FIFA World Cup: Self goal that killed Andres Escobar
Andres Escobar was a celebrated player of the Colombia National Team. he was a Colombian football player who played as a defender in centre back position. He played for BSC Young Boys, Atlético Nacional, and the Colombia national team. He worked hard to bring a positive image of his country to the world. That’s why people of Columbia loved and respected him.
This is the story of the 1994 FIFA world cup. At that time in Colombia , the drug syndicate was at its peak. A person named Pablo Escobar was considered Columbia’s drug lord. Nothing happened in the country without his consent. He loved Football too much. That’s why he respected all the Football players and supported them whenever needed. American secret agencies have been looking for him for a long time. Right before the FIFA world cup, the Colombian goalkeeper Rene Higuita met the drug lord in his own private jail. This news reached the ears of USA agencies. Due to international pressure, he was not allowed to play in FIFA 1994. New goalkeeper Cordova came in.
The former footballer Pele, predicted that the Colombia team could win the 1994 world cup. Drug lords and gamblers had put huge amounts of money in bets in favour of Columbia. The players were getting threat calls in their hotel rooms to win the game from Colombian drug lords.
Under this high pressure team landed in the USA under the captainship of Andres Escobar. The team was practising with their full strength.
Life doesn’t end here. We have to go on. Life cannot end here. No matter how difficult, we must stand back up. We only have two options: either allow anger to paralyze us and the violence continues, or we overcome and try our best to help others. It’s our choice. Let us please maintain respect. My warmest regards to everyone. It’s been a most amazing and rare experience. We’ll see each other again soon because life does not end here.
Andres Escobar
The Moment that changed everything
Colombia’s team had to face defeat against Romania with a score of 1–3. The 2nd match with the USA was a do or die match, everyone was under pressure. In the 34th min, US player John Harker tried for the goal. But, Colombia defender Andres Escobar, deflected the ball. Sadly, the football went into its own goalpost and this resulted in a self goal. In this match, the USA won with a score of 2–1. Even under this high pressure Andres decided to return to his own country and face the public.
On one evening, he and his friends went to a bar. When returning back from the bar, a criminal shot 6 bullets in his back and the football hero died at the spot.
