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The original was posted on /r/soccer by /u/Sparky-moon on 2026-02-09 13:30:15+00:00.
Ex-Italy and Milan midfielder Demetrio Albertini says two Azzurri, playing for Inter and Milan, ‘hid behind the bench’ to avoid taking a penalty kick in the 1994 World Cup Final against Brazil.
Milan legend Albertini revealed that two of his Italy teammates were unwilling to step up for a penalty in the shootout of the 1994 World Cup Final against Brazil, which the Azzurri went on to lose.
“I was 22 and had my whole career ahead of me. I had the recklessmess and, carefree attitude of the youngest in the group. Sacchi asked me if I felt up to taking a penalty, and I went without thinking,” Albertini told.
“While there were those who hid behind the bench just to avoid taking one. I’ll never say their names, but one played for Milan and the other for Inter.”
Nicola Berti was the only Inter player in that team, while Milan had two, Paolo Maldini and Roberto Donadoni. The latter had already missed a penalty in a World Cup semifinal defeat against Argentina four years earlier, during Italia 90.
Another painful moment in Albertini’s career came less than ten years later, also with the Azzurri: “The worst moment was losing the Euro 2000 Final against France with the golden goal. It really hurt to see the last real chance to win something with the national team slip away like that,” he said.
The former midfielder for Milan, Atletico Madrid, Lazio, Atalanta, and Barcelona said in an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport: “I arrived at Milan when I was 11 and left when I was 31. I experienced a glorious era and it was a fantastic period of my life.”
“What I remember most about Sacchi is how obsessive he was. Sometimes he would take me aside and talk to me about tactics, formations, movements, moving pieces around on the board: he was hyperactive, driven by a rare passion.”
“I remember Capello’s fantastic relationship with the players. He had a unique empathy, even though he wasn’t a talker.”
“I’ve argued with all the coaches I’ve had. Ancelotti and I had a fight, and I said something very harsh, but then everything was fine again. We have an excellent relationship, and I really respect him as a coach.”
THREE FINALS “The best moment was the 4-0 win over Barcelona in the Champions League final in Athens in 1994. Desailly and I formed a great partnership.”
“The worst moment was losing the 2000 European Championship final to France with a golden goal. It hurt to see my last real chance to win with the national team slip away like that.”
“In the 1994 World Cup final, which we lost on penalties to Brazil, I was 22 and had my whole career ahead of me. I had the recklessness and carefreeness of the youngest in the group. Sacchi asked me if I felt like taking a kick, and I went without thinking, while there were others who hid behind the bench so they wouldn’t have to kick. I will never name names, but one played for Milan and the other for Inter.”
At the time, the only Inter player in the national team was Nicola Berti. So the question remains about the Milan player: Paolo Maldini or Roberto Donadoni, who had missed a penalty in the semifinal lost to Argentina at Italia 1990.
BARCELONA
“Rijkaard, my teammate at Milan, called me and told me he needed a dressing room leader. I rushed over, and in Barcelona I was treated like royalty. Once I went back with Baggio, who, seeing how affectionate the people were, asked me how many years I had been there. I’m a little ashamed to say it, but I still didn’t know who Messi was, while he knew everything about me. It took me just two training sessions to realize he was from another planet.”
FAREWELL TO FOOTBALL
“Laporta asked me to play it at Camp Nou, I called Galliani and asked him to reach an agreement to play it at San Siro. There were eight Ballon d’Or winners, and when Van Basten scored, the stadium went wild. In the stands, fathers were explaining to their children that this team had made history. Their history, Milan’s history, but ultimately ours too.”