Italia ’90: 10 iconic No.10 World Cup stories

Dragan Stojkovic: Yugoslavia

Round reached: Quarter-final / Appearances: 5 / Goals: 2

Arguably Italia ’90’s Number 10 of the tournament, Stojkovic’s playmaking impact was there for all to witness, and perhaps stood out even more as it shone through in a team which contained other star playmakers like Prosinecki, Dejan Savicevic and Safet Susic.

In a team labelled the Brazilians of Europe Stojkovic was their go-to man who revelled in his free role, popping up all over the pitch, allowing him to dictate and create wherever it suited him.

Although they got off to the worst possible start – a 4-1 thumping at the hands of West Germany – Stojkovic provided the assist via a free-kick for Yugoslavia’s goal. In the next two matches against Colombia and the UAE, the No.10’s influence continued to grow; constantly creating with his direct dribbling and accurate forward passing in exciting team performances which brought about two wins, five goals and just one conceded.

Stojkovic’s ‘game of the tournament’ however came against Spain in the Last 16 when his two wonderful goals topped off an excellent individual display that brought about a 2-1 victory. For his first goal, the fantasista dummied a volley inside the area and instead controlled the ball, which left a defender on the seat of his shorts after trying to block a shot which never materialised, allowing Stojkovic to slot past the goalkeeper. His second was the archetypical playmaker goal: a classically curled in direct free-kick.

Clearly a marked man against Argentina in the quarter-finals the No.10 suffered foul after foul, yet continued to take the fight to the crude South Americans by continuously dribbling and providing key passes, even with his side reduced to 10-men early on. This time the  breakthrough never came for Yugoslavia and penalties ensued.

Still standing up to the excessive adversity suffered at the hands ( or should that be studs) of his opponents, Stojkovic played keepy-ups on the penalty spot before taking his shootout kick. Astoundingly – and somewhat unjustly – he struck the bar and Yugoslavia were knocked out.