Take a look at this video of the old Yugoslavian national football side which made it to the Quarter-Finals of the 1990 World Cup in Italy.
Facing stiff opposition in Argentina -- led by Diego Maradona, no less -- the Yugoslavs lost out 2-3 on penalties after holding the South Americans to a 0-0 stalemate throughout normal time.
As seen on this video, the Yugoslavs actually had a chance to go ahead 3-2 in the penalty shoot-out when Dragoljub Brnovic stepped up to the spot, however his shot was parried away by Argentine goalkeeper Sergio Goycoechea.
Sadly -- at least for Yugoslavia -- Argentina would go on to win the shoot-out and face tournament hosts Italy in the semi-final (who they also defeated on penalties, before being defeated in the final by West Germany).
A friend recently uttered to me his belief that the bloody break-up of Yugoslavia, several years after the 1990 World Cup, could possibly have been avoided had the Yugoslavs somehow been successful in Italy.
Really, who knows?
That is a proposition far beyond my capabilities to answer, so lets just watch the video.
(If only Brnovic had shot to the right, eh!?)
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