Czechoslovakia v Italy 0-2
This match was one of the best games of the tournament,
as, despite both teams already confirming their
place in the second round; both teams were looking
to win the group. Also the Italians had a point
to prove after a disappointing 1-0 victory over
the Americans in their previous match. The game
started off at a fast pace, with the new Italian
star, Salvatore Schillaci scoring the opening goal
after 9 minutes, from a pass from Italian midfielder
Giussepi Giannini. For the rest of the half both
teams created good openings which forced decent
saves from Italian goalkeeper Walter Zenga and Czechoslovakia’s
goalkeeper Jan Stejakal.
The second half continued at the same pace as the
first half, however in the 78th minute of the match,
the Italians sealed victory, with arguably the best
goal of the Tournament from Roberto Baggio, he started
a run from inside the Italian half and raced through
the pitch going past 4 Czechoslovakian players,
and struck the ball past the goalkeeper, it really
was a moment of genius, and that sealed a 2-0 victory
for the Italians.
Argentina V Cameroon 0 -1
GOALS 67' 0-1 Francois Omam-Biyick (assist - Cyrille
Makanaky)
REFEREE Michel Vautrot (France)
LINESMEN Michal Listkiewicz (Poland)
Vincent Mauro (United States)
YELLOW CARDS 10' Benjamin Massing (CMR)
23' Victor N'Dip Akem (CMR)
27' Roberto Sensini (ARG)
54' Emile M'Bouh M'Bouh (CMR)
RED CARDS 61' Andre Kana-Biyick (CMR)
88' Benjamin Massing (CMR)
ATTENDANCE 73,780
This was the opening game of the World cup finals,
and this match will certainly be remembered for
producing one of the biggest shock results in world
cup history. Everyone expected Argentina to easily
beat the African Nation, and all eyes were on Diego
Maradona in this game.
It was the Africans who made the more promising
start to the match, however. Throughout the first
half the sportsmanship of the Cameroon players was
very bad, and the first half hour of the match produced
three yellow cards. Argentina also came close to
taking the lead, however, it was all even at the
half time interval. On the hour mark Cameoon’s midfielder
Andre Kana Biyick, was sent off for a foul on Argentine
striker Cannigia. Chances kept falling to both sides,
however in the 67th minute, to everyone’s surprise
Francois Omam-Biyick, headed a goal to put Cameroon
ahead, Argentine goalkeeper Nery Pumpido was really
at fault for the goal, as it should have been a
routine save. Argentina struggled to get back into
the game despite having an extra man on the field.
In the 88th Minute, Argentine striker Caniggia,
superbly ran past few players, and was badly fouled
by Benjamin Massing. Massing was sent off for the
foul, and Cameroon were now down to nine men. However
the score remained 1-0, and Cameroon had now put
African football firmly on the map.
West Germany v Yugoslavia 4-1
This match produced without a doubt the best team
performance of the world cup. West Germany were
outstanding, they totally dominated the match and
made Yugoslavia look very ordinary. Before the tournament
West Germany were fancied by many as one of the
favorites to win Italia 90. The Germans created
many openings in the first half hour and dominated
possession. Rudi Voller came close on a couple of
occasions early on in the match. On the half hour
mark, West Germany finally broke the dead lock with
a fine goal from German captain Lothar Mattaus,
he followed a pass from Stefan Reuter and turned
and smashed the ball into the back of the net from
20 yards out. Ten minutes later Klinsmann scored
a second for Germany, where he headed a cross from
Andreas Brehme. West Germany went into the interval
2-0 up, and deservedly so.
The second half continued at the same pace as the
first half with the Germans dominating possession,
however against the run of play Davor Jozik scored
a free kick for Yugoslavia, to put them back into
the match. Lothar Mattaus instantly replied scoring
West Germany’s third and his second, with a fantastic
run, beating a couple of Yougoslav players, and
smashing the ball perfectly into the corner of the
net from 25 yards out. West Germany continued to
pile on the pressure, with Voller coming close again
on a couple more occasions. Voller finally scored
the goal he deserved with fifteen minutes left.
West Germany could have easily scored a fifth, however
the score line remained at 4-1, and West Germany
showed the entire world what a quality side they
really were.
GOALS 29' 1-0 Lothar Matthäus (assist - Stefan Reuter)
39' 2-0 Jürgen Klinsmann (assist - Andreas Brehme)
55' 2-1 Davor Jozic (assist - Dragan Stojkovic)
65' 3-1 Lothar Matthäus
71' 4-1 Rudi Völler (assist - Andreas Brehme)
REFEREE Peter Mikkelsen (Denmark)
LINESMEN Michal Listkiewicz (Poland)
Jassim Mandi Abdulrahman (Bahrain)
YELLOW CARDS 5' Andreas Brehme (GER)
RED CARDS -
ATTENDANCE 74,765
England V Cameroon 3-2 AET
This was probably one of the greatest world cup
matches of all time, Cameroon were going into the
match as the surprise package of the tournament
and England had been improving as the competition
had went on. David Platt continued his excellent
form scoring a header from a Stuart Pearce cross
to give England the lead. Cameroon however piled
on the pressure and Peter Shilton had to make few
important saves in the first half to keep England
in the lead.
Cameroon hit back after the interval, their 38 years
old substitute, Roger Milla came on. Early on in
the second half, Cameroon equalised from a penalty
which was scored by Emmanuel Kunde. Milla created
the next goal which was scored by Eugene Ekeke in
the 65th minute. England were looking for an equaliser
and with seven minutes remaining Gascoigne threaded
a great pass to Linker who was at clear sight of
goal and was then brought down in the penalty box,
a penalty was awarded, and Linker held his nerve
to equalise for England. The 90 minutes were up
and the score was 2-2 so the game went into extra
time, just before the end of the first period of
extra time, Lineker was brought down in the penalty
area again and England were awarded another penalty,
Lineker hit the ball straight down the middle and
scored, which gave England the 3-2 lead. England
dominated the second period of extra time, both
Lineker and Beardsley had opportunities to score
a fourth. However England beat Cameroon and entered
the semi-finals and Cameroon’s world cup glory was
finally over.
GOALS 25' 0-1 David Platt (assist - Stuart Pearce)
61' 1-1 Emmanuel Kunde (penalty)
65' 2-1 Eugene Ekeke (assist - Roger Milla)
83' 2-2 Gary Lineker (penalty)
105' 2-3 Gary Lineker (penalty)
REFEREE Edgardo Codesal Mendez (Mexico)
LINESMEN Jassim Mandi Abdulrahman (Bahrain)
Vincent Mauro (United States)
YELLOW CARDS 28' Benjamin Massing (CMR)
70' Stuart Pearce (ENG)
104' Thomas N'Kono (CMR)
118' Roger Milla (CMR)
RED CARDS -
ATTENDANCE 55,205
West Germany V Argentina 1-0 The Final
This was considered by many to be the worst ever
world cup final. Argentina seemed to believe that
their best hope of beating West Germany was to defend
in numbers and play for a penalty shoot-out. West
Germany had more of the possession however they
did not perform that much better. The Argentine
substitute Monzon was sent off for a routine challenge
on Klinsmann, Monzon was very harshly sent off and
Argentina were unfairly down to 10 men. Argentina
should have been awarded a penalty with ten minutes
to go as Gabriel Calderon was brought down badly
in the West German penalty area. Controversially
West Germany were awarded a penalty when Voller
was challenged in the penalty box, many people argued
that the penalty should not have been given and
Brehme scored the penalty which gave West Germany
the 1-0 lead. A few minutes prior to the final whistle
Jurgen kholer of West germany was deliberately time
wasting and would not give the ball to Dezotti to
carry on the game, Dezotti attempted to take the
ball off from Kholer and as a result of that he
was unfairly dismissed. Maradona was controversially
booked for trying to calm the whole situation and
Argentina were down to nine men and the referee
had made few major mistakes. West Germany won the
match 1-0; however the sportsmanship of the Germans
throughout the match was poor.
West Germany were the winners of the world cup,
on the reflection of the whole tournament they deserved
to win it, but on the night they didn’t do themselves
any justice.
GOALS 85' 1-0 Andreas Brehme (penalty)
REFEREE Edgardo Codesal Mendez (Mexico)
LINESMEN Armando Perez Hoyos (Colombia)
Michal Listkiewicz (Poland)
YELLOW CARDS 9' Gustavo Dezotti (ARG)
52' Rudi Völler (GER)
84' Pedro Troglio (ARG)
87' Diego Maradona (ARG)
RED CARDS 65' Pedro Monzon (ARG)
87' Gustavo Dezotti (ARG)
ATTENDANCE 73,603
England V West Germany - 1-1 (3-4 Penalties)
The semi finals of Italia 90 was England biggest
match since their 1966 triumph of winning the world
cup, and was a night which will be remembered forever
in English football. England had been gaining momentum
throughout the tournament and West Germany had been
the best team of the tournament this match would
have made a fitting final. England were the brighter
team to start off with, Gascoigne came close after
few minutes. Pearce had a shot that went just wide
and Waddle came close with a shot from the half
way line. West Germany also created chances in the
first half but Shilton had an easy first half. Mid
way through the second half England went behind
to a cruelly deflected free kick which deflected
off Paul parker and looped over Peter Shilton. Lineker
equalised with a great Poachers strike with ten
minutes of normal time remaining.
During extra time Chris waddle had a shot that hit
the inside of the post, at the other end the Germans
nearly scored as Buchwald’s shot hit the outside
of the post. During the second half of extra time,
the tournament had one of its most memorable moments
when Paul Gascoigne broke down in tears after receiving
a booking which would have kept him out of the World
cup final if England were to reach it. By the end
of extra time the score was still level at 1-1 and
the match had to be decided by the penalty shoot
out. Both sides scored their first three penalties;
Lineker, Beardsley and Platt all scoring for England.
England missed their fourth penalty as Stuart Pearce’s
shot was saved by German goalkeeper Bodo Illgner.
Olath Thonb scored Germany’s fourth penalty, and
then Chris Waddle blasted England’s final penalty
over the bar, which meant England were out of the
world cup and West Germany were now to face Argentina
in the world cup final.
GOALS 59' 1-0 Andreas Brehme (assist - Olaf Thon)
80' 1-1 Gary Lineker
PENALTIES Goal 0-1 Gary Lineker (ENG)
Goal 1-1 Andreas Brehme (GER)
Goal 1-2 Peter Beardsley (ENG)
Goal 2-2 Lothar Matthäus (GER)
Goal 2-3 David Platt (ENG)
Goal 3-3 Karlheinz Riedle (GER)
Miss 3-3 Stuart Pearce (ENG)
Goal 4-3 Olaf Thon (GER)
Miss 4-3 Chris Waddle (ENG)
REFEREE Jose Ramiz Wright (Brazil)
LINESMEN Armando Perez Hoyos (Colombia)
Joël Quiniou (France)
YELLOW CARDS 66' Paul Parker (ENG)
99' Paul Gascoigne (ENG)
109' Andreas Brehme (GER)
RED CARDS -
ATTENDANCE 62,628
