WORLD CUP 1990

The World Cup returned to Italy for the second time in 1990, fifty-six years after the first tournament to be held there. The format was unchanged from Mexico four years earlier, six groups of four with the top two and the four best third-placed teams going through. Hosts Italy were in Group A, alongside Czechoslovakia, Austria and the U.S.A. After a nervous start against Austria, when it took them nearly eighty minutes to find a goal, Italy won the group easily without conceding a goal. Two wins took Czechoslovakia through in second place, but Austria missed out in third as two points were not enough.

Argentina started the defence of their title against Cameroon in Group B, but were sensationally beaten 1-0. Winners against Romania as well, Cameroon were already through by the time of their defeat to the already eliminated Soviet Union, and they were joined in the second round by both Argentina and Romania after a draw took both sides through.

Brazil won all three games to top Group C, and went through with surprise package Costa Rica, who recorded shock wins over Scotland and Sweden. Scotland in third place missed out on qualification after conceding a late winner against Brazil. West Germany dominated Group D, comfortably beating Yugoslavia and the U.A.E. Yugoslavia sealed second place with an easy win over the U.A.E. in their last match, while Colombia's late equaliser against the Germans took them through in third.

Spain beat Belgium 2-1 in their last match to clinch first place in Group E, and the top two were joined in the last sixteen by Uruguay after a last minute goal against South Korea clinched a good enough record to get them through in third. Five draws out of six made Group F the closest of all, and England's 1-0 win over Egypt was good enough for first place. Ireland and the Netherlands finished exactly level after three draws each, and although both went through lots had to be drawn to give the Irish second place on their World Cup debut.

Cameroon's fairytale World Cup continued in the second round as two extra-time goals from substitute Roger Milla saw off Colombia to seal a first ever quarter-final appearance for an African nation. A Tomas Skuhravý hat-trick took Czechoslovakia past Costa Rica, before Brazil outplayed champions Argentina without finding the net and were caught with a classic counter-attack, losing 1-0. In a bad-tempered match, West Germany survived a late scare to beat European Champions the Netherlands 2-1, both sides finishing with ten men. After two goalless hours of football, Ireland crept past Romania after a penalty shoot-out, and would next face the host nation after Italy scored two second half goals to beat Uruguay. An early goal in extra-time took Yugoslavia into the last eight at the expense of Spain, and in the last second round match David Platt's goal for England in the last minute of extra-time was enough to beat Belgium.

Star player Diego Maradona missed a penalty in the quarter-final shoot-out against Yugoslavia but the Argentinians still kept a hand on the trophy with a 3-2 win on penalties. Italy edged past Ireland thanks to a single goal from Salvatore Schillaci, who would end the tournament as top scorer, and one goal was also enough for West Germany to beat Czechoslovakia. Having been behind late in normal time, two Gary Lineker penalties took England past Cameroon in extra-time.

For the first time ever, both semi-finals went to penalties. Argentina, with a Claudio Caniggia equaliser, became the first team in the tournament to score against Italy and then ended the hosts' dream with their second shoot-out win in a row. One day later, England and West Germany played perhaps the match of the tournament in the second semi-final. England came from behind late on to force extra-time, and after both teams had hit the post during the extra period the Germans came through in the shoot-out.

A late penalty gave Italy third place with a 2-1 victory over England, before Argentina and West Germany met in a repeat of the 1986 final. While the 1986 match turned into a classic, the 1990 final was a dreadful spectacle. Argentina seemed to be playing for penalties again, but got a taste of their own medicine with five minutes to go when West Germany won a spot-kick and Andreas Brehme scored the only goal. Argentina's tactics saw two sent off and few had any sympathy for them, but the best team in the tournament had won it and equalled the record of three World Cup wins.