Silver Road and Golden Stripes, Yet Another Football TL

[Wings]

Group B was arguably the hardest group of the two, consisting of the four best European teams at the time, minus maybe Denmark or England. It would also be a peculiar group, far from the large scorlines seen in Group A, here the group winner would qualify with only five goals scored. Results were tight between teams, but one main thing was the big disappointment with Germany's performance, who only grabbed one win against Italy, and lost all their away games. The Dutch didn't fare better, but still managed to hold three draws away, but lost twice at home. Italy were more solid, but their loss to Germany made the dream of reaching the final impossible. Those who would reach it would be France, who only totaled one win at home, but won all their away games, all of them on a 1-0 margin. Headed into the final against Colombia, it was hard to tell who really was the favourite between the two squads.

France's Jean-Pierre Papin celebrates as he scores the only goal of the confrontation between France and the Netherlands in Rotterdam during Week 5 of the Group Stage.

 

[Kurt_Steiner]

Germany, what a dissapointment.

 

[Wings]

Germany, what a dissapointment.

Yeah they weren't on the level many expected them to be.

 

[Wings]

Many didn't know what to expect from this edition of the Nations League final. One one hand the favorites were still France, coming out of a good season and defeating two of the big favorites to make it there. But Colombia showed in the group stages that they were far from weak. In the end, while the scoreline was close, the game in itself wasn't. During all of the first half, Colombia only managed to take one shot at France, who opened the scoreline after only four minutes, after Deschamps delivered Papin with a great pass. Papin then made it two by taking advantage of a missed shot by Cantona and a missplay by the Colombian defense. From then on, France controlled the game, and despite Cantona, Pain and Perez's attempts, failed to make it 3 or 4-0 thanks to a solid performance from Colombian goalkeeper Oscar Cordoba. Colombia would timidly react in the second half, but France made sure they stayed in control. Still, a corner kick would bring hope to Colombia as Rincon delivered the ball to Gaviria who sent in a beautiful header to make it 2-1, but their attempts were in vain, as France struck a fifth silver star when the world least expected it, equaling Germany.

Spoiler

Colombia's Antony de Avila in action against France

France's Eric Cantona struggles for control of the ball with a Colombian defender during the second half

France's young goalkeeper Barthez lifts the trophy as Francw win their fifth title in Quito.

 

[Wings]

COLOMBIA 1 FRANCE 2

Winners: France - 5th title
Top Scorers: Marco van Basten (NED) & Jean-Pierre Papin (FRA) - 6 goals

1993-94 Participants:
Europe: Italy (38), Norway (2), Denmark (10), England (39), Germany (39), France (24), Russia (1), Ireland (6), Switzerland (2), Sweden (24), Netherlands (22), Spain (37)
South America: Brazil (39), Argentina (38), Uruguay (26)
North America: Mexico (15)

Final Location: Rose Bowl, Pasadena
Bracket Order and Seeding
Denmark v Argentina (B)
Norway v Uruguay (A)
Italy v Switzerland (B)
England v Netherlands (B)
Brazil v Sweden (B)
Germany v Spain (A)
Russia v Ireland (A)
France v Mexico (A)

 

[Wings]

Scotland v Morocco 2-0 / 1-1
Romania v Poland 3-1 / 0-1
Bolivia v Ivory Coast 2-1 / 1-3 aet
Portugal v Uzbekistan 2-1 / 2-2
Chile v Ecuador 1-2 / 1-2
Belgium v Austria 9-0 / 3-1
Bulgaria v Zambia 4-1 / 1-1
Wales v Egypt 4-0 / 2-1
Greece v Cameroon 1-0 / 1-3
Ireland v South Korea 1-0 / 1-1
Nigeria v Japan 2-1 / 0-2
Uruguay v Iraq 3-0 / 1-1
Russia v Hungary 3-0 / 3-3
Australia v Saudi Arabia 3-1 / 1-1
Paraguay v Tunisia 3-1 / 3-1
Czechoslovakia v Northern Ireland 0-1 / 1-2

Scotland v Romania 3-2 / 0-2
Ivory Coast v Portugal 2-0 / 2-1
Ecuador v Belgium 1-1 / 1-2 aet
Bulgaria v Wales 2-2 / 2-1
Cameroon v Ireland 2-2 / 0-0
Japan v Uruguay 2-1 / 1-3
Russia v Australia 1-3 / 2-3
Paraguay v Northern Ireland 1-0 / 1-3

Romania v Ivory Coast 4-0 / 0-0
Belgium v Bulgaria 3-2 / 1-1
Ireland v Uruguay 6-1 / 0-0
Australia v Northern Ireland 3-0 / 0-0

Romania v Belgium 1-1 / 0-2
Ireland v Australia 3-0 / 2-2

Belgium v Ireland 1-0 / 0-2
Winners: Republic of Ireland - 1st title

1993-94 Participants:
Europe: Czechoslovakia (5), Romania (16), Portugal (15), Poland (10), Belgium (11), Scotland (15), Wales (20), Austria (16), Greece (22), Bulgaria (23), Northern Ireland (23), Hungary (17)
South America: Colombia (11), Ecuador (6)
North America: United States (5), Costa Rica (5), Honduras (10), Canada (7)
Africa: Nigeria (14), Cameroon (17), Egypt (23), Zambia (9), Algeria (17), Ivory Coast (12), Morocco (18), Tunisia (14), Ghana (15), Zimbabwe (1)
Asia: South Korea (20), Japan (2), Saudi Arabia (5), PR China (7)

Bracket Order
Portugal v Honduras
Romania v Northern Ireland
Poland v Canada
Belgium v Saudi Arabia
Colombia v South Korea
Morocco v Hungary
Czechoslovakia v Ghana
Wales v Greece
Algeria v Ecuador
Zambia v Japan
Ivory Coast v Bulgaria
Cameroon v Costa Rica
United States v Tunisia
Nigeria v PR China
Egypt v Zimbabwe
Scotland v Austria

 

[Kurt_Steiner]

Spain needs and deserves some years in the FIFA Cup...

 

[Wings]

The Round of 16 of this edition would only prove fatal to three first seed teams, however these would be three of the favourites to win the tournament. Italy were the first to drop, drawing at home before losing to Switzerland, who advanced to the last 8 for the first time. England joined them not so long after, having been beaten twice by the Dutch. Finally, Germany were eliminated once more, this time by Spain on away goals, despite drawing 2-2 in Spain, as the Rioja held a 3-3 draw in Germany.
Norway would also make history by advancing to the final eight for the first time, eliminating Uruguay, while their neighbours Argentina would likewise exit the tournament after being beaten by Denmark once again. Brazil would save the South American teams though, eliminating Sweden, while France barely squeezed past Mexico, needing to go to overtime to beat the Mexicans. Finally, Russia made it to the Top 8 for the first time as well, eliminating Ireland on away goals.

Switzerland celebrate beating Italy in Zurich and their qualification for the final 8.

Russia's Oleg Salenko in action against Ireland

Group A
Norway (Oslo x2, Bergen)
Spain (Madrid Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid Vicente Calderon, Valencia)
Russia (Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Kazan)
France (Paris, Nantes, Bordeaux)

Group B
Denmark (Copenhagen x2, Odense)
Switzerland (Zurich, Basel, Berne)
Netherlands (Rotterdam, Amsterdam, Eindhoven)
Brazil (Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Fortaleza)

 

[Wings]

This all European group was closer than expected, with the top three teams keeping themselves within three points of each other in the final standings. Unsurprisingly, Russia were the punching ball of the group, losing all away games, including a nightmarish 8-0 defeat against France. They would manage to do better at home, losing to Spain, but drawing to Norway and beating an already qualified France on the final day. France would clear both the Spanish and Norwegian obstacles, grabbing a win and a draw against both to secure first place. Spain would have to defeat Norway 4-0 on the final day to advance to the knockout stage and have a shot at glory in the Nations League final.

Spain in action against Norway on the final day of the Group. The Rioja would manage to beat Norway 4-0 in Madrid's Estadio Vicente Calderon.

 

[Wings]

Group B was much more straightforward than Group A in terms of qualifying for the knockout stage, the real battle being that for first place. Denmark were the Russia of this group, but wouldn't even be able to get a win, drawing twice and losing the rest of their games. Switzerland put up a good fight, snatching a draw off of every team and beating Denmark, but it just wouldn't be enough, the contest for first place occuring between the Dutch and Brazilians. The Dutch were the only ones to beat Denmark in Denmark, earning them a point, but they also drew at home to Switzerland, whereas the Brazilians destroyed them 4 goals to none.
With every option to take an advantage gone, the battle for first place would take place during their double confrontation. In Rotterdam, the Dutch managed to hold the Brazilians to a 0-0 draw, but in Rio, despite taking the lead twice thanks to Van Basten, the Oranje would fall to the Selecao thanks to two goals from both Bebeto and Romario. Brazil would go on to face Spain in the semi-finals, while the Dutch would have to take on Group A winners France.

Brazil's Romario scores the opening goal of Brazil v Netherlands in Rio de Janeiro's Maracana (4-3).

 

[Wings]

The format this year varied slightly, with the top two teams of each group facing each other in a single Semi-Final leg, with the first place finishers, France and Brazil, hosting. It wasn't even close as both first seeds crushed the opposing side 3-0. The Netherlands put up a fight against France, albeit a weak one, even with one disallowed goal, while Spain completely sank in Manaus against a robust Brazilian squad. The final would pit titleholders France, aiming for a sixth title to overtake Germany, and Brazil, who looked for redemption and a ninth title, close to fifteen years after their last trophy.

Brazil's Mauro Silva in action against Spain

 

[Wings]

The final of this 1994 edition kicked off in Pasadena, with France coming in with the extra motivation of redeeming themselves before the start of a World Cup they wouldn't participate in, while Brazil would look to finally erase close to 15 years of defeats. In the end, Brazil started off on the right end, Romario scoring two goals in quick succession in the first half, while France only reacted very late into the half with Cantona putting the scoreline at 2-1. The second half was 50-50, but Brazil finally got the better of France in the last 10 minutes, with Bebeto scoring Brazil's third, allowing them to win their first title since 1980.

Spoiler

France's young striker Zinedine Zidane in action against Brazil

Bebeto celebrates scoring Brazil's third goal along with Romario (11) and Rai (10).

Brazilian hero Romario celebrates with the Brazilian flag after winning the final

PS: Sorry this post wasn't longer, I lost my draft and didn't want to redo the whole thing :/

 

[Unknown]

At least it wasn't held on June 17, 1994, in Pasadena, because, well, it would have been overshadowed by the slow-speed Bronco chase of OJ Simpson...

And, now, Brazil has won a Nations League title in every decade...

 

[Wings]

Winners: Brazil - 9th title
Top Scorer: Eric Cantona (FRA) - 7 goals

1994-95 Participants:
Europe: Italy (39), Sweden (25), Germany (40), Netherlands (23), Spain (38), Romania (11), Norway (3), Switzerland (3), Ireland (7), Denmark (11), Bulgaria (4)
South America: Brazil (40), Argentina (39), Colombia (3)
North America: Mexico (16)
Africa: Nigeria (1)

Final Location: Estadio Centenario, Montevideo
Groups:
Group A: Brazil, Spain, Ireland, Bulgaria
Group B: Sweden, Netherlands, Argentina, Denmark
Group C: Germany, Norway, Nigeria, Colombia
Group D: Italy, Romania, Switzerland, Mexico

Location of finals from 1996 to 2000:
1996- London
1997- Cairo
1998- Paris
1999- Lagos
2000- Rotterdam

Note: This is the first time England ever misses out on the Nations League.

 

[Wings]

Portugal v Honduras 2-0 / 1-2
Romania v Northern Ireland 0-1 / 1-1
Poland v Canada 2-1 / 2-2
Belgium v Saudi Arabia 2-1 / 2-0
Colombia v South Korea 3-1 / 0-2
Morocco v Hungary 3-2 / 1-2
Czechoslovakia v Ghana 3-0 / 0-2
Wales v Greece 1-3 / 0-0
Algeria v Ecuador 1-1 / 0-4
Zambia v Japan 2-1 / 0-2
Ivory Coast v Bulgaria 3-0 / 1-1
Cameroon v Costa Rica 4-1 / 1-1
United States v Tunisia 1-0 / 1-1
Nigeria v PR China 2-0 / 0-0
Egypt v Zimbabwe 5-0 / 0-1
Scotland v Austria 3-0 / 1-0

Portugal v Northern Ireland 2-1 / 2-2
Poland v Belgium 1-0 / 1-2
South Korea v Hungary 2-1 / 1-3
Czechoslovakia v Greece 1-3 / 0-0
Ecuador v Japan 4-2 / 0-0
Ivory Coast v Cameroon 2-1 / 0-1
United States v Nigeria 1-3 / 2-2
Egypt v Scotland 1-0 / 1-1

Portugal v Poland 2-0 / 2-1
Hungary v Greece 1-0 / 1-3
Ecuador v Cameroon 1-2 / 1-1
Nigeria v Egypt 2-1 / 1-3

Portugal v Greece 1-0 / 1-0
Cameroon v Egypt 1-0 / 0-2

Portugal v Egypt 1-2 / 2-2
Winners: Egypt - 1st title

1994-95 Participants:
Europe: Russia (2), England (1), Belgium (12), France (6), Portugal (16), Scotland (16), Greece (23), Poland (11), Wales (21), Czech Republic (1), Iceland (1), Turkey (11), Austria (17), Slovakia (1), Northern Ireland (24), Finland (5), Israel (20)
South America: Uruguay (14), Chile (22), Bolivia (3)
North America: United States (6)
Africa: Zambia (10), Ivory Coast (13), Egypt (24), Ghana (16), Tunisia (15), Cameroon (18), Morocco (19), Zimbabwe (2)
Asia: Saudi Arabia (6), South Korea (21), Japan (3)

Bracket Order
Cameroon v Poland
Zambia v Zimbabwe
England v Wales
United States v Bolivia
Ivory Coast v Austria
France v Chile
Greece v South Korea
Ghana v Czech Republic
Scotland v Israel
Russia v Iceland
Portugal v Slovakia
Tunisia v Northern Ireland
Saudi Arabia v Uruguay
Egypt v Turkey
Morocco v Japan
Belgium v Finland

 

[Wings]

Group A didn't go at all as expected for titleholders Brazil, who expected a smooth ride in a relatively easy group. However, despite dominating wins at home, they failed to make an impact during their away games, notably dropping to Ireland and giving them their only win. This would cost the Selecao greatly, as both Spain and Bulgaria put up impressive performances, with Spain clinching first seed ahead of Stoichkov's Bulgaria by one goal scored.

Group B was much more straightforward, but still had its lot of upsets. First seeded Sweden completely crumbled, not even managing to pull off a single win in the group, while fourth seeds Denmark shocked everyone, not losing a single game and clinching first place in the group. Argentina and the Netherlands then battled for the last spot out of groups, the qualifying seed finally falling to the Dutch.

Bulgarian striker Stoichkov celebrates scoring against Brazil in Sofia

Danish players celebrate scoring at home against Sweden in a 4-0 wash.

 

[Wings]

There was no question as to who was going to dominate Group C. Germany absolutely steamrolled any opposition, with the notable exception of their away game in Norway, which they dropped. This would prove critical, as Norway and Colombia drew each other twice. With Nigeria not really performing as the first African nation to participate in the Nations League since the 60s, second place would be played between those teams. Nigeria did manage to draw Norway at home, but the Norwegians would be able to pass thanks to their win over Germany, while Colombia missed the last 8 for one point.

Italy similarly steamrolled over everyone in Group D, easily getting first place and advancing to the knockout stage. The real battle was once more for second place, with Romania quickly put out of the picture, leaving Switzerland and Mexico to fight for a spot in Quarters. Both teams, like in Group C, got the same result against each other, and the difference was made on the results against Italy. If the Swiss lost both games, Mexico managed to tie Italy on their home soil, and as such clutched the last spot in Quarters.

Norwegian players celebrate in front of their fans as they beat Germany 2-1 at home.

Mexican players celebrate their last minute equalizer against Italy, which would eventually send them to the Quarter-Finals

Quarter-Finals:
Netherlands v Spain
Norway v Italy
Bulgaria v Denmark
Mexico v Germany

 

[Wings]

The second seeded teams all started off well, with two winning and two holding draws, but in the end only one would advance. That one would be the Netherlands, thrashing Spain both at home and away and booking an easy spot in the Semi-Finals. It was harder for Italy and Denmark, the first losing in Oslo by one goal while the second drew in Sofia, but in the end both would sweep their home game 3-0 to secure a spot in the Semis as well. The favorites that battled the hardest were Germany, locked in a draw against Mexico, and then having to battle it out and qualify thanks to a Matthaus-taken penalty at the 85th minute.

Dutch players Danny Blind and Rob Witschge at De Kuip during the Netherland's large win over Spain (4-1).

 

[HawkAussie]

No qualifiers for these later cups???

 

[Wings]

No qualifiers for these later cups???

No, it works on Top X nations on the FIFA ranking in September of the year the league starts in.