in their final group game which they were able to win three points which helped them go through to the next round. That said, England hadn't impressed being champions and pretty much looked like a team that wasn't going to go far. In contrast to the English, Uruguay had a 100% run by winning all their group games to be group winners and this was perhaps thanks to many Uruguayan fans making the short journey to cheer their team on with hopes they can go all the way.
England vs Romania in the opening match of the World Cup
For poor Romania, they came up short despite having hopes that they could at least get out of the group stage, would finish in third place though they would end up playing in one of the most thrilling group stage games with Uruguay in which saw the South American side win 3-2 despite Romania taking the lead twice in that game. In the end while England might've not shine, Uruguay most certainly had...
Final Group C results of the 1994 World Cup
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Out of all the seeded teams, Columbia would be the only one who failed to go through by having a disastrous campaign despite going into this World Cup as one of the favourites. Things got off to the worse start when they lost to Nigeria, whom the latter would end up having a an excellent run in the group stage by going through in second place. Mexico would end up finishing in third place and felt disappointed that they had come close to going through but alas it was not meant to be.
Scotland would end up having a great run to end up as group winners and were carrying on their form from Euro '92 [8] and it would be a surprise to many to see them end up as group winners in which many thought they wouldn't end up in said position. For Columbia, it marked the end of a disappointing World Cup with many questions being asked as to what went wrong [9] though for Scotland and Nigeria, things were only starting.
Alan McLaren for Scotland at the 1994 World Cup
Final results of Group D of the 1994 World Cup
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Group E would see the European champions, Yugoslavia [10], play and their tags as favourites would be very much evident here as they smashed all over opponents to top the group and they were a young team that reflected the positive feeling in the country despite some ethnic tensions that still remained. Joining them in the next round would be Wales, not seen since 1986 [11] and much like Yugoslavia, they were a nation too that was going through a good period with the new Welsh top flight of football now having all the Welsh teams formally based in England now back 'home'.
With a number of talented players in their ranks, they fancied their chances to go further. However the World Cup would end up having some disappointment for Russia who never got going after an opening match loss to Wales and yet despite victory over Bolivia, Yugoslavia ended up sending them home and brought their World Cup adventure to an end.
The Russian team of 1994
Out of all the South American nations at the 1994 World Cup, poor Bolivia would end up as the worst performing team with them getting no points and one goal to their name which left their fans annoyed at hopes they might be able to get out of the group stage for the first time. In the end, the group stage went the way many expected and would either team meet again soon in the final?
Final Group E results of the 1994 World Cup
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The sight of a united German team looked like a team that was going to cause some serious damage on paper. While the final group stage saw them win the group by a clear lead, their performances weren't exactly vintage which featured a 1-0 win over Cameroon, a dismal draw with Bulgaria and finally a thrilling 3-2 victory over South Korea. The rest of the group would be tight as both Cameroon and Bulgaria battled it out over who would finish in second place which saw Cameroon, the favourite team of 1990, would be the team that would end up joining the Germans in the second round.
Bulgaria would have a strange World Cup for despite not losing a single game, they would also fail to win a single game too by drawing all their Group games and as of a result, ended up being the only team at the 1994 World Cup to go out undefeated, something that not many thought was something to brag about and would make a frustrating early exit home.
Germany vs South Korea at Argentina '94
South Korea were a flop and yet despite coming back from 3-0 down in their final group game with Germany, the Koreans couldn't muster a comeback that might've helped them find a way into the next round [12]. The main question though that many asked was would this German team click into gear and go all the way to win that long awaited third World Cup...?
Final results of Group F of the 1994 World Cup
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Group G saw Italy in perhaps the best group they could've asked for as they would end up winning all their group games which was something that wasn't much of a surprise to many. Speaking of Italy, it was here that one certain player, Baggio, would get noticed for he scored four of Italy's seven goals in the group stage and some thought that maybe he might be the key to help with Italy's chances to get their hands on the World Cup after all this time.
Also joining them into the next round would be Australia who despite some touch and go performances and lack of goals, had done more than enough than what was needed to help them join the Italians in the second round and maybe, just maybe, end their last 16 curse and try and go further. There was also the appearance of both Ivory Coast and Saudi Arabia...both of whom the less said the better.
Italy celebrate after winning their final group game
In some ways, a group that surprised nobody with it's final outcome but some felt that one of these teams might be the ones to look out for. Until then, they would have to both navigate through the second round...
Final results of Group G at the 1994 World Cup
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The final group would feature Brazil, the team that many
always expect to win and the one that the vast majority of the Argentine public did
not want to see do well. Brazil would end up winning all their group games, however it was the rise of Morocco that stunned many. Many had the Irish going through, however both would end up on level points with the African side being the one to go through on slim goal difference.
It was a shock for the Irish who thought that they had done enough to get through, alas it was not meant to be and they would end their Argentinian adventure before it had even started. If they thought it was bad, things were worse for Iraq who had absolutely no luck as they ended up rock bottom with no points and joined a rather unfortunate club of not getting a single point at a World Cup.
Joy after their victory over Morocco that saw Brazil move into the next round
With that, the group stage was down and the final 16 teams left were ready to try and see who would be able to go all the way. The difficulty was that there were many good teams this year that looked like they could be World champions by the end of it. Who would it be?
Final results of Group H at the 1994 World Cup
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- [1] As mentioned already, soccer is bigger by this point in the USA than in OTL.
- [2] Since the USA as we know hosted it in 1986 ITTL, no need for them to host it in 1994 like in OTL, however Morocco try and fail to win the hosting rights for 1994.
- [3] Argentina was undergoing a boom time during that time so things are about the same as OTL.
- [4] As in OTL.
- [5] As what happened in OTL.
- [6] Maradona doesn't have his drug bust here as the pressure of hosting the World Cup make him more focused, plus this does butterfly Argentina's near disastrous qualifying campaign.
- [7] We all know what happened there...
- [8] Scotland do better in TTL's Euro '92.
- [9] Columbia still has a bad time in 1994, however one bit of good news here is that one certain player doesn't lose his life afterwards...
- [10] Yugoslavia is in a better place here and because of this would win Euro '92 here.
- [11] ITTL at least.
- [12] Games goes about the same as OTL encounter.
At last, here is the update for Argentina 1994! First of, I want to thank @Ruperto Pesto for helping me out with the map you see there as well as the choice of venues to be used at this World Cup, thank you so much mate! Anyway as usual, here are the upcoming games:
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Argentina vs Netherlands
Scotland vs England
Yugoslavia vs Cameroon
Brazil vs Australia
Spain vs United States
Uruguay vs Nigeria
Germany vs Wales
Italy vs Morocco
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So who will go through and for what reason? Look out for the next update in which we might be in for some shock results...until then, stay tuned! 
