| 98 was the last world cup played in the 20th century | | | | In this match Austria scored a last minute goal and in |
| yet it was also the first one which 32 teams | | | | doing so became the first team to do so in three |
| participated in as well as the first one to use the | | | | consecutive games. |
| system of sudden death overtime or the golden | | | | 3. France 1 Paraguay 0 (Round Of 16) |
| goal. France 98 for me personally was the world | | | | In this world cup game when Lauren Blanc scored for |
| cup in which Italy came so close to the final yet in a | | | | France, he became the first player ever to score a |
| way was so far. As I believe that if Italy had beaten | | | | goal in sudden death overtime. |
| France in penalties or if Roberto Baggio’s | | | | 4. Croatia 3 Germany 0 (Quarterfinals) |
| overtime shot had gone in; then it would have been | | | | In this match German midfielder Lothar Matthaus |
| Italy to face Croatia. Naturally, I being of a mind that | | | | became the first player ever to play in 22 world cup |
| Italy would have beaten Croatia which would have | | | | matches and it was also in this world cup that he |
| set up not only a repeat of the previous final | | | | equaled Carbajal’s record of having appeared |
| between Italy and Brazil but what would have been | | | | in five world cups. |
| the third final between these two power houses of | | | | 5. France 3 Brazil 0 (Final) |
| world football yet it was not to be. Croatia however | | | | France became only the seventh nation to win a |
| for its part became the first nation ever to play a | | | | world cup, thus joining Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, |
| world cup which at one point had played as a part of | | | | England, Germany and Italy as the only ones to |
| another country yet more are the memories of | | | | accomplish the feat. |
| France 98 which include the following. | | | | France 98 was a world cup which once again saw |
| 1. Morocco 3 Scotland 0 (First Round) | | | | Italy loose out on penalties yet in a way it is a sort |
| This loss meant that Scotland would be going out in | | | | of comfort to know that we were the only team |
| the first round which allowed them to set a record | | | | the eventual world champions needed penalties to |
| for having qualified seven times to the world cup | | | | beat. In conclusion however I believe this world cup |
| without ever having gone on to the second round. | | | | though not grand by Italy’s standards did at |
| This breaking the previous record set by Mexico of 6 | | | | least allow Roberto Baggio to prove his value; as it |
| world cups without an appearance in the second | | | | was he who not only scored goals against Chile and |
| round. | | | | Austria but left the world cups with better memories |
| 2. Italy 2 Austria 1 (First Round) | | | | than a missed penalty against Brazil. |