He walked into our hotel – no posing like celebrities do, no security around him, no fuss – and you would have thought he was just a regular guy. We played as a team, played for each other. 3 DF Juan Ramirez Perales 08 Mar 1969 U.N.A.M. I’m very proud that we won the World Cup for Senna. As a squad and an XI, we were the best national team at that World Cup. But when you have Taffarel in goal it’s like going for a kickaround on the beach,” responded ‘Shortie’ with a cheeky wink. I didn’t know if I would save it or he would miss, but I just knew that Baggio would kick the last ball at that World Cup. Ayrton Senna was an idol for everyone in Brazil. Romario walked into the squad, with that confidence and upbeat nature of his, started the game and was crucial to us getting to the World Cup. It was a huge responsibility for the takers. And the Final? Me, every other player and the whole of Brazil! WC 1994 MENU; USA '94 story; Match schedule; Squads; Statistics; Picture gallery; Qualifying rounds Mexico's World Cup squad 1994. The initial team sheet did not include the forward because of the episode, though he did play as Brazil were thrashed 3-0, with Ronaldo some way from his brilliant best. They had great partnership. I always try to delete the Final from my memory, but that semi-final is something I remember very fondly. Ronaldo was at that World Cup as a 17-year-old. Brazil not only have to win, but we have to put on a show. ‘I dare to say that team of 2002 was better than all the others Brazil sent to a World Cup, except for the 1970 team. Brazil lost to a Zinedine Zidane-inspired France in the quarter-finals, though Ronaldo’s goalscoring record has remained until this year. We played them twice – drew one, won 1-0 in the other. Main article: 1994 FIFA World Cup Group B. Mario Balotelli and Daniel Sturridge are on the lookout while Mario Mandzukic waits for a... 'We were nearly done. Senna was a really cool, one-of-a-kind guy. We could stop anyone and we could score at any time, against any team. Take your favorite fandoms with you and never miss a beat. You look back at all the great players we had during that time who hadn’t won it – that shows how difficult it is. Romario was an individual whereas Bebeto liked to link up with others. We played much better than Argentina, but we lost. It’s always like that in football – one player is sad and the other happy. The spot-kick for which the 54-year-old is most esteemed for saving, however, came in front of 94,000-plus at the Rose Bowl. In ’95 he was already totally different – stronger, better prepared, more confident and a better finisher. We had the best defence and the best attack at that World Cup. He wasn’t prepared, he wasn’t mature enough as a player. (laughs) Cafu is very generous. Much less in 1998, although we did pretty well before the final. This will allow you to make the most of your account with personalization. A #WorldCup Final goes to penalties. It was an incredible sensation. Bebeto was from the one before – the one with Dunga, Jorginho. Superb. Do you think your reputation was in the Italian players’ heads? Taffarel: We were highly criticised at the start. You’ll also get exclusive access to FIFA games, contests and prizes. But we had arguments in training, other problems and unfortunately, instead of playing as a team, each player was playing for himself. In 2002, Ronaldo was able to get redemption, winning the Golden Boot and scoring twice in Brazil’s 2-0 win over Germany in the final. CLUB WC 1 GK Jorge Campos 15 Oct 1966 U.N.A.M. He had some really inspiring words for us. The 2002 tournament was Ronaldo’s third World Cup, though it was the first time he was able to show his best form in a final. What did you think of that partnership? ‘I can now say that scoring goals is easier than editing a magazine!'. Every player who was there laments ’90 a lot. Thank God Parreira ended up calling him up at the last minute. The 2002 team earned Brazil credibility, especially after our win over Belgium in the round of sixteen.’, Goodbye: Ronaldo's final World Cup game in 2006, Dejection: The Brazilian looks devastated in 1998. (laughs) I don’t think so. Losing is part of football, but for a national team like Brazil, where football is such a huge part of life, to lose 3-0 to France in a World Cup Final isn’t right. Surprise! There was a fight for places in the squad, then a fight for starting places. Squad member: Ronaldo (number 20) celebrates on the sidelines after Romario scores in 1994, In his prime: A jubilant Ronaldo celebrates scoring Brazil's first against Holland in the 1998 semi-final, Snapshot: Ronaldo slots the ball past Germany goalkeeper Oliver Kahn in the 2002 final. In the final tournament, Brazil was drawn into group B with Cameroon, Sweden, and Russia. Romario and Bebeto had very different personalities and very different playing styles. Ronaldo has guest-edited the latest FourFourTwo, ‘But we deserved it! D.O.B. It wasn’t easy to walk from the centre-circle, in a packed-out stadium, in that atmosphere, knowing millions and millions of people are watching you on television, to the area. Can you tell us about the Seleção’s dinner with Ayrton Senna in Paris after the friendly against Paris Saint-Germain? As a squad and an XI, we were the best national team at that World Cup. There wasn’t one easy game. If Baggio had scored, Bebeto still had a penalty to win it for us. You really gained a reputation as a penalty-saving specialist during the 1991/92 Serie A, stopping four of the eight spot-kicks you faced, including ones from Marco van Basten, Roberto Mancini and Rudi Voller. I’ll be honest: I didn’t do much at that World Cup because that partnership, with the fullbacks and Dunga, Mauro Silva, Mazinho, Zinho, didn’t enable teams shots. (laughs) It was obvious that we needed a player with that kind of personality, a killer in front of goal, and a player who took responsibility and delivered when it mattered. And he wrote about his role in an editor’s letter at the front of the special edition. Holland, who always deserve more than they win in World Cups. The 2002 tournament was Ronaldo’s third World Cup, though it was the first time he was able to show his best form in a final. We had so many great players – even on the bench. There was friction between Bebeto and Romario at the time… We were strong in all positions. The comments below have not been moderated. Suddenly they were thrown in the Seleção together and, at that tournament, they simply had to understand each other – quickly. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. But it was great for the squad to have Ronaldinho there in ’94 – he brought us a lot of happiness. But I don’t want to take anything away from France. Ronaldinho’s evolution after that was incredible. I couldn’t tell you a single thing about the game against Paris Saint-Germain; the only thing I remember is meeting Ayrton Senna! Look at the Seleção of ’82 – it was full of incredible players, but sometimes it’s insufficient to win. Brazil struggles ended at the 1994 tournament in the United States, where a solid side headed by Romário, Bebeto, Dunga, Cláudo Taffarel and Jorginho won the World Cup for a then-record fourth time. I’d left Reggiana and I went to the World Cup without a club. In part two of our interview with the Brazil great, he tells FIFA.com about that USA 1994 conquest, willing Carlos Alberto Parreira to give in and recall Romario, what went wrong at Italy 1990 and France 1998, a 17-year-old Ronaldo and being a penalty-saving specialist. It was a really special moment. Romario produced a great performance and it was one of the Seleção’s best performances during my career. What was he like back then? He was a huge patriot, a great sportsman and a great person. It was tragic. Brazil were highly criticised after Italy 1990, but you won your first three matches and dominated Argentina in the Round of 16. We don’t like to use the Ronaldo excuse, but that affected our team massively. After we arrived in Brazil, the celebrations went on for two more days. It was a really good game to watch, but very tough for us to win. It is an experience I will always treasure. Though many people believe the side that lost in the 1998 World Cup final against France was one of Brazil’s best teams ever, the striker disagrees. Miroslav Klose equaled the Brazilian’s tally of 15 during Germany’s group matches, and could surpass the former Real Madrid star with Germany into the quarter-finals after beating Algeria in extra-time on Monday. When I was preparing to save Baggio’s penalty, I got this feeling in my head that the World Cup was ending right there. He was always very well positioned, fast. ‘It wasn’t as brilliant in 1994. National Football Teams without an confederation, 2020 League of Ireland Premier Division table, https://football.fandom.com/wiki/Brazil_Squad,_World_Cup,_1994?oldid=195054. There was more focus on playing spectacular football than there was winning and it cost us. If Nicolas Otamendi's debut this week was a nightmare, were these even worse?