PHOTO: Bildbyrån
The WC bronze medal in 1994 is still Swedish football’s greatest achievement today.
Next year is the 30th anniversary.
– Maybe something will happen then, says one of the bronze heroes Thomas Ravelli to Sportbibeln.
The year is 1994. Sweden’s men’s national team sets off to the other side of the Atlantic to play the WC in the USA. “When we dig for gold in the USA” is played on the speakers at home. There was no World Cup gold, as GES sings in the song, but it was a bronze and Sweden’s best World Cup performance ever.
The road to WC bronze
After a stable group stage, Sweden advanced to the round of 16. Saudi Arabia was waiting there first, followed by Romania. The match ended 1-1, extra time 2-2, and there was a penalty decision. When Romania is about to take its last penalty, both teams have missed one each, they needed to score it.
The article continues after the picture.
Until then, Sweden’s first goalkeeper, Thomas Ravelli, has been questioned. But after stepping forward on that last penalty and saving, it was no longer a question – Ravelli will be in the Swedish goal.
The penalty save meant advancement to the semi-finals. There, Sweden was pitted against Brazil, who went on to win the entire championship. In the bronze medal match against Bulgaria, Sweden gave everything and won 4-0, and the greatest Swedish football performance was a fact.
The contact today
Since that day, over 29 years have now passed. All the players from the WC 94 squad have quit football or gone on to become coaches. The group has split and spread out.
But Thomas Ravelli is in contact with some of the former compatriots to this day.
– It has decreased more and more as time has gone on, huh? But Pontus Cow land, Martin Dahlin, The known (Andersson) slightly sometimes. Then you run into those blue and white players living in Gothenburg at the time who were in the WC 94. A bit like that, says Ravelli and adds:
– Patrik Andersson! Patrik and I usually text each other.
The article continues after the picture.
However, the whole WC 94 gang usually doesn’t hang out.
– There hasn’t been anything for a while actually. But maybe there will be something next year, it’s 30 years since next year, says Ravelli.
READ MORE: Glenn Hysén reveals the best player he has met – and pays tribute to the icon: “Damn, fantastic”
Ravelli’s refusal
Exactly, next year is the 30th anniversary of the feat in 1994, which gave the Swedish men’s national team both the Jerring Prize and the Bragdguldet in the same year. Previous anniversaries have been marked by, among other things, anniversary matches with the 94 team.
Ravelli is positive about participating in the anniversary.
– But there won’t be a match because I can’t finish with my injuries. My hip is out, among other things, so I can’t throw myself.
READ MORE: Thomas Ravelli’s unforgettable year in MLS and how he became the king of hockey penalties: “Easier than ordinary penalties”
Share