Overview
- Goycochea said he wrote a short request at Jerusalem’s Western Wall in late May 1990 asking to play at least one World Cup match.
- He kept the episode private for 35 years and described finally sharing it in new televised interviews reported by Argentine outlets.
- The visit to the Western Wall formed part of coach Carlos Bilardo’s pre-tournament cábala used before the 1986 and 1990 World Cups.
- After Pumpido’s leg fracture in Argentina’s second game at Italia ’90, Goycochea became the starter and saved penalties against Yugoslavia and Italy as the team reached the final.
- He recalled an attempt to repeat the ritual during the 1994 cycle under Alfio Basile that was abandoned due to security constraints.