Lazio clinch UEFA Cup clash
Lazio defeat rivals for Europe with goals by Riedle and Stroppa
Also on this day: January 31, 2021, Atalanta Lazio 1-3. An excellent display by Lazio who dominate in Bergamo and discover their Kosovarian striker may not be made of stone after all. Player of the day: Adam Marusic
The season so far
Lazio had finished 10th the previous season under Dino Zoff. Lazio's new President Sergio Cragnotti's first summer transfer market had been an ambitious one. In had come 3 promising young players from Cremonese: Giuseppe Favalli, Mauro Bonomi and Dario Marcolin, plus the likes of defender Roberto Cravero (Torino) midfielders Diego Fuser (Milan) and Aron Winter (Ajax) plus forward Beppe Signori (Foggia).
The main talking point however was the arrival of Paul Gascoigne from Tottenham. One of the most exciting players of his generation, he arrived with great expectations, despite a recent serious injury. Lazio had lost fan favourite Rubén Sosa who had not renewed his contract and left for Inter and had also let go of Raffaele Sergio (Torino) and Gabriele Pin (Parma) while in the Autumn, defender Roberto Soldà had joined Monza.
So far, Lazio had played 17 league games, so had played every team once. Today was the first of the 'return' games. Lazio were in joint 4th position with Sampdoria, on 19 points. Lazio had won 6 (including Inter 3-1 at home), drawn 7 (including Sampdoria 3-3 and Roma 1-1) and lost 3. A week earlier Lazio had shared the points at home to Juventus, 1-1. Gazza was performing reasonably well and had equalised in the derby with an 86th minute header and scored a superb solo goal away to Pescara.
In Coppa Italia, Lazio had got through the first two rounds (Ascoli 5-0 and Cesena 4-2, both on aggregate) and had played the first leg of the quarter finals on January 28, drawing 2-2 at home to Torino (after being 2-0 up) while the return game was on February 10.
Sampdoria had finished 6th the previous season, in which they were reigning champions. They had also reached the European Cup final but lost to Barcelona 0-1 in extra-time at Wembley. They had won the Italian Supercoppa beating Roma 1-0 with a Roberto Mancini goal.
This season the Scudetto manager Vujadin Boskov had left and Sven-Goran Eriksson had arrived. Officially he was Technical Director and the manager was Sergio Santarini. There had been some changes to the squad. Arriving were defenders Michele Serena (Verona -back from loan), Des Walker (Nottingham Forest), Stefano Sacchetti (Modena), midfielders Vladimir Jugović (Red Star Belgrade), Eugenio Corini (Juventus) plus forwards Enrico Chiesa (Chieti - back from loan) and Mauro Bertarelli (Ancona).
Leaving the Blucerchiati were: defender Dario Bonetti (SPAL), midfielders Fausto Pari (Napoli), Toninho Cerezo (São Paulo), Paulo Silas (Internacional) and above all forward Gianluca Vialli (Juventus). Sampdoria looked weakened at least on paper.
So far, after 17 games, the Blucerchiati were 4th, on 19 points. They had won 6 (including derby 4-1) drawn 7 (including Lazio 3-3) and lost 4. A week earlier "Il Doria" had beaten Brescia 1-0 at home.
In Coppa Italia, Sampdoria had surprisingly been beaten by Cesena on away goals in August/September.
So, two teams on exactly the same points and similar paths. Today's game would say a lot about their respective European ambitions.
The match: Sunday, January 31, 1993, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
The so-called "giorni della merla", traditionally the coldest days of the year in Rome, had been kind and it was a mild afternoon in the capital. A 45,000 crowd was present for this crucial clash for future European places.
Lazio started off strongly and took the lead almost immediately. In the 7th minute Paul Gascoigne floated a lovely ball over the Doria defence on the right side of the area where Beppe Signori then curled a perfect cross in for a Karl-Heinz Riedle header which blasted past Gianluca Pagliuca. The German celebrated enthusiastically as he had not scored for 1,061 minutes. Lazio 1 Sampdoria 0.
Lazio continued on the front foot for at least another quarter of an hour. A funny episode occurred in the 12th minute when, following excessive complaints from Gascoigne, the referee offered the Geordie a chewing gum to calm him down. It worked and Gazza accepted the gesture with a laugh.
After Lazio's initial forcing, Sampdoria gradually came into the game which became more balanced. Roberto Mancini had a free kick opportunity but it was comfortably saved low by Fernando Orsi.
A very controversial moment came in the 26th minute when Signori dispossessed Stefano Sacchetti in midfield, raced towards goal, entered the area and was clearly fouled by Pietro Vierchowod but not for the referee.
In the 29th minute Signori again stole possession, this time from Vierchowod, surged forward and was one-on-one with Pagliuca, who however burst off his line and saved with his feet.
In the 37th minute Gascoigne chipped a freekick over the visitors’ backline for a Riedle header but Pagliuca dived acrobatically and even managed to catch the ball.
Just before halftime Orsi was busy three times. First, he had to come off his line and clear before Mauro Bertarelli, totally unmarked, could have a free shot, then he dived low to his left and blocked a long-range Giovanni Invernizzi effort and finally he blocked a powerful but central Mancini freekick. This Sampdoria pressure was a sign of things to come. For now, halftime Lazio 1 Sampdoria 0.
For the second 45 minutes Lazio were forced to replace an injured Roberto Cravero with Cristiano Bergodi.
Sampdoria started where they had finished off. In the 49th minute, future Lazio Vladimir Jugovic shaved the post with a long-range strike.
The Blucerchiati pushed forward but were not dangerous again until the 68th minute when, on a cross from the right, Attilio Lombardo found himself a metre out in front of goal but Orsi was off his line in a flash and cleared.
In the meantime, Lazio had replaced a tired Gascoigne with Giovanni Stroppa in the 57th minute and Sampdoria had taken off Stefano Sacchetti for Serena in the 64th.
Lazio continued to defend but occasionally had space on the break. In the 80th minute Eriksson threw on another striker Renato Buso for midfielder Srecko Katanec. In the 82nd minute came a game changer. Lazio burst forward on a counterattack, Signori squared to Riedle with acres of space, Pagliuca raced out of the box to challenge him but the German lobbed him and was pulled down. Direct red card and not only ten men but without a keeper as they had already made both their substitutions, Moreno Mannini took the ungrateful task of going in the nets.
A Lazio goal was now on the cards and it came in the 86th minute. Signori found Stroppa on the left vertex of the area, the former Milan player controlled, moved forward and curled a brilliant low shot into the far corner. Mannini could do nothing but I'm not convinced even Pagliuca would have saved it. Lazio 2 Sampdoria 0. Two nil up against 10 men and no proper keeper. Game over? No.
In the 88th minute Sampdoria surprisingly pulled one back. A wonderful floated freekick by Mancini, from just outside the box, nestled itself into the top-hand left corner. Lazio 2 Sampdoria 1.
Luckily for Lazio there was not much time left to panic and they played out the remaining minutes without running any particular risks.
An important win for the Biancocelesti. It had been an evenly balanced game, the Genoese with more possession but Lazio with sharper forwards. Lazio moved up to joint 3rd with Juventus and Atalanta while Sampdoria were caught up by Torino in 6th place.
Who played for Lazio
Orsi, Corino, Bacci, Sclosa, Luzardi, Cravero (46' Bergodi), Fuser, Winter, Riedle, Gascoigne (57' Stroppa), Signori
Manager: Zoff
Who played for Sampdoria
Pagliuca, Mannini, Sacchetti, (64' Serena), Walker, Vierchowod, Invernizzi, Lombardo, Jugovic, Bertarelli, R. Mancini, Katanec (80' Buso)
Substitutes: Nuciari, Bucchioni, Chiesa
Manager: Eriksson
Referee: Bettin
Goals: 7' Riedle, 86' Stroppa, 88' Mancini
Red card: 82' Pagliuca
What happened next
Lazio had a good season and improved on the previous campaign finishing 5th (only many years later would top 4 finish give Champions league places). So, after 15 years they were back in Europe qualifying for the UEFA Cup. This was welcomed by big celebrations on the last home game against Napoli (a highly entertaining 4-3 win).
Lazio won 13, drew 12 (including derby 0-0) and lost 9, so 38 points. Giuseppe Signori would win the first of his top Serie A scorer awards with 26 goals (32 in total).
In Coppa Italia, Lazio lost the return quarter final game against Torino 3-2 (but were 0-3 down with five minutes to go) and were eliminated.
Sampdoria finished 7th, on 36 points, only one point from Europe (6th placed Cagliari). The Blucerchiati had 12 wins, 12 draws and 10 defeats. Top scorer was Roberto Mancini with 15 league goals.
The Scudetto winners were Milan for their 13th title. Serie B awaited Fiorentina, Brescia, Ancona and Pescara.
Lazio 1992-93
Competition | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals Scored |
Serie A | 34 | 13 | 12 | 9 | 51 |
Coppa Italia | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 13 |
Total | 40 | 16 | 14 | 10 | 78 |
Top Five appearances
Player | Total | Serie A | Coppa Italia |
Fuser | 38 | 33 | 5 |
Signori | 38 | 32 | 6 |
Favalli | 36 | 32 | 4 |
Winter | 36 | 30 | 6 |
Bacci | 35 | 31 | 4 |
Top Goal Scorers
Player | Total | Serie A | Coppa Italia |
Signori | 32 | 26 | 6 |
Fuser | 11 | 10 | 1 |
Riedle | 10 | 8 | 2 |
Winter | 8 | 6 | 2 |
Gascoigne | 4 | 4 | - |
Let's talk about Giovanni Stroppa
Giovanni Stroppa was born in Mulazzano (Lodi-Lombardy), on January 24, 1968. He grew on a farmhouse in the agricultural areas around Lodi.
His first club as a kid was Union Maluzzano from 1977 to 1984. In 1978 he had a trial with Inter but nothing came out of it.
In 1984 instead, he joined A.C Milan's youth sector. He was first played at centre-forward, with Paolo Maldini on the wing...but they soon changed positions.
In 1986 Stroppa was called up to the first team but only played in a few friendlies.
In 1987-88 he joined Monza on loan where he stayed two years. In the first the Brianzoli won promotion from C1 to B under Pierluigi Frosio and the second finished 15th in Serie B. He played 71 league games with 5 goals. One of his teammates was, future Lazio, striker Pierluigi Casiraghi (1993-98).
In 1989 he returned to Milan. The manager was Arrigo Sacchi and the Rossoneri finished 2nd in Serie A but won the European Cup (Benfica 1-0), the European Super Cup (Barcelona 2-1 on aggregate) and the Intercontinental Cup (Atlético Nacional de Medellin 1-0). Stroppa played 17 league games with 2 goals (Cesena, Ascoli), 7 games in Coppa Italia, 5 in the European Cup with 1 goal (HJK-Helsinki) and the European Super Cup final. His teammates included former Lazio Mauro Tassotti (1976-80) and future Lazio, Diego Fuser (1992-98).
In 1990-91 he stayed on with Milan and they finished 2nd again. They did however win the European Super Cup (Sampdoria 3-1 on aggregate) and the Intercontinental Cup again (Olimpia from Paraguay 3-0 , Stroppa scoring the third). Stroppa played 18 league games, 7 in Coppa Italia and both cup finals. He played alongside future Lazio Demetrio Albertini (2003-04).
In 1991-92 he joined Lazio. The manager was Dino Zoff and Lazio finished 10th in Serie A. Stroppa played 30 league games with 4 goals (Foggia, Ascoli, Verona, Fiorentina) and 3 in Coppa Italia with 1 goal (Fidelis Andria). He performed well but Gazza was on his way.
In 1992-93 Zoff stayed on and Lazio finished 5th, qualifying for Europe after 15 years. Stroppa played 20 league games and scored 1 goal (Sampdoria) and 5 games in Coppa Italia. This was his last season with Lazio.
In 1993 he joined Foggia in Serie A. The manager was Zdeněk Zeman and the "Satanelli" finished 9th. Stroppa played 30 league games and scored 8 goals (Piacenza, Udinese, Genoa x2, Lecce, Piacenza, Torino x2 ) and 4 games in Coppa Italia with 3 goals (Triestina, Cesena, Parma). A good season for both Foggia's "Zemanlandia" and Stroppa. His teammates included former Lazio, Paolo Mandelli (1986-87), Gigi Di Biagio (1988-89) and future Lazio, José Antonio Chamot (1994-98).
In 1994 he returned to Milan for the second time. The manager was Fabio Capello and the Rossoneri finished 4th. They reached the European Cup final but lost to Ajax 0-1. They however won the Italian Supercoppa (Sampdoria on penalties) and the European Super Cup (Arsenal 2-0 on aggregate) but lost the Intercontinental Cup final (Vélez Sarsfield 0-2). Stroppa played 19 league games with 3 goals (Cremonese, Brescia, Inter), 4 games in Coppa Italia and 7 in Champions League with 1 goal (Salzburg). His teammates included former Lazio, Mario Ielpo (1980-84, 1985-87) and Paolo Di Canio (1984-86, 1987-1990, 2004-2006).
In 1995 Stroppa joined Udinese. The manager was Alberto Zaccheroni and the Friulani finished 11th. Stroppa played 31 league games with 1 goal (Juventus). His teammates included former Lazio, Raffaele Sergio (1989-92) and future Lazio, Gianluca Giannichedda (2001-05).
In 1996-97 Stroppa stayed in Udine and the Bianconeri finished 5th (UEFA Cup). Stroppa played 14 league games with 2 goals (Milan, Verona) plus 1 game in Coppa Italia.
In 1997 he joined Piacenza. He stayed two and a half seasons, all in Serie A. The "Papaveri" finished 13th, 12th and 18th (relegated). His managers were Vincenzo Guerini, Giuseppe Materazzi and then in the third year a chaotic change between Gigi Simoni (1-16), Maurizio Braghin (17), Daniele Bernazzini and Maurizio Braghin together (18-34). In his two and a half seasons Stroppa played 63 league games with 3 goals (Bari, Roma twice, in two draws) plus 9 games in Coppa Italia with 2 goals (Inter, Lecce). In his time in Emilia his teammates included Lazio connections; Matteo Sereni (2003-06), Simone Inzaghi (1999-2007, 2008-2010) and Renato Buso (1996-97). Two and a half seasons because in January 2000 he joined Brescia.
Brescia were in Serie B under Nedo Sonetti. The "Rondinelle" (The Little Swallows) won promotion and Stroppa played 17 league games with 3 goals (Monza, Ternana, Chievo). His teammates included, future Lazio, the Filippini twins (2004-05).
In 2000 Stroppa joined Genoa in Serie B. The Rossoblu got through five managers… starting with Bruno Bolchi and finishing with Franco Scoglio. The "Grifone" (The Griffin) came 12th. The following season Scoglio started but was followed by Edy Reja and then Claudio Onofri and Genoa finished 12th again. In these two chaotic years Stroppa played 59 league games with 5 goals (Monza, Sampdoria, Vicenza, Como, Crotone). The highlight was beating Sampdoria, on April 2 2001, with Stroppa getting the second goal.
In 2002 he joined Alzano Virescit, from near Bergamo, in C1. The Bianconeri were relegated under two different managers, Giampaolo Rossi and Davide Roncaglia. Stroppa played 25 league games with 5 goals. The club then went bust.
In 2003-04 he played a season with Avellino in Serie B. The Irpini were relegated under Zdenek Zeman. Stroppa played 33 league games with 1 goal.
In 2004-05 he had a season back at Foggia in Serie C1. The manager was first, former Roma midfielder Giuseppe Giannini and then Massimo Morgia. The Rossoneri finished 10th and Stroppa only played 9 league games with 1 goal as in January he left and joined Chiari near Brescia.
This would be his last club and season. Chiari played at regional level and Stroppa played 7 league games 2 goals.
He then retired at 33.
Stroppa won 4 caps for Italy in 1993-94 when he was at Foggia. He also played 7 games for the U21's with 3 goals and winning a European Championship bronze in 1990.
After retiring Stroppa started a coaching career. His first job was with Südtirol in Serie D and the "Rot-Weiß" (Red and Whites) finished 7th.
From August 2012 to November he had a spell at Pescara in Serie A but he resigned after 3 wins, 2 draws and 8 defeats in the league. His successor was Lazio legend, Cristiano Bergodi.
From August 2013 to December he was with Spezia in Serie B. He was replaced after 6 wins, 6 defeats and 6 defeats in the league.
In April 2014 he went back to Südtirol in Lega Pro (3rd tier) and stayed on the following year, finishing 10th.
In 2016 he returned to Foggia as manager in Lega Pro. He won promotion back to Serie B and then finished 9th in B the following year.
In 2018 he joined Crotone in Serie B. He was sacked after 9 games but was called back from the 19th game onwards. Crotone finished 12th. The following year the "Squali" (The Sharks) won promotion to Serie A for the second time in their history. In 2020-21 he was sacked in March, after only 3 league wins, and the Pitagorici were eventually relegated.
In 2021 he returned to Monza in Serie B as manager. He managed to get the Brianzoli promoted but was sacked the following season after 6 winless league games.
He is currently at Cremonese in Serie B. The Grigiorossi have promotion ambitions.
Stoppa was an attacking midfielder. He could play in several roles, he started as an attacking midfielder or supporting striker but also played as a winger, central midfielder and at the end of his career as a deep lying playmaker. He was a dynamic and extremely talented player. He was creative and skilful and known for his ability to set up goal scoring chances for his attacking partners.
He played 242 games in Serie A with 24 goals. He won a European Cup, 3 European Supercups, 2 Intercontinental Cups and 1 Italian Supercoppa.
At Lazio he stayed two seasons. He played a total of 58 games with 6 goals. He was an exciting and popular player, then with the arrival of Paul Gascoigne he got less space and moved on but Laziali have positive memories of him.
Lazio Career
Season | Total appearances (goals) | Serie A | Coppa Italia |
1991-92 | 33 (5) | 30 (4) | 3 (1) |
1992-93 | 25 (1) | 20 (1) | 5 |
Total | 58 (6) | 50 (5) | 8 (1) |
Sources
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