1994 World Cup Star : Romario

1994 World Cup Star : Romario 

                                                                                                                                        

“Romario was sent to us by the good Lord.” The comment made by team coach Carlos Alberto Parreira expresses the esteem that the striker enjoys in his home country.

Anyone wanting to explain Brazil’s fourth World Cup triumph at the FIFA World Cup 1994 ™ in the USA almost automatically mentions the name Romario. A kind of Romario mania broke out that year in the South American country. Brazil’s win in the final against Italy in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena was  the hour of glory for Romário de Souza Faria Filho, otherwise known as Romário. Though a small fellow – he is affectionately nicknamed  “Baixinho” (Little ‘un), his performances stood out. At the 15th World Cup in the United States, the forward scored in every group match. In the semifinal against Sweden he alone was the deciding factor.

Though Romario remained goal-less during the 120 minutes of the 1994 World Cup final in USA, he was one of the scorers in Brazil’s 3-2 penalty shoot win against Italy. Kunz/Augenklick

The “grandson” of the great Pele became the new wonder striker. Romario played in all seven World Cup games and thanked his coach Parreira by scoring five goals, setting up three goals and converting a spot kick in the penalty shoot-out at the end of the final. With the scores still level 0-0 after 120 minutes of play, it was all down to penalties to decide the outcome. Whilst other stars like the Italians Roberto Baggio and Franco Baresi failed, Romario – along with Branco and Carlos Dunga – kept his nerves at bay and contributed a penalty to make the final score 3-2. Brazil had therefore added a fourth title to the ones already won in 1958, 1962 and 1970. After a long 24 year break, the “Selecao” were finally there where Brazilians perpetually wanted to see them: at the top. Brazil shed tears of joy. But the win was intermingled with sadness during the victory ceremony. It was something the Brazilians fully intended. Romario and his team-mates suddenly unfurled a second cloth banner alongside their national flag. On it was written, “Senna, we put the foot down together. The fourth title is ours.” In the hour of their fourth World Cup triumph, the professional footballers had remembered their countryman Ayrton Senna. One of the greatest Formula 1 drivers of all time, Senna was killed in an accident prior to the start of the World Cup. The world went crazy about Romario, the magical Brazilian team’s cold-blooded executioner. His one-twos with Bebeto were brilliant. Romario’s assured skills on the ball seldom gave his opponents a look-in. His dribbling and shooting posed big problems for defenders and goalkeepers. His inventiveness and accuracy made him an exceptional footballer. And Parreira only decided to include the striker just before the World Cup. Romario was also voted Player of the Year in 1994. It was a further highlight in his fairy-tale career. The roots of Romário de Souza Faria Filho lie in Rio de Janeiro’s Favelas where he first saw the light of day on 26 January 1966. He only weighed 1.8 kilogramme and suffered breathing difficulties.

Romario, the 1994 World Cup’s biggest star, with the trophy after Brazil’s fourth World Cup title. The South Americans overcame Italy in the final after a penalty shoot out. GES/Augenklick

It isn’t a nice place, the Favela Jacarezinho. Poverty is at home there. But thanks to his ability to do more with the ball than others, Romario succeeded in escaping from the slums and was therefore further proof that football functions as a social ladder in many countries.
“Early on when I was as a junior, I always wanted to play up front and score goals,” he explained when talking about his beginnings. His father Edvair Faria de Souza was also the coach of his club’s junior teams and  nurtured the development of his talented son, who scored goals non-stop for the Olario Atlético club in Rio de Janeiro. A friend of his father’s arranged for him to be transferred to the first division club, Vasco da Gama, where he continued his development in the junior teams. On 6 February 1985, he made his debut as a 19-year-old in his club’s league team. Two years later on 23 May 1987 he made his international debut against Ireland.
In 1988 the little live wire was top scorer with seven goals at the Olympic football tournament in South Korea when winning a silver medal with Brazil. Now Romario dribbled his way round Europe and South America whilst playing for PSV Eindhoven and FC Barcelona, Flamengo Rio, Vasco da Gama and Fluiminense Rio. He took part in the FIFA World Cup in Italy in 1990 but was only on the pitch for 65 minutes after being suspended for the first game and because of an injury picked up just before the start of the tournament.
Romario didn’t exactly make life easy for his coaches. He sometimes skived training sessions and he sometimes he extended his holiday without permission. He didn’t pass the fitness test before the 1998 World Cup. After a two year absence, he was again called up to the national team but coach Felipe Luiz Scolari didn’t consider him for FIFA World Cup 2002 ™ in Japan and South Korea in spite of the fans’ widespread protests.
The gifted player was increasingly becoming the subject of negative media headlines. His name was connected drug misuse, corruption and tax evasion. He suffered a nervous breakdown in training. In August 2004, the 38-year-old was held in custody for a short time as both his former wives and their five children sued him for unpaid maintenance.
Romario had the aura of a moody diva. His many fans in Brazil called him “Brazil’s Maradona”. After scoring 71 goals in 88 internationals, only Pele, who scored 95, lies ahead of him in the Brazilian goal-scoring records. Other statisticians have determined his record to be 56 goals in 74 internationals. The difference can be explained by the fact that the Brazilians like to include friendly matches against club teams as internationals. Additionally, being called up for the squad is also considered to be an “international”, even if a player didn’t turn out for the team.
Romario’s career has been gradually drawing to a close since summer 2004. But like other footballers before him, Romario is finding it difficult to step out of the limelight. Just how much the striker was esteemed was shown by the fact that national coach Alberto Parreira selected him to play once again in an international for his very last farewell on 27 April 2005. Four year after wearing the canary yellow jersey against Uruguay, Romario played for 39 minutes during the 2-0 win against Guatemala. The 39-year-old scored with a header in the 17th minute.
When the national anthem was played, he sobbed uncontrollably. The match became a party in his honour. 36,000 fans cheered his retirement from the football stage. “Romario, the ball Pope” was written on one of the fan’s banners. When celebrating his goal, Romario revealed a message on his vest: “My daughter is a princess.” Little Ivy was born one month previously with Down Syndrome. 
He will miss the jubilation after scoring, said the man who became a world star at the FIFA World Cup 1994 ™. That the Brazilian will miss the moments of pure joy, is no real surprise. He scored over 700 goals in his career which spanned over 1000 games. Other statisticians have even counted 900 goals.