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player ready...The Brazilians did what Nigeria, Spain and Bulgaria could not. They shut out Roberto Baggio.
“We respected him,” defender Aldair said. “We played it careful and watched all his moves.”
There were precious few to watch in Brazil’s penalty-kick victory over Italy in the World Cup final Sunday. Baggio, who had been so marvelous in Italy’s last three matches, hardly threatened the Brazilian net. He was clearly hampered by a strained right hamstring suffered in the semifinal victory over Bulgaria Wednesday in East Rutherford, N.J.
In the seventh minute of the first extra period Sunday, Baggio fired a 28-yard bullet that goalkeeper Taffarel had to deflect over the crossbar. But in the second overtime Baggio turned weakly on an even better chance from 15 yards away.
He wound up with four shots but didn’t come close to scoring his sixth goal of the tournament (he had five of Italy’s eight goals).
Baggio had none of his usual quickness, and he couldn’t control play in midfield. When he did latch onto the ball, Brazil’s swift defense always seemed to close on him before he could create another highlight.
“Baggio and (forward Daniele) Massaro were just waiting for the ball to come to them,” Brazil coach Alberto Parreira said.