The Murder
Many times we hear football players, coaches and even fans who say before a crucial match that it's a match of life and death. Unfortunatlly this was exactly the case of Andres Escobar, Colombia's sweeper (or central defender), after his National Team returned home early from the World Cup, USA 1994.
No one really knows exactly what happened there, on July 2nd 1994 in a bar called "El Indio" in Medellin, where the 27-year-old player had been shot 12 times by 3 murderers. Most versions claim that the own goal that Andres scored just two weeks earlier in the game which Colombia lost 2:1 to USA, was the main reason. They say that these people were probably gambled much a lot of money for Colombia's win in this game and an accidental own goal by Escobar looked for them as a reason of losing their money.
Colombia came to this World Cup as one of the best National Teams in the world and as one of the favourites to win this Cup. They had an amazing squad which also included players like Carlos Valderrama, Faustino Asprilla, Freddy Rincon, Leonel Alvarez and Adolfo Valencia. All the experts point of Brazil and Colombia as the best above all, especially after Colombia's amazing win in Buenos Aires few months earlier, 5:0 over Argentina. But expectations and reality are different things. Colombia had been drawn to a complicated but not so hard group including the host USA, Romania and Switzerland, but it all changed after Colombia's opening match lost 3:1 to Romania. Suddenly Colombia's squad of dream became a nightmare.
For the next match vs. USA, Colombia needed a win to keep their chances alive or at least a draw. And then came the 33 minute of the first half, a minute that will forever remains as a nightmare for all the Colombian fans. John Harkes crossed the ball from left and Andres, trying to prevent from it to get to Americans feet, changed the ball's direction into the net of his own goal, 1:0 USA. Colombia tried so hard to get back into the game, but in the second half another goal by Ernie Stewart made it 2:0 for the Americans. a late goal of Adolfo Valencia wasn't enough, Colombia lost 2:1 and basically was eliminated before the last match vs. Switzerland, a match which they won 2:0 but surprisely were eliminated earlier then everyone expected.
The tragic moment of Colombia and Andres.
Ten days after the players returned to Colombia, the tragedy happened. Escobar, who sat in a local bar in Medellin, was dragged into an argument with three people, one of them, Humberto Castro Munoz, was the driver of a rich man from Medellin who lost money from this game and decided to kill Escobar. The murderers took Andres outside to the parking lot and then Castro shot 12 times and killed the 27-year-old talented defender. The sick murder wasn't end here. After every shot, Castro scram "GGGooaalll" like the South American commentatores. He was arrested soon and sentenced to the jail for 43 years. In 2001, his punishment was reduced to 23 years and it was even more disgrace when he was released from prison on October 2005 for good behavior, only 11 years since he took the life of an innocent person. The judge's name wasn't published because the angry Colombian public might try to hurt him for release Castro.
Andres before his last match. "El Caballero de las canchas"
Biography
Andres Escobar Saldarriaga born on March 13, 1967 in Medellin. He started to play in the team which he loved the most-Atletico Nacional in 1985. Andres played as a sweeper or central defender and showed his great potential. Except ont season in 1989-1990, when he played in the Swiss club, Young Boys Bern, Escobar played all his career in Atletico Nacional, making his debut with the first team in 1987. His great form made the National Team coach, Fracisco Maturana, who also coached him in nacional, to invite Andres to the National Team in 1988 and wasn't took time until Andres was one of the best players of the Colombian football, the captain replacement of the National Team. He's nickname was The gentleman from the stadiums or in Spanish: "El Caballero de las canchas", since he was one of the fewest players who came from rich family, with education and good manners. His great achievement was of course in 1989, where he won with his team in the Copa Libertadores of America for the first time of Colombian club. He also Achieved with Nacional the 1991 Colombian championship, the 1990 Interamericana Cup and lost in the final of the Intercontinental Cup 1:0 to Milan. The same Milan interested in buying Andres after the World Cup 1994 and so is another Italian club, Parma, after Escobar became one of the best and solid defenders in the world.
Played 50 games for Colombia and scored one goal, in Wembley, when Colombia and England finish their 1:1 friendly match in 1988.
His Family
120,000 people came to Andres's funeral. Every year, many fans come to his grave to memorize this wonderful player, they bring photos and flags of andres to every match. They even built a statue for him outside the stadium. His father, Dario Escobar, never recovered from his son death. He founded organization of football which prevent young children from being in the streets and give them the opportunity to play football.
He was depressed from the judge's decision to release the murderer in 2005 and said that unfortunatlly Colombia doesn't have justice system. He passed away on January 2008 at the age of 77.
Andres also has a brother, the coach Santiago "Sachi" Escobar Saldarriaga. Santiago led Atletico Nacional to win the championship in 2005-I and also coached Once Caldas and Junior Barranquilla. today he coaches Independiente Medellin with his assistant, Leonel Alvarez.
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The greatest tragedy in the history of international football
May Andres soul rest in peace.
...Sooraj.Soman (Footballer, India)