If there is a thorn that remained with Ramón Díaz throughout his career as a coach, it was the final of the 1996 Intercontinental Cup, in which his River fell 1-0 to Juventus in Tokyo. Many years later, Pelado will have the chance to take revenge, now in the Club World Cup, against another European giant like Real Madrid.
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“Of course I would like to take revenge, I am excited about that. I waited 10 years to return to River. Look if I am not going to wait to play a Cup and win it to return to Japan ”, Ramón said back in 2013, when he put on the coach’s overalls again at the Millo. A decade later, the chance for revenge finally arrived. Can he hit the jackpot?
A young Ramón with River in Tokyo.River reached the Intercontinental, which at that time was defined as a single match between the American and European champions, after winning the Copa Libertadores against América de Cali. his rivala Juventus full of stars like Alessandro Del Piero, Zinedine Zidane and Didier Deschamps (France coach in the World Cup in Qatar), had been crowned in the Champions League against Ajax.
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Be careful: River also had its own and played an even game against Juve. Enzo FrancescoliBurrito Ortega -he shot off the crossbar that could change history-, Sorín and the Chilean Salas were some of his figures. The final was played on November 26, 1996 at the National Stadium in Tokyo and Ramón’s team fell 1-0 due to Del Piero’s goal, nine minutes from the end of the match.
Doping at Juventus?
Francescoli surrounded by rivals (REUTERS).For many years there was talk that that Juventus team had consumed some prohibited substance and it was even confirmed by Italian scientists who accessed the players’ blood tests. In 2013 they presented a report in which they spoke of presence of EPO, a stimulant that allows better performance in aerobic exercise activities. Incidentally, it was the drug that robbed cyclist Lance Armstrong of his seven Tours de France.
River Plate – 9-2-2023
The Intercontinental between River and Juventus
At that time, Ramón himself referred to the subject: “Many years have passed, but there was a huge difference. Not only with us, but also in the Italian championship there was a huge physical difference compared to the other teams. Not so much in the game, but in the physical part”.
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The final teams
Ortega shot off the crossbar (REUTERS).River 0: Roberto Bonano; Hernán Díaz, Celso Ayala, Eduardo Berizzo, Juan Pablo Sorín; Roberto Monserrat, Leonardo Astrada, Sergio Berti (ST 17′ Gancedo); Ariel Ortega; Julio Cruz (ST 37′ Salas) and Enzo Francescoli. DT: Ramon Diaz.
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Juventus 1: Angelo Peruzzi, Moreno Torricelli, Ciro Ferrara, Paolo Montero, Sergio Porrini; Didier Deschamps, Vladimir Jugovic, Angelo Di Livio; Zinedine Zidane (ST 33′ Tacchinardi); Alessandro Del Piero and Alen Boksic. DT: Marcello Lippi.
Ramón wants to make history
Ramón’s celebration after eliminating Flamengo (AFP).In charge of Al Hilal, Ramón gave the great surprise of the tournament by eliminating Flamengo, champion of America, and this Saturday he will define the title against Merengue. will seek to be the second Argentine DT to establish himself in the Club World Cupafter what was done by Santiago Solari, precisely with Real Madrid, in 2018.
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Miguel Ángel Russo (Boca), Patón Bauza (Liga de Quito and San Lorenzo), Alejandro Sabella (Estudiantes) and Marcelo Gallardo (River) also played in the final, but none managed to win the modern club competition.