Argentina were going through a rough patch. When on the 28th of March 1990 they were due to play Scotland at Hampden, they were 8 months and 20 days without scoring a goal.
That Bilardo team had played their last 6 games without scoring! They had lost 3 of those 6 (Copa America in Rio against the 2 old enemies, Brazil and Uruguay both 2-0, and then a friendly against Mexico in LA by the same score) and drew 3 (Copa America in Goaiana against Bolivia, and with Paraguay in Rio, and a friendly against Italy in Cagliari)
People at home started saying that the world champions had past their sell by date, and were heading for disaster in Italy 90.
Manager and players, were very optimistic, and always maintained that the main objective was the World Cup, and that anything else was secondary.
Statistically Argentina, were 6 minutes away from their record for the longest period of time without scoring a goal.
Incredible, if you think that players like Maradona, Canniggia, Burruchaga, Valdano, Etc. were all playing and on top form for their clubs.
Bilardo’s teams have always been based on defending well first, trying not to concede, but even for his standards 540 minutes was too long without scoring, only 6 minutes away from the country’s all time record.
Hampden is a venue where Argentina traditionally likes to play and visit often, and the crowd was jubilant that day.
The world Champions were playing, and not only that, they were the ones who eliminated the old rival England, on their way to that victory.
During the warm up on the pitch, every time an Argentinean player touched the ball it was given a huge round of applause.
Time to start the game, and the teams come out, but the Argentinean strikers took longer than the rest of the players to take their place.
Bilardo, being the winner that he is, kept them for a little longer inside the dressing room for last minute motivation talks. No one wants to hold that record.
The game began, and despite being a friendly the visitors are pressing all over the field trying to impose their superiority.
Pressure seems to be getting to the attackers, as they don’t seem able to hold on to the ball, and the time is running out for salvation.
No need to say that Bilardo was up and down the touchline from the word go, shouting and screaming, giving instructions to his players.
The first 6 minutes went by and the world champions, failed to score.
The Manager sat on the bench and for the rest of the game, made no comments.
Final whistle came and Scotland won 1-0.
That made Argentina sink to their all time low and go 7 games in a row without scoring.
After the game, at the press conference, they all talk about their disappointment and how they were all committed to help bring that record to an end as soon as possible.
Bilardo then, when he was asked by the journalists, why did he keep the strikers back before the game and why didn’t his words work on that occasion, he answered:
“What do you mean they did not work? I am a winner; I want to win at everything I do. Being a good competition or a bad one, I must win it. I kept them and told them that I wanted that record. I said that if anyone scored before the 6th minute, they will not go to the World Cup. So my words did work”
The following game Argentina played against Austria in Viena and it took Burruchaga 30 minutes to Score, and end the drought.
That Bilardo team had played their last 6 games without scoring! They had lost 3 of those 6 (Copa America in Rio against the 2 old enemies, Brazil and Uruguay both 2-0, and then a friendly against Mexico in LA by the same score) and drew 3 (Copa America in Goaiana against Bolivia, and with Paraguay in Rio, and a friendly against Italy in Cagliari)
People at home started saying that the world champions had past their sell by date, and were heading for disaster in Italy 90.
Manager and players, were very optimistic, and always maintained that the main objective was the World Cup, and that anything else was secondary.
Statistically Argentina, were 6 minutes away from their record for the longest period of time without scoring a goal.
Incredible, if you think that players like Maradona, Canniggia, Burruchaga, Valdano, Etc. were all playing and on top form for their clubs.
Bilardo’s teams have always been based on defending well first, trying not to concede, but even for his standards 540 minutes was too long without scoring, only 6 minutes away from the country’s all time record.
Hampden is a venue where Argentina traditionally likes to play and visit often, and the crowd was jubilant that day.
The world Champions were playing, and not only that, they were the ones who eliminated the old rival England, on their way to that victory.
During the warm up on the pitch, every time an Argentinean player touched the ball it was given a huge round of applause.
Time to start the game, and the teams come out, but the Argentinean strikers took longer than the rest of the players to take their place.
Bilardo, being the winner that he is, kept them for a little longer inside the dressing room for last minute motivation talks. No one wants to hold that record.
The game began, and despite being a friendly the visitors are pressing all over the field trying to impose their superiority.
Pressure seems to be getting to the attackers, as they don’t seem able to hold on to the ball, and the time is running out for salvation.
No need to say that Bilardo was up and down the touchline from the word go, shouting and screaming, giving instructions to his players.
The first 6 minutes went by and the world champions, failed to score.
The Manager sat on the bench and for the rest of the game, made no comments.
Final whistle came and Scotland won 1-0.
That made Argentina sink to their all time low and go 7 games in a row without scoring.
After the game, at the press conference, they all talk about their disappointment and how they were all committed to help bring that record to an end as soon as possible.
Bilardo then, when he was asked by the journalists, why did he keep the strikers back before the game and why didn’t his words work on that occasion, he answered:
“What do you mean they did not work? I am a winner; I want to win at everything I do. Being a good competition or a bad one, I must win it. I kept them and told them that I wanted that record. I said that if anyone scored before the 6th minute, they will not go to the World Cup. So my words did work”
The following game Argentina played against Austria in Viena and it took Burruchaga 30 minutes to Score, and end the drought.