Coach
Arrigo Sacchi
After enjoying huge success in charge of AC Milan, where he won the Serie A title once and the European Cup twice, Sacchi took charge of Italy in 1991 and led them successfully through the World Cup qualifying campaign before reaching the 1994 World Cup final.
He remained in charge for the Euro 1996 tournament, however he left his post after the Azzurri failed to advance from the group stage. Following this, although maintaining his reputation as a great coach, Sacchi failed to replicate the success he enjoyed early in his coaching career and returned to Milan for an unsuccessful spell before brief stints with Atletico Madrid and Parma.
In what was his last direct involvement with a club, he served as director of football at Real Madrid in the 2004/05 season. In August 2010 he was appointed technical director of Italy's youth teams and left this role in July 2014, citing stress.
Goalkeeper and Defence
Gianluca Pagliuca
Although ultimately on the losing side, Pagliuca became the first ever goalkeeper to save a penalty in a World Cup final shootout when he saved Marcio Santos' effort. The 1994 tournament also saw him earn the distinction of being the first goalkeeper ever to be sent off in a World Cup match when he was dismissed in a group stage match against Norway.
The emergence of several top keepers at different times limited Pagliuca to 39 international appearances between 1990-98, while his club career included distinguished spells with Sampdoria, Inter and Bologna. He retired from playing in 2007 and first worked as a commentator for Mediaset Premium before moving back to Bologna to work for a period as a youth goalkeeping coach.
Roberto Mussi
The energetic right-back was making just his fifth appearance in an Azzurri shirt when he lined up against Brazil in 1994 and went on to make just six more following this. His contribution in the final was cut short however when he had to be withdrawn in the 35th minute with a leg injury.
Mussi started his career in the lower leagues with hometown club Massese before being snapped up by Parma and then moving on to Milan and later Torino before returning to Parma to finish his career. Bringing things full-circle, the Massa man is now vice-president of Massese, who compete in Serie D.
Franco Baresi
The captain and experienced head of the 1994 side, 34-year-old Baresi missed Italy's first penalty in the unsuccessful shootout. He made just one more appearance in an Azzurri shirt following the final before bowing out after representing his country 82 times. The legendary defender finished his career having won gold, silver and bronze World Cup medals.
After spending his whole career at Milan, Baresi retired from playing in 1997 and coached the club's youth sides between 2002-08. The six-time Serie A winner continues to work for the club, helping to launch Milan Soccer Schools in various countries and competing in charity games for the Milan Glorie side.
Paolo Maldini
Another defender who would go on to be considered a legend, Maldini was competing in his second of four World Cups with the Azzurri although he ultimately failed to claim a winners' medal in any of them. Shortly after the 1994 tournament, and following Franco Baresi's retirement, the Milan stalwart was appointed Italy captain and over the course of his career made 126 appearances on the international stage, a record currently bettered only by Gianluigi Buffon and Fabio Cannavaro.
The Italian Football Hall of Fame inductee retired from international football at the age of 34 but continued with the Rossoneri until 2009, hanging up his boots as a 41-year-old. These days Maldini still competes in charity games and is currently the co-owner of American side Miami FC who compete in the NASL.
Antonio Benarrivo
Predominantly a right-back throughout his career, Benarrivo was sufficiently versatile to be deployed at left-back for the Azzurri in the 1994 final. Between 1993 and 1997 he made 23 appearances for Italy while making his name as a vital player for Parma. After 362 total appearances for the Crociati, the defender retired in 2004.
In 2012, Benarrivo began studying for his UEFA Pro Licence alongside the likes of Filippo Inzaghi however he hasn't yet made a move into coaching and interestingly now owns a construction company in his home town of Brindisi.
Midfield
Nicola Berti
An ever-present in Sacchi's side throughout the 1994 World Cup, Berti was known for his work-rate and range of passing and was in the middle of a long spell with Inter when the tournament took place. This proved to be the last tournament the midfielder competed in for the Azzurri and overall he made 39 appearances in the blue shirt.
He left Inter in 1998 and had short stays at Tottenham Hotspur in England, Alaves in Spain and Northern Spirit in Australia before his retirement in 2002. Berti occasionally competes in charity games and last year appeared on a televised football talent show that focused on English side Leyton Orient.
Dino Baggio
The 22-year-old scored two important goals on Italy's journey to the final, first a match-winner against Norway in the group stage and then the opener in the Azzurri's 2-1 quarter-final victory over Spain. He later went on to represent his country at Euro 1996 and at the 1998 World Cup.
Best known for his time as a Parma player between 1994-2000, Baggio's playing career ended in 2008 at little Tombolo, for whom he briefly came out of retirement having originally called it quits in 2005. The 44-year-old has not remained in football since then and appears to have purposely stayed away from the spotlight.
Demetrio Albertini
The other half of a youthful central midfield partnership, by 1994 Albertini had firmly established himself as a key player for both Milan and the Azzurri. In the shootout against Brazil he was one of only two Italy players to score from the spot.
Having made 79 appearances for Italy, the midfielder retired in 2005 after half a season with La Liga side Barcelona. He went on to work for the Italian Football Federation, holding the positions of vice-commissioner and later vice-president until 2014, before losing out on the presidency to Carlo Tavecchio.
Roberto Donadoni
The 30-year-old midfielder was already vastly experienced by the time the 1994 World Cup came around having won three Serie A titles and three European Cup/Champions League titles with Milan. Having missed a penalty in Italy's shootout defeat to Argentina in the 1990 tournament, Donadoni didn't take one this time round.
Donadoni later took charge of Italy as coach in 2006 following their World Cup win under Marcello Lippi but was dismissed after the Azzurri's Euro 2008 campaign which saw them lose to Spain in the quarter-finals. The 52-year-old is now coach of Serie A side Bologna.
Attack
Daniele Massaro
In what proved to be the last of his 15 appearances for Italy the veteran forward missed his side's penultimate penalty, handing a 3-2 lead to Brazil. The 33-year-old scored his only international goal in the 1-1 draw against Mexico in the group stage.
A Milan legend in his prime, Massaro retired in 1996 after a short spell in Japan with Shimizu S-Pulse. Interestingly, he took part in the WRC Sanremo Rally in 1998 and 1999 and more recently has served as the Rossoneri's public relations manager.
Roberto Baggio
Undoubtedly Italy's key player at the 1994 World Cup, Baggio effectively dragged his side to the final by scoring several crucial goals when they appeared to be heading out of the tournament. However, it was he who missed the decisive penalty in the shootout to hand victory to Brazil.
Considered one of Italy's greatest ever players, the forward scored 27 goals in 56 appearances for the Azzurri and received numerous individual awards throughout his career, including FIFA World Player of the Year.
Although he has obtained his UEFA Pro Licence, Baggio has not moved into coaching. He has been very active in charity work since retiring, particularly as a Goodwill Ambassador of the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations.
Substitutes
Luigi Apolloni
Introduced in the 35th minute of the final for the injured Mussi, the Parma defender had last featured in the group stage having played in the 1-1 draw with Mexico. He spent the bulk of his career with the Crociati between 1987 and 2000 before retiring with Verona in 2001 and made 15 appearances for the Azzurri.
Since 2009 Apolloni has had an active coaching career, taking charge of Modena, Grosseto, Gubbio and Gorica before returning to the Stadio Ennio Tardini at the start of last season to become boss of Parma following their reformation in Serie D.
Alberigo Evani
The 31-year-old midfielder replaced Dino Baggio in extra-time to provide fresh legs and in the subsequent shootout was, along with Albertini, one of only two Azzurri players who were successful from the spot. A Sampdoria player at the time of the 1994 World Cup, Evani had previously spent a long spell with Milan where he won various honours under Arrigo Sacchi and Fabio Capello.
His post-playing career began with a youth coaching role at Milan before he took over as boss of Lega Pro side San Marino in 2009 but he lasted less than a year in that position. He is now coach of Italy's Under-20 side having also previously overseen the Under-18 and Under-19 sides.The post Where Are They Now: Italy’s 1994 World Cup finalists appeared first on GazzettaWorld.