- 3 months ago
Category
đŸ¥‡
SportsTranscript
00:00The team news, Bulgaria unchanged, but the big issue here today is that 11 players, 6 of those Bulgarians and 5 on the Italian side,
00:08start this match with a yellow card against them in this second phase of the competition.
00:13So any one of 11 players could be booked today and then miss either the final or the third place match.
00:21Now, as Hazel was saying, Italy have made a couple of changes today, and one of them is up front.
00:26But Kaziragi has come in as the partner for Roberto Baggio, and so Massaro and Signori will start on the bench.
00:35Number 8, Roberto Mussi will play it right back, as she said, because Tassotti has got that swinging ban from FIFA.
00:43They didn't just throw the book at him, they hit him over the head with it, really.
00:46And Roberto Baggio, on whom so much depends, master of the late goal in recent matches, and we'll see if he can do that again today.
00:55In Italy, they used to call late goals Zona Cesarini, after a player of the 30s who always scored late in matches.
01:02And Saki, the Italian coach, said yesterday they're going to start calling them Zona Baggio very soon.
01:09Bulgaria, white shirts and green shorts playing from left to right.
01:13Italy, the Azzurri in blue.
01:15An offside already against Stoichkov.
01:18The man, the Spaniards, nicknamed El Pistolero, the gunslinger.
01:28Italy, favourites really to fire the shots today.
01:31Number 3, Benarivo, the left back.
01:33Now Albertini.
01:40Dino Baggio, again with the familiar wristband.
01:43Here's Benarivo, free kick given.
01:46The referee is Quino of France, a good official.
01:49And it was Hukcef who fouled.
01:51And this is the position in this stadium from which Italy scored against Norway.
01:58Swung the free kick in and Dino Baggio scored with a diving header.
02:04Now Maldini's gone forward as well here.
02:07With his arms up there.
02:09Roberto Baggio, looks as though he's going to take it.
02:22Spray it at Kiriakov, in fact.
02:25This is Donadoni.
02:29Ooh, Kassaragi was in there.
02:32Number 18.
02:35And Bogheri with Kostadinov.
02:39Italy with Maldini.
02:41Donadoni.
02:52That's Moussi with Stoichkov and it's a free kick to Italy.
02:55Trevor Brooking.
02:57I think the midfield area is going to be extremely important.
03:00Balakov, the number 20, Bulgaria, I like in particular, and Lechkov.
03:04And Syrikov, the number 10.
03:06And those three, I think, will be far more closely marked by the Italian midfield than the Germans.
03:12It was a foul by Jankov on Roberto Baggio.
03:15Free kick quickly taken and little Kiriakov heads it back.
03:18To the far side of the penalty area, Lechkov is the player on the ball.
03:29They look as though they're a bit confused with each other, but it could just be a ploy.
03:32Oh, and down went Stoichkov.
03:37Nothing doing.
03:38This is Kostadinov.
03:39To meet Stoichkov.
03:46And here's Dino Baggio.
03:49To Kazuragi.
03:50So not much between them in the first 20 minutes.
04:04But Roberto Baggio now.
04:07Roberto Baggio.
04:08Oh, look at that.
04:11Just look at that.
04:15A goal to grace a World Cup semi-final.
04:20From the man voted the best player in the world.
04:24And the stadium in New Jersey erupts.
04:32Roberto Baggio showing what he's all about here.
04:36Marvellous skill.
04:38And curl beyond Mikhailov.
04:40Trevor Brooking.
04:42Well, he's gone round the Jankov.
04:43Then he goes round the sweeper, Hukchev.
04:45And look, he just passes it into the goal.
04:47It's not what you would call a shot.
04:49He's looked up.
04:50And also, Ivanov is standing in front of Mikhailov.
04:53I'm not sure he wouldn't have helped with his sighting of it.
04:56But he just passed it into the corner of the goal.
04:58And, well, just something out of a throw-in past two defenders.
05:02Magnificent class finishing.
05:06Well, it's a goal in keeping with this World Cup.
05:08But so would it be if Bulgaria retaliates straight away.
05:11It's Kostadinov.
05:13But it's not.
05:14It's Donadoni.
05:15And there's a sense of great jubilation in the ground.
05:18People are still celebrating the goal.
05:20Here's Benarivo again.
05:24I have to ask you, Terry Venerables, about that goal.
05:27Absolutely superb.
05:28I mean, he's lost his mark.
05:29And his marker's having trouble keeping up with Roberto Baggio.
05:33And, of course, then he comes up to the second defender.
05:36Defender turns his back, actually.
05:38He just goes to shoot and he kids him.
05:39Goes on.
05:41Exceptional goal.
05:41Just the sort of goal we would expect from him.
05:47He scored two important ones in earlier games.
05:50That's the best individual goal we've seen from him.
05:53I remember it reminds me of the one he got in Rome in the last World Cup against, I think it was Czechoslovakia.
05:59But today it's against Bulgaria and Italy in the semi-final, courtesy of their star performer.
06:05Benutchev, the sweeper, who was the second man that Baggio went past.
06:09That's three times in the last five minutes he's done that.
06:11This is Benarivo.
06:12Roberto Baggio.
06:14Albertini to his right.
06:16Oh, he's hit the post!
06:18So close, Italy, to going two-up.
06:24And here they come again.
06:25Donadoni.
06:27Roberto Baggio.
06:33Donadoni.
06:36Albertini.
06:38Oh, he saw where Mikhailov was.
06:41Great effort.
06:41Great vision by Albertini.
06:43But Mikhailov just got there, Trevor.
06:46He did very well, in fact, because Baggio holds it up.
06:50Again, plays it square.
06:52That one hits the post.
06:53And then when it came back in, it was the same man who chipped it.
06:56And Mikhailov did very well.
06:57And it clinging on there.
06:58They can't afford to go two down.
07:01Shapes to shoot it.
07:02And then just dicks it.
07:03But Mikhailov does very well.
07:05Now, Dini, Dino Baggio waiting in the middle for the cross.
07:10This is Benarivo.
07:15And Albertini and everything at the moment.
07:17And Roberto Baggio's for a game!
07:19Yes!
07:21Incredible!
07:26Just look at this.
07:28Italy have produced ten minutes of fantasy football.
07:39And Baggio has scored twice.
07:44Defence pushes out.
07:46Baggio turns there, throws off a marker.
07:50And again, the finish is clinical.
07:51Oh, it's great.
07:54Look at Ivanov, though, in the middle.
07:55They stand and then they react once he's gone clear.
07:58And, I mean, he just turns and hits it into the far corner.
08:01And Albertini, who did the original chip, plays it through.
08:05They're very static, looking for the offside.
08:07No way was it offside.
08:09And, I mean, they've just destroyed them in a few minutes.
08:12And that so vital second goal has gone in.
08:14Can Bulgaria lift themselves?
08:17Well, can they after that?
08:18Baggio doing very much what Paolo Rossi did in 82.
08:22Taking over the tournament at a crucial stage with vital goals.
08:25Here's Dino Baggio.
08:30Well, they'll soon be serving the Fettuccine if it goes on like this.
08:33Look at Saki.
08:35He knows now he's got a great chance of getting into the final of the World Cup.
08:39And they got the free kick anyway.
08:40But it was again Albertini, wasn't it?
08:42Winning possession and then running at the Bulgarian defence
08:46who put themselves in trouble yet again.
08:47This is Ben Erivo.
08:51Now it's Donadoni.
08:53Oh, look at that from Donadoni.
08:55Down this left-hand side, Terry Venables.
08:57Ben Erivo and Donadoni are having a lot of joy.
09:00Yeah, they certainly are.
09:01They get good in a change of movement.
09:03Donadoni sometimes, when it's in the back four,
09:05goes into the left-back position,
09:06taking his marker with him.
09:08And then Ben Erivo goes in advance with him.
09:10They don't know what to do with him.
09:11I was just laughing just now.
09:12I don't think I've seen Saki smile all this trip, Trevor.
09:15And I think that it must have been wind.
09:19I'll leave that one to you, I think.
09:20But I mean, certainly Donadoni with his natural right foot.
09:23The space they've given him is unbelievable.
09:26And I must say, at the moment,
09:28Bulgaria look more likely to concede in a third
09:30than actually getting the goal back.
09:32But you feel that they do need before half-time.
09:35At the moment, they're in disarray.
09:37The concentration's gone.
09:38And almost the spirit at the moment.
09:41Look at that ball.
09:42I mean, they're just losing out on the 50-50 tackles all the time.
09:45That was Moussi from right-back for Italy.
09:49But Bulgaria do get possession now.
09:51It's Balikov and the left-back Svetanov here.
09:55Stoichkov is in an offside position at the moment.
09:58And he's having a sort of walk back.
10:00But Italy don't mind about that.
10:02They've got Roberto Baggio on the ball again.
10:06Referee's making sure that there's only a two-man wall.
10:23And Stoichkov...
10:25Oh.
10:27The Italian goalkeeper did rather better than Hildner anyway.
10:31And attention torn between that and the corner for Bulgaria,
10:34which is being taken at the other end,
10:36where Sirikov waits on the penalty spot.
10:43And fails to get his header in because Maldini was there.
10:49Play on, says the referee.
10:50Now, Baggio has wandered back onto the pitch.
10:53This is Kiriakov.
10:55Oh, and a chance on the far post for Sirikov there.
10:57And the follow-up shot is from Barakov.
11:00And while all that was going on,
11:02I think, Trevor, the Italian's concentration was distracted.
11:05Baggio had got a smack in the mouth and came to the line.
11:08And Bulgaria did quite well in there.
11:10Well, it's the best chance I've had up to now.
11:13It's on his right foot.
11:14Valakov favours the left.
11:15But he can use both.
11:16But he just dragged it.
11:17And at this stage, it's a sort of chance.
11:20You think, well, he's got to get it on top.
11:21There's still time for that to change.
11:23Because Italy have a corner.
11:25Here comes Benarivo into the box.
11:27He's had a good first half at number three.
11:29Dino Baggio always good in the air.
11:33And Donadoni to take.
11:40Oh, Maldini came in.
11:42That must have been mighty close.
11:47Well, the goalkeeper wouldn't have got near it.
11:49And there was three of them arguing amongst themselves
11:51who's going to head this towards goal.
11:52I mean, completely unchallenged.
11:55Look at the three clustered together.
11:57No one going up with them.
11:58And it was the last man, Maldini.
12:00No one on the far post either for the Bulgarian.
12:03So if it was on target, that would have been three.
12:06Look at that out close.
12:07And again.
12:16Sirikov.
12:19It's a good...
12:20Oh, it's a brilliant run by Sirikov.
12:22And Kostadinov surely, but penalty.
12:25Sirikov was brought down as he slid the ball across the goal.
12:30Kostakurta made a desperate lunge.
12:33And Nazko Sirikov with a magnificent run.
12:37Great skill, the way he comes through here.
12:39He looked as though he was going to set up the goal for Kostadinov.
12:43But what happens is, as he goes past Kostakurta,
12:46that leg brings him down.
12:48So what happened afterwards wasn't relevant.
12:50It's a penalty to Bulgaria.
12:52With two minutes to go in the first half.
12:56Now then.
12:57Stoichkov.
13:05Stoichkov.
13:05Five goals in the tournament so far.
13:07Can he score, put Bulgaria back in the game and become the joint high scorer in the tournament?
13:13Oh, this is some game.
13:21Oh, he rolled it in.
13:23He just rolled it in.
13:25And Christo Stoichkov scores his sixth goal of the World Cup.
13:31He is level with Sollenko.
13:32And Bulgaria, perhaps more important on the day, are back in this semi-final.
13:39Paliuka going one way and seeing the ball just glide the other.
13:45Well, it's another magnificent game suddenly, isn't it?
13:48Because Sirikov conjured the penalty out of nothing.
13:52Brought down in the end by the goalkeeper.
13:54But, and there, Stoichkov, as if it was a little Sunday morning game, strolled up, put it into the net for the penalty.
14:01And the whole half-time team talks in both dressing rooms are transformed.
14:06Suddenly from being totally outplayed for 43 minutes and their heads down.
14:11Should have been more than two down.
14:12They go in 2-1 and the hopes definitely rekindled.
14:17Yes, I'm not sure.
14:18Here they come again, Bulgaria.
14:19I'm not sure whether Kostadinov would have scored if the referee hadn't stopped the game.
14:22There was a defender making a saving challenge, so penalty was the right decision.
14:27And it was given away by Kostakurta and Stoichkov took advantage.
14:31Now then, Dino Baggio.
14:42Just tremendous accuracy of just ignoring the shootouts themselves.
14:46The actual penalties given in matches in this competition have been scored with some aplomb.
14:50Well, the number that have been converted, I can't remember myself because usually with the pressure and the situation of games,
14:59you would think, well, it would get to the players and you get one or two missed, but they've been taken superbly.
15:04Here's Lechkov for Bulgaria.
15:05To the left, Kostadinov.
15:07Oh, it came accidentally.
15:08Oh, appeals for hands.
15:09It's all happening now.
15:11That was a little ricochet there.
15:13Kostakurta finds Albertini for Italy.
15:19Baggio goes one way, Kassaragi goes the other.
15:21And the pass too wide for either of them.
15:25The Italians always look threatening, though, going forward.
15:28And the Bulgarian manager there cannot be happy with how they've tried to pick up their attacking players.
15:35I mean, they just haven't sorted it out amongst themselves.
15:37And that's something I'm sure he's going to do just about now.
15:40The most intoxicating half, perhaps, of the whole tournament.
15:45Two champagne goals from Roberto Baggio.
15:49And it all looked rather flat for Bulgaria.
15:52But then Stoichkov suddenly came to the bar and it was 2-1.
15:57And what's going to happen after this is just anybody's guess.
16:01Already, it's a semi-final to remember.
16:05Well, I think everyone out here has been in full quiet.
16:08And even when it starts a little bit cautiously, it's opened up, as we saw, after 20 minutes in this particular game.
16:14And let's see what this next 45 minutes is going to produce.
16:18Well, there might be something right away.
16:19This is Nicola Berti.
16:21It isn't a bad cross.
16:22Roberto Baggio is in there.
16:24Here's Albertini.
16:27And now it's Benarivo.
16:30Oh, and Kassaragi in a good position again.
16:34The marking wasn't very good.
16:35And he was onside.
16:37Here's Berti.
16:38Albertini.
16:48A couple of early signs there.
16:50First, Kassaragi and then Berti Baggio.
16:53They both got clear of the markers.
16:55So it doesn't look as if the team talk has done any better about who's picking up leave.
16:58And I would have thought as well with the temperature, somebody like Kassaragi or Signori will definitely get on at some stage during the second mark.
17:06Yes, the suggestion of the Italian press conference yesterday was that that was the plan.
17:11To use at least one of them.
17:14Anyway, here comes Benarivo.
17:15But that wasn't his best moment by any means.
17:20Conti gets it back from Albertini.
17:22Good play, good play, that.
17:25Berti.
17:28Conti again.
17:28Oh, he's doing awfully well there.
17:37And Baggio's waiting for the pullback.
17:38Here he is.
17:39Roberto Baggio.
17:40Oh, the strike was by Donadoni.
17:47Did very well there, Conti down the left-hand side.
17:50Pulled it back and the Bulgarians threw themselves, as you can see, in a tight corner.
17:54It doesn't look as if he's going to get Piatyankov, but he does.
17:57Squares it back and look at the Bulgarians then.
18:00Just shut down Donadoni as he comes in.
18:03I'm not too sure about the thumbs-up, I think, but this could be a difficult position for Italy
18:08because Bulgaria can at least throw the taller men forward now.
18:14Jankov is in a good position in there.
18:16In comes Ivanov.
18:17And Paliuka ran right back into his goal net there, Trevor.
18:21Ivanov has drifted up once or twice, even in general play, not just from set pieces.
18:27Trying to give that little bit of a extra height advantage.
18:30I thought it looked as if it was going to be a good cross,
18:31but it just drifted beyond the far post.
18:34Paliuka quite happy with that particular deep one
18:37and it wasn't putting the Italian defence under pressure.
18:44Saki.
18:46Tense.
18:48Expectant.
18:51Play on.
18:52Balikov.
18:53Ivanov goes far post.
18:55They've got plenty of players backing in there.
18:57Balikov decides to shoot and it takes a kind of deflection
19:01and gives Bulgaria a corner.
19:02Danger at the near post, but can Donadoni, with all his experience,
19:32play the right ball.
19:33He can.
19:34This is Signori.
19:35He's got to go alone at the moment.
19:36There's a man making a tremendous run in the centre here for Italy.
19:39And the goalkeeper's come right out.
19:42And it was Kassiraghi who made the run and Mihailov who cut him off.
19:46Did well, Mihailov.
19:47What a wonderful ball out of defence from Donadoni.
19:50As you say, great experience.
19:52Good run from Signori.
19:53Kassiraghi who made the long run through the middle
19:56and it was just denied by good goalkeeper,
19:58he'd buy Mihailov.
19:59But again, Italy got possession
20:01and that's what they've got to do as the seconds tick away.
20:04Well, the fans in this stadium and all around the world
20:12know how close Italy are now.
20:14It needs just a little bit of calm play here from Mussi.
20:17We're into the last minute of normal time
20:19and that wasn't what they really wanted,
20:22the concede possession.
20:25Penef, the manager of Bulgaria,
20:26knows that the sands of time are running out for his team now.
20:29But wait, here's Ivanov jumping in the centre-forward position.
20:33This is Jordanov who just came on a few minutes ago.
20:36Italy win it with Conte as the excitement mounts.
20:40And Italy have a throw in.
20:42They have a 2-1 lead.
20:44And they have only 30 seconds plus stoppage time to survive.
20:49Conte.
20:53Loses it.
20:54Ivanov wants it played upfield.
20:56Surikov's in a good position
20:57and they're going to get Lechkov in on the left
20:59unless Mussi's careful.
21:03They won't get a penalty.
21:05In fact, it's going to be a goal kick, I think, Trevor.
21:07Being a brave referee,
21:08he would have given that penalty.
21:11It was a good ball from Ivanov.
21:12Just got behind Mussi,
21:14who has allowed that on a few occasions.
21:16Lechkov just going in,
21:18but always dangerous to put your foot up
21:19like Mussi did.
21:22Fantastic scenes around the stadium, Terry Venables.
21:24Yes, it certainly is.
21:25Now, I must say, Ivanov,
21:26as well as Maldinus played for Italy,
21:28Ivanov has had a fantastic game.
21:30He marked Kassaragi early stages of the game
21:32and put him out.
21:33He then moved on to Roberto Baggio
21:35and was successful there.
21:37And now they need a bit of help up front.
21:39They've pushed him forward.
21:40And Italy here with Kassaragi collides with...
21:45Down on the bench, he collides with Hukchev.
21:51Down on the bench, the Italian substitutes
21:53are making gestures with their arms at the referee,
21:55saying, time is up, time is up.
21:56But it isn't yet.
21:57The referee has stoppages to take into account.
22:00The ball is with Consi if he can get it down.
22:02Signori is to his left.
22:03Benarivo is going to break outside him.
22:05And Italy have possession.
22:07Benarivo goes left still.
22:09Signori waits.
22:12And everybody waits.
22:14And nothing really happens there.
22:15Boldaria get the ball back.
22:19The second minute of time added on for stoppages.
22:22A test for Costa-Curta.
22:23And they nearly got Ivanov in.
22:26This is edge-of-the-seat stuff, Trevor Brooking.
22:29There's a great long ball.
22:31And I think a forward might have been over the chest.
22:33That one down.
22:34Look, it just gets behind Costa-Curta.
22:36He just then went beyond the ball.
22:39Had to check.
22:40And it cleared him.
22:41And there was sighs of relief around the stadium.
22:47Penev looks more relaxed than Saki, doesn't he, at this stage?
22:50Well, he's not got much to lose now, has he?
22:53Saki's got so much to gain and everything to lose.
22:57Look at him.
23:02Hope Terry's watching this stress factor on the managers here.
23:05This isn't over.
23:07Number 14.
23:08Buono Gwencev lifts it up for Lexkov.
23:11It's going to run on, though.
23:12It's going to run on.
23:12Well, Italy are on the verge, as Saki knows, of the World Cup final.
23:28All his planning, all his preparation,
23:32all his critics, in a sense, here, could be put in their place.
23:37Penev has already done well enough.
23:39He's surprised everybody with Bulgaria, whatever happens.
23:48And there it is!
23:50Italy, one of the most famous football-playing nations in the world,
23:55are through.
23:58Or are they?
24:00The referee blew.
24:02They raised their arms.
24:05And it wasn't the final whistle.
24:08They're playing on.
24:09It's number 15, Conte, looking for Signore.
24:15And now he blows.
24:17And now they can celebrate.
24:19Saki has led Italy through to the World Cup final for their fifth time.
24:26And this great football-playing nation is jubilant.
24:29Amazing scenes in the Giants' stadium as he just recovers his composure to congratulate Penev.
24:37Bulgaria did stoutly well.
24:40But Italy, courtesy, really, of two moments of sheer genius from Roberto Baggio in the 21st and 25th minutes,
24:48have left Ivanov reflective and resigned.
24:52Out come the flags and what celebrations there'll be in the Italian quarters of New York tonight and indeed all over the world.
25:03Floored, really, in the semi-final four years ago.
25:07Foiled then on penalties.
25:09Today, Baggio in tears.
25:11Today, they are successful.
25:12And they go through to Sunday's final in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena to meet either Brazil or Sweden amid scenes here in New Jersey of great emotion and celebration.
25:25The Italians started the tournament slowly, but thanks to Roberto Baggio, they have increased the pace.
25:34And just when it mattered, he provided that high-quality skill which distinguishes those who succeed from those who only nearly succeed.
25:45A great occasion in New Jersey.
25:48And the semi-final of the World Cup ends here with a score of Italy 2, Bulgaria 1.
25:55A great day.
Recommended
14:56
0:17
3:28
1:53:53
1:50:32
1:50:37
5:24
9:33
13:10
9:54
1:03
11:13
7:58
1:37
7:40
4:19
5:38
1:04
0:44
11:07
3:22
14:28
8:55
0:58