Ruud Gullit
Ruud Gullit was a very strongly built footballer,
tall and powerful. On the pitch he was a threat
as he was good at leaping over potentially crippling
tackles with the same gazelle like style patented
throughout the 1970’s by his fellow Dutchman, Johan
Cruyff.
Gullit was as confident off the pitch as he was
on it.
Between the years 1979 and 1982 he played for Haarlem,
as a winger, he then moved on to bigger things moving
to Feyenord. Gullit became recognised as a super
international world class footballer by his fantastic
display in the 1988 European Championships, where
he helped Holland win the trophy. Through the majority
of 1989, Gullit suffered from the inflammation of
the right knee tendon which kept him off the pitch
for most of that season. He returned to football
playing in the European cup final on 20th May 1990,
leading AC Milan to victory over Steaua Bucherast.
He was back playing again in Italia 90, after decent
performances in Holland’s opening games against
Egypt and England, he was outstanding for Holland
in their final group match against the Republic
of Ireland, where he gave Holland the lead, and
he troubled the Irish defence throughout the game.
Holland eventually went out of the competition against
West Germany in a controversial second round match,
which saw two players sent off. Gullit went on to
play for Holland in the European Championships in
1992.
Roger Milla
One of the main stars of Italia 90 was defiantly
Cameroon’s super substitute Roger Milla, at the
age of 38, he was one of the oldest players playing
in Italia 90, however his performances were breathtaking.
He was outstanding as a substitute when he played
in Cameroon’s second game against Romania, he scored
two fine goals and created a number of openings,
the Romanian defence could not control him. His
game of the tournament was defiantly against Colombia
in the second round, he scored two goals in this
match after coming on as a substitute, which helped
Cameroon beat Colombia 2-1, he attracted the attention
of the world with his celebrations after scoring.
He came on as a substitute against England, in that
classic quarter final match; he was involved in
two of Cameroon’s goals and was a major threat to
the English defence. He ended the tournament as
one of the top scorers, and he certainly made a
big impact on the competition. Prior to the start
of the tournament, Milla had already been capped
81 times for Cameroon, and he was tempted out of
retirement.
In 1976, Milla was named Afrincan footballer of
the year, after that he played his football for
the French clubs Bastia, St Etinene and Montpellier.
In 1994 he starred for Cameroon once again in the
World cup in USA, he also scored in the game against
Russia, and became the oldest player of all time
to score in a world cup match, at the age of 42.
He participated in the world cups in the years 1982,
1990 and 1994.
Carlos Valderama – Colombia
Carlos Valderama is known as being one of South
Americans greatest Midfielders of all time, Valderama
made his debut for Colombia in 1985 in a match against
Paraguay, however he soon became recognised as a
quality midfielder and became the Captain of the
team few years later.
He played for a Colombian first division club named
Union Magdalena. He became very well known in Europe
once he signed for top French side Montpellier in
1988. Valderama was an excellent footballer with
electrifying pace and provides the perfect pass.
He was Colombia’s biggest threat in Italia 90, where
he scored an excellent goal in their 2-0 victory
over UAE, and he created the goal which fellow Colombian
team mate Rincon scored against West Germany, which
was the equalizer that ensured Colombia went passed
the group phase in the tournament. Despite a good
performance against Cameroon, Colombia lost that
match 2-1 and they were out of the tournament. He
became a worldwide footballing icon thanks to his
brilliant performances in Italia 90.
After the 1990 World cup, he went on too captain
Colombia in the world cup in USA in 1994 and in
France in 1998, however Colombia were disappointing
on both occasions, failing to get past the group
phase. He moved to America in 1996, where he played
for Tampa Bay Mutiny and became an instant success
in the MLS.
Lothar Mattaus
Lothar Mattaus is arguably one of the greatest
footballers of all time, he kick started his footballing
career playing for his local club, FC Herzogenaurach.
Mattaus was featured in the West German squad which
one the European Championships in 1980. He made
his world cup debut as a substitute in a match against
Chile, which the Germans won 4-1. He moved to top
German club Bayern Munich in 1984 and once against
starred for West Germany in the world cup in Mexico
in 1986, Mattaus played well in this world cup and
he scored the winning goal in a game against Morocco,
which ensured West Germany will go to the quarter
finals. Mattaus was given the role in the final
to man mark Diego Maradona, which was always going
to be a tough job. However West Germany lost the
final 3-2.
It was really during Italia 90, where Lothar Mattaus
would be best remembered. He probably produced one
of his best ever performances against Yugoslavia
in their opening match, which they one 4-1, he scored
two amazing goals and was outstanding throughout
the match. He played very well also against UAE
and Colombia. In West Germany’s second round match
against the Dutch, he was excellent; he had several
goal scoring opportunities and was all over the
pitch supplying perfect passes. He scored the winning
goal in West Germany’s quarter final match against
Czechoslovakia. He was one of the only footballers
in the final against Argentina that had a decent
game, as the 1990 World cup final was probably the
worst world cup final ever seen. Mattaus was defiantly
one of the best players of that tournament, and
he had the privilege of lifting the trophy for West
Germany. In 1990 he was also voted European footballer
of the year, and he went onto play for Inter Milan
in Italy where he was outstanding for them.
He eventually moved back to Germany in 1994, and
he starred in Germany’s team in the world cup in
USA in 1994. In this world cup he was employed as
a sweeper. The Germans lost to Bulgaria in the quarter
finals, which also marked Lothar Mattaus’s 21st
game playing for West Germany in the world cup finals.
At the age of 37, he once again played for Germany
in the world cup in 1998. He played in four of the
Germans matches in this world cup and set a new
all time record playing in a total of 25 world cup
matches. Mattaus even played for Germany in Euro
2000, at the age of 39, however that was to be the
last time he played for Germany. Lothar Mattaus
is definitely one of the all time footballing greats
the world has seen. He also has 150 caps to his
name, so he is also one of the most capped footballers
in the world.
Andres Brehme – West Germany
Recognised as the greatest full-back of his era,
Brehme was definitely one of the best players in
Italia 90, he scored one goal in the match against
Holland in the second round and also scored a free
kick against England to give the Germans the lead
in the semi final. Brehme also showed he has no
nerves at the penalty spot as he kept his cool and
converted a dubious penalty in the final against
West Germany which won the Germans the 1990 world
cup.
Brehme made his international debut in 1984, and
he starred for West Germany in the world cup in
Mexico in 1986. In the late 80’s and early 90’s
Brehme played for Inter Milan, along with fellow
team mates Mattaus and Klinsmann. After his spell
at Inter Milan he played for Bayern Munich and Kaiserslautern.
He then retired in 1998 at the age of 37. He played
in three world cups between 1986 -1994 and gained
86 caps for his country.
Diego Maradona – Argentina
Maradona is brilliant in every aspect of his game.
At his peak, his low centre of gravity makes it
very difficult for other players to force him off
the ball. His fast speed off the mark and his deceptive
change in pace always causes problems for his opposition.
Maradona has a thunderous shot with each foot and
has a perfect footballing brain which made him an
expert at weighing up a situation on the field.
And considering his strength he made some surprisingly
delicate touches, including the ability to play
the ball in mid-stride, which gave him that split-
second advantage over average players.
Diego Maradona grew up in a poor subarb of Buenos
Aires, he along with few of his friends founded
a team known as Los Cebollitas. He was then signed
by first division club, Argentinos Juniors. By 1980,
he was so good that Argentinos couldn’t hold him
any longer, so he moved to Boca Juniors for £1 Million.
From then on every occasion Maradona moved clubs
it was for a world record fee. All of Diego Maradona’s
fans will always remember his performance against
England in the 1986 world cup quarter final, when
he scored one of the best individual goals in the
history of the world cup, he tore the entire English
defence apart. Many critics remember how, in the
same match, he clearly palmed the ball into the
net right in front of a Tunisian referee, who was
later banned by FIFA for incompetence. Throughout
the entire 1986 world cup, Maradona’s performances
were of the highest quality, his goal against Belgium
was fantastic, and he tore apart entire teams in
that tournament. He was excellent in the final against
West Germany, where he passed the ball to Burruchaga
who scored the goal that won Argentina the world
cup. His 1986 world cup success contrasts sharply
with his experience of 1978 when, despite being
compared to some of the greatest players of the
past, manager Cesar Luis Menotti dropped him from
the Argentine squad shortly prior the finals. Maradona
played for the Italian club Napoli from 1984, where
he won two league titles with them and the UEFA
cup.
Maradona was not at his best form before the 1990
World cup in Italy, he was arguably not at his best
in the three opening games in the group phase, in
the matches against Cameroon, USSR and Romania.
However Maradona produced lots of magic in the second
round match against Brazil, and it was in that match
he made a fantastic 40 yard run, starting from the
Argentine half, beating a number of Brazilian players
and finally threaded the ball to his partner Caniggia,
who scored the winning goal to send Argentina through
to the Quarter finals. He was outstanding for Argentina
in the matches against Yugoslavia and Italy; however
he didn’t have his best performance against West
Germany in the final which West Germany won 1-0
thanks to a dubious penalty. Maradona was the most
fouled football player in Italia 90, his ability
to roll past defenders was second to none.
Maradona’s final chapter in world cup football
came during the world cup in USA in 1994. He scored
in Argentina’s 5- 0 victory over Greece, however
he failed a drugs test, which consequently banned
him from the competition. Many consider Diego Maradona
to be the greatest footballing players of all time;
people even argue that he was even a better player
than Pele.
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Paul Gascoigne - England
Gascoigne is originally from Gateshead. He started
is professional playing career at Newcastle where
he made 207 appearances for the club. In 1988 he
moved to London club Tottenham Hotspur for a fee
of £2 Million. He made his England international
debut in this same year against Denmark.
His form in the 1989-1990 season was excellent,
and he was tipped to be the star of Italia 90, even
before the tournament had begun. Gascoigne played
really well in England’s opening game against the
Republic of Ireland, however that game ended up
in a dismal 1-1 draw. Gascoigne became recognised
as a world class player in England’s 0-0 draw against
Holland in their second group stage match. Gascoigne
was fantastic on that night, producing magic all
over the field; he was all over the entire pitch
that day; however despite England having two goals
disallowed and dominating the match, the game still
ended up in a draw. Against Egypt, in their final
group match Gascoigne provided the ball for Mark
Wright to head in the net, which sealed England’s
progression to the knock out phase. Gascoigne produced
two sparkling performances in the matches against
Belgium and Cameroon. It was his performance against
West Germany which touched most football fans all
over the world. After picking up a second booking
in extra time, Gascoigne cried knowing that if England
were to beat the Germans he would be suspended from
the match, however, Gascoigne being the strong character
he is, still played brilliantly for the rest of
the match.
Gascoigne went on to stay one more year at Tottenham
after the World cup, and injury kept him out of
action for a year. He eventually moved to Lazio
for a fee of £5.5 Million, however in 1995 he moved
back to Britain and joined top Scottish club Glasgow
Rangers, in the 95-96 season, he was named Scottish
footballer of the year. He was in top form during
the European Championships in the year 1996, where
he scored a breathtaking goal against Scotland,
in a game which England won 2-0. Gascoigne never
featured for England in their 1998 world cup squad.
Between the years 1998- 2002 he played for the Premiership
clubs, Middlesbrough and Everton and later moved
on to English club Burnley.
Salvatore Schillaci - Italy
The surprise star of Italia 90 without a doubt
was Salvatore Schillaci, before the tournament he
was unknown too many people, however by the end
of the tournament he had won golden boot and was
known all over the entire world. His first goal
came against Austria in Italy’s opening Group A
match, he came on as a substitute in that match
and scored the winning goal. From then on he couldn’t
stop scoring throughout the tournament. He scored
the winning goal in Italy’s quarter final match
against the Republic of Ireland, and he gave Italy
the lead against Argentina in a semi final which
Italy eventually lost in penalties. Scillaci was
born in Palermo. Before Italia 90, Scillaci was
playing for Seria B club, and a year prior to the
world cup he moved to Juventus, where he scored
15 goals in 30 appearances for them. However after
the world cup, Schillaci didn’t remain a permanent
fixture in the Italian national squad.
Peter Shilton - England
Peter Shilton entered professional football with
Leicester City, as a reserve goalkeeper to George
Banks, England’s world cup winning goalkeeper in
1966. He made his league debut at the age of 16,
in May 1966, he became the youngest ever player
to appear for Leicester City. At Leicester, Shilton
learned all his goalkeeping skills from Banks and
was working to a meticulous training programme designed
to eradicate mistakes from his game. Peter Shilton
stayed at Leicester until 1974, when Stoke paid
a domestic record of £340,000 for him. He then went
on to join Nottingham Forest in 1977, he helped
transform the club into one of Europe’s best sides,
winning the European cup two years in succession.
Shilton’s international career spans 20 years. Throughout
his time playing for England he gave a unique sense
of confidence and defensive security. He played
in 5 world cup matches in 1982 and 5 world cup games
in 1986. He was also England’s goalkeeper in Italia
90; he made important saves in the matches against
the Republic of Ireland and Egypt. He was on top
form against Belgium and Cameroon. He also made
few crucial saves in the match against West Germany;
however England were knocked out by the Germans
in the penalty shoot out. He is England’s most capped
footballer of all time winning 125 caps.