waroffutbol

  The 1989 FIFA U-20 World Cup marked the dawn of Portugal’s resurgence in world football, as a new generation delivered the nation’s first international title. Portugal had enjoyed a golden period in the mid-1960s, when Eusébio inspired them to the World Cup semi-finals in 1966, but the national side then faded from prominence. A revival began in the 1980s at club level, with Benfica and Porto reaching European finals—Porto famously winning the European Cup in 1987. The national team also showed promise at Euro 1984, reaching the semi-finals, before suffering a humiliating collapse at the 1986 World Cup amid the “Saltillo scandal.” Failure to qualify for Euro 1988 left Portuguese football in crisis. Against that backdrop, the triumph of Carlos Queiroz’s promising young squad in Saudi Arabia offered a glimpse of a brighter future for the Seleção das Quinas. Key Facts – 1989 Tournament   The 1989 edition carried several notable features: * Held from 16 February to 3 Mar...

  The 1987 FIFA U-20 World Cup belonged to Yugoslavia, powered by the country’s golden generation before its breakup in the mid-1990s.   That team was not defined by one ethnicity alone, but by a blend of Serbian, Croatian and Bosnian talent. Robert Prosinečki, Robert Jarni, Zvonimir Boban, Predrag Mijatović, Branko Brnović and prolific striker Davor Šuker combined to deliver Yugoslavia’s last international title. All of them would go on to shine at senior level, later representing the successor nations that emerged from the Balkan conflicts of the 1990s. Key Facts – 1987 Tournament   The sixth edition of the U-20 World Cup carried its own share of unique stories: * Staged from 10 to 25 October 1987, with 16 teams split into four groups. * Matches were played in Concepción, Antofagasta, Valparaíso and the capital Santiago. * Europe’s six representatives included the four semi-finalists from the 1986 UEFA U-18 Championship—winners East Germany, runners-up Italy...

  The 1985 FIFA U-20 World Cup confirmed Brazil’s dominance at youth level, as the Seleção became the first nation to defend their title successfully. Just as their senior side had long shone on the global stage, Brazil U20 team proved equally dazzling. Held in the Soviet Union, the tournament saw Canarinha repeat their 1983 triumph and set a benchmark later matched by two other nations. Though only three members of the 1985 squad would go on to win the senior World Cup nine years later, the tournament introduced the world to future greats—most notably goalkeeper Cláudio Taffarel. Facts and Figures about 1985 Edition   Like previous editions, the 1985 World  Youth Championship carried its own unique details: * Staged from 24 August to 7 September 1985, with 16 teams split into four groups. * Matches were played across eight Soviet cities: Baku, Yerevan, Moscow, Leningrad (now St Petersburg), Hoktemberyan, Sumqayit, Minsk and Tbilisi. Both Minsk and Tbilisi prov...