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That Goal

  • 09-07-2005 8:42pm
    #1
    Capt'n Midnight
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 91,930 Mod ✭✭✭✭


    Who?

    Tucked away in eastern Italy, the Repubblica di San Marino is the third smallest independent state in Europe, covering just 24 square miles (61km²). San Marino is most famous for the nearby Imola racing circuit2, home to the Formula One Grand Prix, and there its sporting fame almost ends. Having a population of just 28,5003, of whom only 1200 play football (and only one of these as a professional), it hardly has the resources to support a hotbed of talent. The San Marinese Football Association was formed in 1931, but didn't receive official FIFA recognition until 1988. The qualifying games for the 1994 World Cup Finals were their first competition.

    The Opposition

    The draw for qualifying had thrown up an interesting Group Two. European heavyweights England and Holland had been drawn together with emerging sides Norway, Poland and Turkey, along with San Marino who were expected to be the whipping boys of the group. In fact, they managed just a single point (a 0-0 home draw with Turkey) and were beaten heavily by Norway (10-0), England (6-0), and the Dutch (6-0 and 7-0) before their final match.

    San Marino's opponents in the last game of the campaign were England, whose qualifying matches had started well, but inconsistent form in the middle part of the campaign had cost them dearly. The team and their manager, Graham Taylor, had been branded 'turnips' by the press and pressure was building for Taylor to quit. It was a game England had to win by at least seven clear goals and hope that Holland lost in Poland.

    The Game

    On 17 November, 1993 England headed to San Marino. Even given their poor form, the result was never seriously considered doubtful and there was much speculation as to whether England could break double figures against San Marino as Norway had.

    But things didn't go quite to plan initially, as from the kick-off the ball went back towards England's defence. Stuart Pearce attempted a back-pass to goalkeeper David Seaman, but to their horror Davide Gualtieri sneaked in, pinched the ball and knocked it past the onrushing goalkeeper and into the net. Unbelievably, it was San Marino 1 England 0, with 8.3 seconds on the clock.

    Welcome to Bologna on Capital Gold for England versus San Marino with Tennent's Pilsner, brewed with Czechoslovakian yeast for that extra Pilsner taste and England are one down.
    - Jonathon Pearce's radio commentary on the goal.

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A3952361

    http://foot.ie/forums/showthread.php?t=26717 - top 50 goals


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