When the going gets tough, Taffarel gets going

There had been one moment more important than this, the 8217;94 World Cup final. And Claudio Taffarel was there, stopping the fourth shot by Daniele Massaro and giving Brazil a record fourth World Cup title and the beginning of sainthood.

In the explosion of relief and joy after the second save, there was a special moment with Zagallo, his mentor, defender and sponsor.

8220;It made me proud to see him crying and happy,8221; Taffarel said. 8220;He gave me this moment so many times calling me to the team 8230; He went against many people who didn8217;t want me on the team, and I8217;m grateful.8221;

Brazilians tend to love or hate Taffarel, eversince he emerged a decade ago as a phenomenon among goalies. In 1990, at the age of 24, he was a starter on Brazil8217;s World Cup team.

Brazil lost that Cup, and Taffarel began a long slide that reached a low point when he was benched on Italy8217;s Parma. Still, Carlos Alberto Parreira, with Zagallo8217;s backing, called him up for the 8217;94 World Cup.

It was downhill again after that, and Taffarel seemed to be playing out his career on Atletico Mineiro. But Zagallo wanted his experience on the renewed national team he was assembling.

Experience counts, but Taffarel lives only for the next victory. 8220;Today is an unforgettable day, but we have to forget it,8221; he said. 8220;We havent8217;t won anything yet. It8217;s just one battle. I8217;m happy to live this moment.8221;

The veteran Taffarel, who has surpassed the Brazilian record of 16 World Cup ties held by Gilmar and Emerson Leao, has been desperately looking for recognition.

On Sunday, Taffarel will equal Germany8217;s Sepp Maier8217;s World Cup record for goalkeepers by playing his18th finals game. 8220;In Brazil people are crazy about football. But they dream about wearing a number nine or number ten on their shirt. If you8217;re a goalkeeper you just don8217;t exist,8221; he sighs.How many people remember his stop from Italy8217;s Daniele Massaro in the final four years ago or his save from Baggio8217;s volley?

Not as many who remember the goalscoring exploits of Romario and Bebeto, which hogged the headlines. And Taffarel says that8217;s just Brazilian logic.

8220;In Brazil, only strikers count 8212; a goalkeeper is bad if he lets in a goal, even if his team has won by six goals.8221;