1990 FIFA World Cup
Encyclopedia
The 1990 FIFA World Cup was the 14th FIFA World Cup
, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 8 June to 8 July 1990 in Italy, the second country to host the event twice. Teams representing 116 national football associations from all six populated continents entered the competition, with its qualification process
beginning in April 1988. Twenty-two teams qualified from this process, along with host nation Italy
and defending champion Argentina
, for the finals tournament. The official match ball was the Adidas Etrusco Unico.
The tournament was won by West Germany
, who claimed their third World Cup title by defeating reigning champions Argentina 1–0 in the final, a rematch of the previous final four years earlier. Hosts Italy beat England
2–1 to finish third after both lost their semi-finals in penalty shootouts.
The 1990 World Cup is widely regarded as one of the poorest World Cups ever. It generated a record low goals-per-game average of just 2.21 and a then-record 16 red cards were handed out, including the first ever dismissal in a final.
Despite the low goalscoring, the 1990 World Cup stands as one of the most watched events in television history, garnering an estimated 26.69 billion non-unique viewers, compiled over the course of the tournament. At the time it was the most watched World Cup in history in non-unique viewers, but has subsequently been bettered by the 1994
and 2002 FIFA World Cup
s.
Following this World Cup, the back-pass rule
was introduced in 1992 to discourage time-wasting and overly defensive play, and wins were awarded three points
in the group stage of the 1994 World Cup to encourage more aggressive offensive tactics and discourage the strategy of playing for a draw.
, Switzerland. Here, the FIFA Executive Committee chose Italy ahead of the only rival bid, the USSR
, by 11 votes to 5. This awarding made Italy only the second nation to host two World Cup tournaments, after Mexico had also achieved this with their 1986 staging
. Italy had previously had the event in 1934
, where they had won their first championship.
Austria
, England, France, Greece
, West Germany
and Yugoslavia
also submitted initial applications for the 31 July 1983 deadline. A month later, only England and Greece remained in the hunt with Italy and the Soviet Union after the other contenders all withdrew. All four bids were assessed by FIFA in late 1983, with the final decision overrunning into 1984 due to the volume of paperwork involved. In early 1984, England and Greece also withdrew, leading to a two-horse race in the final vote. The Soviet boycott of the 1984 Olympic Games
announced on the eve of the World Cup decision was speculated to have been a major factor behind Italy winning the vote so decisively, although this was dismissed by FIFA President João Havelange
.
Thirteen places were contested by UEFA
teams (Europe), three by CONMEBOL
teams (South America), two by CAF
teams (Africa), two by AFC
teams (Asia), and two by CONCACAF
teams (North and Central America and Caribbean). The remaining place was decided by a play-off between CONMEBOL and OFC
(Oceania).
Both Mexico
and Chile
were disqualified during the qualification process; the former for fielding an overage player in a prior youth tournament, the latter after goalkeeper Roberto Rojas
faked injury from a firework thrown from the stands, which caused the match to be abandoned. Chile were also banned from the 1994 qualifiers
for this offence.
Three teams qualified for the first time: Costa Rica
, the Republic of Ireland
and the United Arab Emirates
.
Returning after long absences were Egypt, who appeared for the first time since 1934; the United States
, who competed for the first time since 1950, Colombia who appeared for the first time since 1962; and Romania, who last appeared at the Finals in 1970.
Among the teams who failed to qualify were Hungary, France, Poland, and Portugal.
in Bari
and Turin
's Stadio delle Alpi
were completely new venues opened for the World Cup.
The remaining ten venues all underwent extensive programmes of improvements in preparation for the tournament, forcing many of the club tenants of the stadia to move to temporary homes. Additional seating and roofs were added to most stadia, with further redevelopments seeing running tracks removed and new pitches laid. Due to structural constraints, several of the existing stadia had to be virtually rebuilt in order to implement the changes required.
Most of the works cost in excess of their original estimates, and total costs ended up being over £550 million (approximately $935 million). Rome's Stadio Olimpico
which would host the final was the most expensive project overall, while Udine's Stadio Friuli
, the newest of the existing stadia (opened 14 years prior), cost the least to redevelop.
and England's Dave Beasant
– entered their respective squads during the tournament to replace injured players (Nery Pumpido
and David Seaman
).
Africa Mohamed Hansal Neji Jouini
Jean-Fidele Diramba
Asia Jamal Al Sharif
Jassim Mandi
Shizuo Takada
Europe Luigi Agnolin
Emilio Soriano Aladrén
George Courtney
Pietro D'Elia Erik Fredriksson
Siegfried Kirschen
Helmut Kohl
Tullio Lanese
Michał Listkiewicz Rosario Lo Bello Carlo Longhi Pierluigi Magni Peter Mikkelsen Pierluigi Pairetto
Zoran Petrović
Joël Quiniou
Kurt Röthlisberger
Aron Schmidhuber
Carlos Silva Valente
George Smith
Alan Snoddy
Alexey Spirin
Marcel van Langenhove
Michel Vautrot
North and Central America Edgardo Codesal
Vincent Mauro
Berny Ulloa Morera
Oceania Richard Lorenc
South America Juan Daniel Cardellino
Armando Pérez Hoyos Elías Jácome
Juan Carlos Loustau
Carlos Maciel
Hernán Silva
José Roberto Wright
The seeds were decided by FIFA based on the nations' performance in, primarily, the 1986 World Cup
with the 1982 World Cup
also considered as a secondary influence. Six of the final eight in 1986 had qualified for the 1990 tournament. Italy – who were seeded first as hosts – had not reached the final eight in 1986, and this left FIFA needing to exclude one of the three (qualified) nations who were eliminated in the 1986 quarter finals: Brazil, England or Spain.
Owing to their performance in 1982 but also to their overall World Cup record, Brazil were seeded third and not considered to drop out of the seedings. FIFA opted to seed England ahead of Spain. Spain had only been eliminated in 1986 on penalties, while England had been defeated in 90 minutes; both countries had also reached the second stage in the 1982 event, but Spain had also appeared in the 1978 event
, while England had failed to qualify. FIFA President João Havelange
had reportedly earlier stated that Spain would be seeded.
Spain believed the seeding was contrived to ensure England would be placed in Group F, the group to be held off the Italian mainland, in a bid to contain England's hooliganism problems. Spanish coach Luis Suárez
said, "We feel we've been cheated...they wanted to seed England and to send it to Cagliari at all costs. So they invented this formula". FIFA countered that "the formula was based on the teams' respective showings during the previous two World Cups. England merited the sixth position. This is in no way a concession to English hooliganism".
in Rome, where the group lineups and order of matches was determined. The ceremony was hosted by Italian television presenter Pippo Baudo
, with Italian actress Sophia Loren
and opera singer Luciano Pavarotti
conducting the draw alongside FIFA General Secretary Sepp Blatter
.
The draw show was FIFA's most ambitious yet with Pelé
, Bobby Moore
and Karl-Heinz Rummenigge
, as well as a performance of the tournament's official song
, "Un'estate italiana
" being performed by Edoardo Bennato
and Gianna Nannini
.
The event also featured the official mascot of this World Cup, Ciao, a stick figure
player with a football head and an Italian tricolor body
. Its name is an Italian greeting.
The finals tournament of the 1990 World Cup began on 8 June and concluded on 8 July. The format of the 1990 competition remained the same as in 1986
: 24 qualified teams were divided into six groups of four. The top two teams and four best third place finishers from the six groups advanced to the knockout stage, which eliminated the teams until a winner emerged. In total, 52 games were played.
.
Ireland and Argentina were prime examples of this trend of cautious defensive play; the Irish scored just twice in five games in drawing all their matches until their defeat to Italy in the quarter-finals. Losing finalists Argentina, meanwhile, scored only five goals in the entire tournament (a record low for a finalist that, as of 2010, still stands). Argentina also became the first (and so far only) team to advance twice on penalty shootouts, the first team to fail to score in a World Cup final, and the first to have a player sent off in a World Cup final.
Largely as a result of this trend FIFA introduced the back-pass rule
in time for the 1994 tournament
in order to make it harder for teams to time-waste by repeatedly passing the ball back for their goalkeepers to pick up. Three, rather than two, points would be awarded for victories at future tournaments to help further encourage attacking play.
reached the quarter-finals, where they were narrowly defeated by England. They opened the tournament with a shock victory over reigning champions Argentina, before topping the group ahead of both them and European Championship runners-up the Soviet Union. Their success was fired by the goals of Roger Milla
, a 38 year old forward who came out of international retirement to join the national squad at the last moment after a personal request from Cameroonian President Paul Biya
. Milla's four goals and flamboyant goal celebrations made him one of the tournament's biggest stars as well as taking Cameroon to the last eight. In reaching this stage, they had gone further than any African nation had ever managed in a World Cup before; a feat only equalled twice since (by Senegal
in 2002
and Ghana
in 2010
). Their success was African football's biggest yet on the world stage, and FIFA subsequently decided to offer the CAF qualifying zone
an additional place for the next World Cup tournament.
, this is only the second time in the history of the World Cup this has occurred. The teams which finished first, second and third had also contested both the two previous World Cup Finals between themselves.
All kick-off times local (CEST
/UTC+2
)
of six games, where each team played one match against each of the other teams in the same group. Teams were awarded two points for a win, one point for a draw and none for a defeat. The teams coming first and second in each group qualified for the Round of 16. The four best third-placed teams would also advance to the next stage.
If teams were level on points, they were ranked on the following criteria in order:
won Group A with a 100 per cent record. They beat Austria
1–0 thanks to substitute Salvatore 'Toto' Schillaci
, who had played only one international before but would become a star during the tournament. A second 1–0 victory followed against a United States team
already thumped 5–1 by Czechoslovakia
. The Czechoslovaks ended runners-up in the group, while the USA's first appearance in a World Cup Finals since 1950
ended with three consecutive defeats.
defeated reigning champions Argentina
. Despite ending the match with only nine men, the African team held on for a shock 1–0 win, with contrasting fortunes for the brothers Biyik: François Omam scoring the winning goal, shortly after seeing Andre Kana sent off for a serious foul. In their second game the introduction of Roger Milla
was the catalyst for a 2–1 win over Romania
, Milla scoring twice from the bench (making him the oldest goalscorer in the tournament). With progression assured, Cameroon slumped to a 4–0 defeat in their final group game to a Soviet Union
side striving to stay in the tournament on goal difference after successive 2-0 defeats. A 1–1 draw between Romania and Argentina sent both through, the latter as one of the best third-placed teams.
beat Scotland
1–0 in their first match, lost 1-0 to Brazil
in their second, then saw off Sweden
2–1 to claim a place in the second round. Brazil took maximum points from the group. They began with a 2–1 win over Sweden, then beat both Costa Rica and Scotland 1–0. Scotland's 2–1 win over Sweden was not enough to save them from an early return home as one of the two lowest-ranked third-placed teams.
team that lost 2–0 to Colombia
, 5–1 to West Germany
and 4–1 to Yugoslavia
. All three of the UAE's first round opponents reached the last 16, with West Germany topping the group after a 4–1 opening victory over group runners-up Yugoslavia.
, for whom Michel hit a hat-trick as they beat South Korea
3–1 in an unbeaten group campaign. Belgium won their first two games against South Korea and Uruguay
to ensure their progress; Uruguay's advance to the second round came with an injury time winner against South Korea to edge them through as the weakest of the third-placed sides to remain in the tournament.
, England
, the Republic of Ireland
and Egypt, no team managed to score more than once in a match, and only one match failed to end in a draw. England's bright start against Ireland - including an early goal from Lineker - faded rapidly, and their lead was cancelled out 20 minutes from time by Kevin Sheedy's strike. The Netherlands, highly rated following their European Championship victory in 1988, conceded a late penalty to allow an Egyptian equalizer. England largely dominated their match against the Netherlands - despite, for the second World Cup in succession, losing their captain Bryan Robson
to an injury which would keep him out of the rest of the tournament - but the closest they came was a Stuart Pearce
free-kick which went directly into the net, but was disallowed because the referee had in fact awarded an indirect free kick. (Goalkeeper Van Breukelen was also apparently unaware the freekick was supposed to be indirect, and came very close to touching the ball in attempting to save it, which would have made it a goal if he had touched it but failed to keep it out.) Gary Lineker
also had a goal ruled out earlier in the game. Ireland and Egypt failed to have a single shot on target between them in the 90 minutes of their 0-0 draw. The decisive result was England's 1–0 victory over Egypt, thanks to a headed goal by Mark Wright, which won them the group and eliminated the Africans: meanwhile the Netherlands, for the second time, conceded a late equalizer, this time to Niall Quinn
. For the first time in World Cup Finals history, the drawing of lots was required to divide two teams, as Ireland and the Netherlands ended with identical results.
The Republic of Ireland and the Netherlands finished with identical records. With both teams assured of progressing, they were split by the drawing of lots to determine second and third place.
involved the sixteen teams that qualified from the group stage of the tournament. There were four rounds of matches, with each round eliminating half of the teams entering that round. The successive rounds were: round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals, final. There was also a play-off to decide third/fourth place. For each game in the knockout stage, any draw at 90 minutes was followed by thirty minutes of extra time; if scores were still level there would be a penalty shootout (at least five penalties each, and more if necessary) to determine who progressed to the next round. Scores after extra time are indicated by (a.e.t.), and penalty shoot outs are indicated by (pen.).
.
The all-South American game was won for Argentina by a goal from Claudio Caniggia
with ten minutes remaining after a run through the Brazilian defence by Diego Maradona
and an outstanding performance from their goalkeeper Sergio Goycochea. A strong second half showing from Italy saw them beat Uruguay 2–0, thanks to another goal from Schillaci and one from Aldo Serena
.
The West Germany–Netherlands clash was held in Milan, and both sides featured several notable players from the two Milanese clubs. After 22 minutes Rudi Völler
and Frank Rijkaard
were dismissed after a spitting incident. Early in the second half, Jürgen Klinsmann
put the West Germans ahead and Andreas Brehme
added a second with eight minutes left. A Ronald Koeman
penalty for the Netherlands in the 89th minute narrowed the score to 2–1 but the Germans saw the game out to gain some revenge for their exit to the Dutch in the previous European Championship.
Meanwhile, the heroics of Cameroon and Roger Milla continued in their game with Colombia. Milla was introduced as a second half substitute with the game goalless, eventually breaking the deadlock midway in extra time. Three minutes later he netted a second after Colombian goalkeeper, René Higuita
was dispossessed by Milla while well out of his goal, leaving the striker free to slot the ball into the empty net. Though the deficit was soon reduced to 2-1, Cameroon held on to become the first African team ever to reach the World Cup quarter-finals. Costa Rica were comfortably beaten 4–1 by Czechoslovakia, for whom Tomáš Skuhravý
scored the tournament's second and final hat-trick
.
The Republic of Ireland's match with Romania remained goalless after extra time, and the Irish side won 5–4 on penalties. David O'Leary
converted the penalty that clinched Ireland's place in the quarter-finals. Ireland thus became the only team in history to reach the last eight in a World Cup finals tournament without winning a match outright. Yugoslavia beat Spain 2–1 after extra time, with Dragan Stojković
scoring both the Yugoslavs' goals. England were the final qualifier against a largely dominating Belgium, but midfielder David Platt's swivelling volley broke the stalemate with the game moments away from a pealty shootout.
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broke his leg during the group stage – rescued his side by stopping the Yugoslavs' final two spotkicks.
The Republic of Ireland's World Cup run was brought to an end by a single goal from Schillaci in the first half of their quarter-final with hosts Italy. West Germany beat Czechoslovakia with a 25th minute Lothar Matthäus
penalty.
In the last quarter-final Cameroon came to within seven minutes of reaching the semi-finals. After Platt headed England ahead in the 25th minute of their quarter-final fixture, the half time introduction of Roger Milla turned the game in the space of five second half minutes. First, Cameroon were awarded a penalty, from which Emmanuel Kundé
equalised, before Eugène Ekéké
put them ahead, then they conceded a penalty, which Gary Lineker
converted to equalise. Midway through extra time, England were awarded another penalty that Lineker again converted to send them through to the semi-finals.
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scored to put Italy ahead in the 17th minute, but Claudio Caniggia
equalised midway through the second half, the first player to breach the Italian defence in a World Cup record 517 minutes' play. There were no further goals, but a series of serious fouls saw five yellow cards and a red issued, largely to Argentina: the game went to a shootout which Argentina won 4–3, after Roberto Donadoni
and Aldo Serena
both had their kicks saved by Sergio Goycochea. Argentina's decisive penalty had been converted by Diego Maradona
, who playing in his club "home city" of Naples had urged locals to support him rather than their homeland, creating a more muted atmosphere than Italy's previous games in Rome. Argentina reached the final having scored only five goals in the tournament, an all-time record low.
The second semi-final was between West Germany and England. Neither side was able to fashion a clear-cut chance in the first half. The deadlock was broken on the hour mark when a free kick from Andreas Brehme
was heavily deflected by the on-rushing Paul Parker, sending the ball into the net. With 10 minutes left, Gary Lineker equalised for England, forcing extra-time. In the 99th minute, England's Paul Gascoigne
received his second yellow card of the competition and the English player openly wept at the realisation that he would not be allowed to play in the final were England to advance. Extra-time ended without any further scoring, although both sides hit the post, and England had another Platt goal ruled out for off-side, the game went to penalty kicks, where West Germany won their third straight World Cup shoot-out, 4–3, to take them to a third consecutive final.
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opened the scoring after a rare mistake by England's goalkeeper Peter Shilton, in his final game before international retirement, presented a simple opportunity. A header by David Platt levelled the game 10 minutes later but Schillaci
was fouled in the penalty area five minutes later, leading to a penalty. Schillaci himself got up to convert the kick to win him the tournament's Golden Shoe for his six goal tally. Nicola Berti
had a goal ruled out minutes later, but the hosts claimed third place. England had the consolation prize of the Fair Play award, having received no red cards and the lowest average number of yellows per match.
was sent off for a foul on Jürgen Klinsmann
, the first player ever to be sent off in a World Cup Final.
Argentina, weakened by suspension and injury, offered little attacking threat throughout a contest dominated by the West Germans, who struggled to create many clear goalscoring opportunities. The only goal of the contest arrived in the 85th minute when Mexican referee Edgardo Codesal
awarded a penalty
to West Germany, after a foul on Rudi Völler
by Roberto Sensini
. Andreas Brehme
, who later said there was no foul, converted the spot kick to settle the contest. In the closing moments, Argentina were reduced to nine after Gustavo Dezotti
received the second red card of the game when he hauled Jürgen Kohler
to the ground during a stoppage in play. The 1–0 scoreline provided another first: Argentina were the first team to fail to score in a World Cup Final.
With its third title (and three second place finishes) West Germany – in its final tournament before national reunification
– became the most successful World Cup nation, until Brazil won their fourth title in 1994
. West German manager Franz Beckenbauer
became the only man to both captain (in 1974
) and manage a World Cup winning team, and only the second man (after Mário Zagallo
of Brazil) to win the World Cup as a player and as team manager. It was also the first time a team from UEFA won the final against a non-European team.
received the Golden Shoe award for scoring six goals in the World Cup. This made him the second Italian footballer to have this honour, after Paolo Rossi
won the award in 1982. In total, 115 goals were scored by 75 different players (none credited as own goals).
6 goals Salvatore Schillaci
5 goals
Tomáš Skuhravý
4 goals Roger Milla
Gary Lineker
Lothar Matthäus
Míchel
3 goals David Platt Andreas Brehme
Jürgen Klinsmann
Rudi Völler
2 goals Claudio Caniggia
Careca Müller Bernardo Redín
Michal Bílek
Roberto Baggio
Gavril Balint
Marius Lăcătuş
Davor Jozić
Darko Pančev
Dragan Stojković
1 goal Andreas Ogris
Gerhard Rodax
Jorge Burruchaga
Pedro Monzón
Pedro Troglio Jan Ceulemans
Lei Clijsters
Michel De Wolf
Marc Degryse
Enzo Scifo Patrick Vervoort
Eugène Ekéké
Emmanuel Kundé
François Omam-Biyik
Freddy Rincón Carlos Valderrama Juan Cayasso
Róger Flores
Rónald González Hernán Medford
Ivan Hašek
Luboš Kubík
Milan Luhový
Magdi Abdelghani
Mark Wright Uwe Bein
Pierre Littbarski
Niall Quinn
Kevin Sheedy Giuseppe Giannini
Aldo Serena
Ruud Gullit
Wim Kieft
Ronald Koeman
Mo Johnston
Stuart McCall
Hwangbo Kwan
Igor Dobrovolski
Oleh Protasov Oleksandr Zavarov Andrei Zygmantovich
Alberto Górriz
Julio Salinas
Tomas Brolin
Johnny Ekström
Glenn Strömberg
Khalid Ismaïl
Ali Thani
Paul Caligiuri
Bruce Murray Pablo Bengoechea
Daniel Fonseca
Robert Prosinečki
Safet Sušić
Final
3rd and 4th place
Eliminated in the quarter-finals
Eliminated in the round of 16
Eliminated at the group stage
FIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 8 June to 8 July 1990 in Italy, the second country to host the event twice. Teams representing 116 national football associations from all six populated continents entered the competition, with its qualification process
1990 FIFA World Cup qualification
The qualification competition for the 1990 FIFA World Cup was a series of tournaments organised by the six FIFA confederations. Each confederation — the AFC , CAF , CONCACAF , CONMEBOL , OFC , and UEFA — was allocated a certain number of the 24 places at the tournament...
beginning in April 1988. Twenty-two teams qualified from this process, along with host nation Italy
Italy national football team
The Italy National Football Team , represents Italy in association football and is controlled by the Italian Football Federation , the governing body for football in Italy. Italy is the second most successful national team in the history of the World Cup having won four titles , just one fewer than...
and defending champion Argentina
Argentina national football team
The Argentina national football team represents Argentina in association football and is controlled by the Argentine Football Association , the governing body for football in Argentina. Argentina's home stadium is Estadio Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti and their head coach is Alejandro...
, for the finals tournament. The official match ball was the Adidas Etrusco Unico.
The tournament was won by West Germany
Germany national football team
The Germany national football team is the football team that has represented Germany in international competition since 1908. It is governed by the German Football Association , which was founded in 1900....
, who claimed their third World Cup title by defeating reigning champions Argentina 1–0 in the final, a rematch of the previous final four years earlier. Hosts Italy beat England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
2–1 to finish third after both lost their semi-finals in penalty shootouts.
The 1990 World Cup is widely regarded as one of the poorest World Cups ever. It generated a record low goals-per-game average of just 2.21 and a then-record 16 red cards were handed out, including the first ever dismissal in a final.
Despite the low goalscoring, the 1990 World Cup stands as one of the most watched events in television history, garnering an estimated 26.69 billion non-unique viewers, compiled over the course of the tournament. At the time it was the most watched World Cup in history in non-unique viewers, but has subsequently been bettered by the 1994
1994 FIFA World Cup
The 1994 FIFA World Cup, the 15th staging of the FIFA World Cup, was held in nine cities across the United States from June 17 to July 17, 1994. The United States was chosen as the host by FIFA on July 4, 1988...
and 2002 FIFA World Cup
2002 FIFA World Cup
The 2002 FIFA World Cup was the 17th staging of the FIFA World Cup, held in South Korea and Japan from 31 May to 30 June. It was also the first World Cup held in Asia, and the last in which the golden goal rule was implemented. Brazil won the tournament for a record fifth time, beating Germany 2–0...
s.
Following this World Cup, the back-pass rule
Back-pass rule
The back-pass rule refers to two clauses within Law 12 of the Laws of the Game of association football. These clauses prohibit the goalkeeper from handling the ball when a team-mate has intentionally "kicked" the ball to him, or when handling the ball directly from a team-mate's throw-in...
was introduced in 1992 to discourage time-wasting and overly defensive play, and wins were awarded three points
Three points for a win
Three points for a win is a standard used in many sports leagues and group tournaments, especially in association football, in which three points are awarded to the team winning a match, with no points to the losing team. If the game is drawn, each team receives one point...
in the group stage of the 1994 World Cup to encourage more aggressive offensive tactics and discourage the strategy of playing for a draw.
Host selection
The vote to choose the hosts of the 1990 tournament was held on 19 May 1984 in ZürichZürich
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
, Switzerland. Here, the FIFA Executive Committee chose Italy ahead of the only rival bid, the USSR
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
, by 11 votes to 5. This awarding made Italy only the second nation to host two World Cup tournaments, after Mexico had also achieved this with their 1986 staging
1986 FIFA World Cup
The 1986 FIFA World Cup, the 13th FIFA World Cup, was held in Mexico from 31 May to 29 June. The tournament was the second to feature a 24-team format. Colombia had been originally chosen to host the competition by FIFA but, largely due to economic reasons, was not able to do so and officially...
. Italy had previously had the event in 1934
1934 FIFA World Cup
The 1934 FIFA World Cup was the second FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in Italy from 27 May to 10 June 1934....
, where they had won their first championship.
Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
, England, France, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
, West Germany
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
and Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
also submitted initial applications for the 31 July 1983 deadline. A month later, only England and Greece remained in the hunt with Italy and the Soviet Union after the other contenders all withdrew. All four bids were assessed by FIFA in late 1983, with the final decision overrunning into 1984 due to the volume of paperwork involved. In early 1984, England and Greece also withdrew, leading to a two-horse race in the final vote. The Soviet boycott of the 1984 Olympic Games
1984 Summer Olympics boycott
The boycott of the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California. The boycott was a follow up to the American-led boycott of the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow. The boycott involved 14 Eastern Bloc countries and allies, led by the Soviet Union who initiated the boycott on May 8, 1984, and joined...
announced on the eve of the World Cup decision was speculated to have been a major factor behind Italy winning the vote so decisively, although this was dismissed by FIFA President João Havelange
João Havelange
Jean-Marie Faustin Goedefroid de Havelange , more commonly known as João Havelange , was the 7th President of FIFA, serving from 1974 to 1998. He received the title of Honorary President when leaving office. He succeeded Sir Stanley Rous and was succeeded by Joseph Blatter...
.
Qualification
116 teams entered the 1990 World Cup, with 114 being required to qualify (due to rejected entries and withdrawals, 103 teams eventually participated in the qualifying stages). Italy as host nation and Argentina as reigning World Cup champions were granted automatic qualification, with the remaining 22 finals places divided among the continental confederations.Thirteen places were contested by UEFA
UEFA
The Union of European Football Associations , almost always referred to by its acronym UEFA is the administrative and controlling body for European association football, futsal and beach soccer....
teams (Europe), three by CONMEBOL
CONMEBOL
The South American Football Confederation , commonly known as CONMEBOL , is the continental governing body of association football in South America and it is one of FIFA's six continental confederations...
teams (South America), two by CAF
Confederation of African Football
The Confederation of African Football is the administrative and controlling body for African association football.CAF represents the national football associations of Africa, runs continental, national, and club competitions, and controls the prize money, regulations and media rights to those...
teams (Africa), two by AFC
Asian Football Confederation
The Asian Football Confederation is the governing body of association football in Asia. It has 46 member countries, mostly located on the Asian continent. However, due to the disputed boundary of Europe and Asia, nations such as Russia and Turkey which are located mostly in geographic Asia are...
teams (Asia), and two by CONCACAF
CONCACAF
The Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football is the continental governing body for association football in North America, Central America and the Caribbean...
teams (North and Central America and Caribbean). The remaining place was decided by a play-off between CONMEBOL and OFC
Oceania Football Confederation
The Oceania Football Confederation is one of the six continental confederations of international association football, consisting of Papua New Guinea, New Zealand and island nations such as Tonga, Fiji and other Pacific Island countries...
(Oceania).
Both Mexico
Mexico national football team
The Mexican national football team represents Mexico in association football and is governed by the Mexican Football Federation , the governing body for football in Mexico. Mexico's home stadium is the Estadio Azteca and their head coach is José Manuel de la Torre...
and Chile
Chile national football team
The Chilean national football team represents Chile in all major international football competitions. The team is controlled by the Federación de Fútbol de Chile which was established in 1895. They have appeared in eight World Cup tournaments and were hosts of the 1962 FIFA World Cup finishing in...
were disqualified during the qualification process; the former for fielding an overage player in a prior youth tournament, the latter after goalkeeper Roberto Rojas
Roberto Rojas
Roberto Antonio "Cóndor" Rojas Saavedra is a retired Chilean football goalkeeper. He is best known for a 1989 on-the-field incident in which he deliberately injured himself in an attempt to avoid a loss by the Chilean national team...
faked injury from a firework thrown from the stands, which caused the match to be abandoned. Chile were also banned from the 1994 qualifiers
1994 FIFA World Cup qualification
-Qualified teams:The following 24 teams qualified for the 1994 FIFA World Cup: - qualified automatically as hosts - qualified automatically as defending champions-Notes:...
for this offence.
Three teams qualified for the first time: Costa Rica
Costa Rica national football team
The Costa Rica national football team, nicknamed La Sele, is the national team of Costa Rica and is controlled by the Federación Costarricense de Fútbol. Costa Rica is the third most successful team in CONCACAF after Mexico and the United States...
, the Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland national football team
The Republic of Ireland national football team represents Ireland in association football. It is run by the Football Association of Ireland and currently plays home fixtures at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, which opened in May 2010....
and the United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates national football team
The United Arab Emirates national football team represents United Arab Emirates in association football and is controlled by the United Arab Emirates Football Association, the governing body for football in United Arab Emirates...
.
Returning after long absences were Egypt, who appeared for the first time since 1934; the United States
United States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
, who competed for the first time since 1950, Colombia who appeared for the first time since 1962; and Romania, who last appeared at the Finals in 1970.
Among the teams who failed to qualify were Hungary, France, Poland, and Portugal.
Venues
Twelve stadiums were selected to host the World Cup matches in twelve different cities. The Stadio San NicolaStadio San Nicola
The Stadio San Nicola is a multi-use all-seater stadium designed by Renzo Piano in Bari, Italy. It is currently used mostly for football matches and is the home stadium of Associazione Sportiva Bari. It hosted the 1991 European Cup Final, won by Red Star Belgrade. The stadium itself resembles a...
in Bari
Bari
Bari is the capital city of the province of Bari and of the Apulia region, on the Adriatic Sea, in Italy. It is the second most important economic centre of mainland Southern Italy after Naples, and is well known as a port and university city, as well as the city of Saint Nicholas...
and Turin
Turin
Turin is a city and major business and cultural centre in northern Italy, capital of the Piedmont region, located mainly on the left bank of the Po River and surrounded by the Alpine arch. The population of the city proper is 909,193 while the population of the urban area is estimated by Eurostat...
's Stadio delle Alpi
Stadio delle Alpi
The Stadio delle Alpi was a football and athletics stadium in Turin, Italy and was the home of both Juventus Football Club and Torino Football Club between 1990 and 2006. In English, the name meant "Stadium of the Alps," a reference to the nearby Alps mountain range...
were completely new venues opened for the World Cup.
The remaining ten venues all underwent extensive programmes of improvements in preparation for the tournament, forcing many of the club tenants of the stadia to move to temporary homes. Additional seating and roofs were added to most stadia, with further redevelopments seeing running tracks removed and new pitches laid. Due to structural constraints, several of the existing stadia had to be virtually rebuilt in order to implement the changes required.
Most of the works cost in excess of their original estimates, and total costs ended up being over £550 million (approximately $935 million). Rome's Stadio Olimpico
Stadio Olimpico
The Stadio Olimpico is the main and largest sports facility of Rome, Italy. It is located within the Foro Italico sports complex on the north of the city. An asset of the Italian National Olympic Committee, the structure is intended primarily for football...
which would host the final was the most expensive project overall, while Udine's Stadio Friuli
Stadio Friuli
Stadio Friuli is a multi-purpose stadium in Udine, Italy. The stadium was built in 1976 and holds 41,652 people. It is currently used mostly for football matches and the home of Udinese Calcio.-Structure:...
, the newest of the existing stadia (opened 14 years prior), cost the least to redevelop.
| Rome Rome Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half... |
Milan Milan Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,... |
Naples Naples Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples... |
Turin Turin Turin is a city and major business and cultural centre in northern Italy, capital of the Piedmont region, located mainly on the left bank of the Po River and surrounded by the Alpine arch. The population of the city proper is 909,193 while the population of the urban area is estimated by Eurostat... |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stadio Olimpico Stadio Olimpico The Stadio Olimpico is the main and largest sports facility of Rome, Italy. It is located within the Foro Italico sports complex on the north of the city. An asset of the Italian National Olympic Committee, the structure is intended primarily for football... |
San Siro San Siro The Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, originally and commonly referred to as the San Siro because of its location, officially given its current name on 3 March 1980, is a football stadium located in the San Siro district in Milan, Italy. It is the home of both A.C. Milan and F.C. Internazionale Milano... |
Stadio San Paolo Stadio San Paolo Stadio San Paolo is a multi-purpose stadium in the western suburb of Fuorigrotta in Naples, Italy, and is the third largest football stadium in Italy after the San Siro and Stadio Olimpico. For the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome, it hosted the football preliminaries. It is currently used mostly for... |
Stadio delle Alpi Stadio delle Alpi The Stadio delle Alpi was a football and athletics stadium in Turin, Italy and was the home of both Juventus Football Club and Torino Football Club between 1990 and 2006. In English, the name meant "Stadium of the Alps," a reference to the nearby Alps mountain range... |
| 41°56′1.99"N 12°27′17.23"E | 45°28′40.89"N 9°7′27.14"E | 40°49′40.68"N 14°11′34.83"E | 45°06′34.42"N 7°38′28.54"E |
| Capacity: 72,698 | Capacity: 85,700 | Capacity: 74,000 | Capacity: 68,000 |
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| Bari Bari Bari is the capital city of the province of Bari and of the Apulia region, on the Adriatic Sea, in Italy. It is the second most important economic centre of mainland Southern Italy after Naples, and is well known as a port and university city, as well as the city of Saint Nicholas... |
Verona Verona Verona ; German Bern, Dietrichsbern or Welschbern) is a city in the Veneto, northern Italy, with approx. 265,000 inhabitants and one of the seven chef-lieus of the region. It is the second largest city municipality in the region and the third of North-Eastern Italy. The metropolitan area of Verona... |
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| Stadio San Nicola Stadio San Nicola The Stadio San Nicola is a multi-use all-seater stadium designed by Renzo Piano in Bari, Italy. It is currently used mostly for football matches and is the home stadium of Associazione Sportiva Bari. It hosted the 1991 European Cup Final, won by Red Star Belgrade. The stadium itself resembles a... |
Stadio Marc'Antonio Bentegodi | ||
| 41°5′5.05"N 16°50′24.26"E | 45°26′7.28"N 10°58′7.13"E | ||
| Capacity: 56,000 | Capacity: 42,000 | ||
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| Florence Florence Florence is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany and of the province of Florence. It is the most populous city in Tuscany, with approximately 370,000 inhabitants, expanding to over 1.5 million in the metropolitan area.... |
Cagliari Cagliari Cagliari is the capital of the island of Sardinia, a region of Italy. Cagliari's Sardinian name Casteddu literally means castle. It has about 156,000 inhabitants, or about 480,000 including the outlying townships : Elmas, Assemini, Capoterra, Selargius, Sestu, Monserrato, Quartucciu, Quartu... |
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| Stadio Artemio Franchi | Stadio Sant'Elia Stadio Sant'Elia Stadio Comunale Sant'Elia is a football stadium in Cagliari, Italy. It is currently the home of Cagliari Calcio. The stadium has a capacity of 23,486... |
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| 43°46′50.96"N 11°16′56.13"E | 39°11′57.82"N 9°8′5.83"E | ||
| Capacity: 41,000 | Capacity: 40,000 | ||
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| Bologna Bologna Bologna is the capital city of Emilia-Romagna, in the Po Valley of Northern Italy. The city lies between the Po River and the Apennine Mountains, more specifically, between the Reno River and the Savena River. Bologna is a lively and cosmopolitan Italian college city, with spectacular history,... |
Udine Udine Udine is a city and comune in northeastern Italy, in the middle of Friuli-Venezia Giulia region, between the Adriatic sea and the Alps , less than 40 km from the Slovenian border. Its population was 99,439 in 2009, and that of its urban area was 175,000.- History :Udine is the historical... |
Palermo Palermo Palermo is a city in Southern Italy, the capital of both the autonomous region of Sicily and the Province of Palermo. The city is noted for its history, culture, architecture and gastronomy, playing an important role throughout much of its existence; it is over 2,700 years old... |
Genoa Genoa Genoa |Ligurian]] Zena ; Latin and, archaically, English Genua) is a city and an important seaport in northern Italy, the capital of the Province of Genoa and of the region of Liguria.... |
| Stadio Renato Dall'Ara Stadio Renato Dall'Ara Stadio Renato Dall'Ara is a multi-purpose stadium in Bologna, Italy. It is currently used mostly for football matches and the home of Bologna F.C. 1909. The stadium was built in 1927 and holds 38,279... |
Stadio Friuli Stadio Friuli Stadio Friuli is a multi-purpose stadium in Udine, Italy. The stadium was built in 1976 and holds 41,652 people. It is currently used mostly for football matches and the home of Udinese Calcio.-Structure:... |
Stadio La Favorita Stadio Renzo Barbera Stadio Renzo Barbera is a football stadium in Palermo, Italy. It is currently home of U.S. Città di Palermo football team. The stadium was inaugurated on January 24, 1932 and was named Stadio Littorio in homage to the Fascism. The opening match was Palermo vs Atalanta, with Palermo winning 5–1... |
Stadio Luigi Ferraris Stadio Luigi Ferraris Stadio Comunale Luigi Ferraris, also known as the Marassi from the name of the ward where is located, is a multi-use stadium in Genoa, Italy. It opened in 1911 and is one of the first and oldest stadiums still in use for football and other sports in Italy.Hosts since its birth the inside of Genoa,... |
| 44°29′32.33"N 11°18′34.80"E | 46°4′53.77"N 13°12′0.49"E | 38°9′9.96"N 13°20′32.19"E | 44°24′59.15"N 8°57′8.74"E |
| Capacity: 39,000 | Capacity: 38,000 | Capacity: 36,000 | Capacity: 36,000 |
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Squads
Squads for the 1990 World Cup consisted of 22 players, as for the previous tournament in 1986. Replacement of injured players was permitted during the tournament at FIFA's discretion. Two goalkeepers – Argentina's Ángel ComizzoÁngel Comizzo
Ángel David Comizzo Leiva is a retired Argentine football goalkeeper.Comizzo was born in Reconquista, and began his career at Talleres in the Primera Division Argentina. In 1988 he joined River Plate where he was loaned to UANL Tigres of Mexico in 1990–1991...
and England's Dave Beasant
Dave Beasant
David John "Dave" Beasant, is a retired English football goalkeeper who began his career in the late 1970s. A well-travelled player, Beasant's former clubs include Wimbledon, Newcastle United, Chelsea, Southampton, Nottingham Forest, Portsmouth, Tottenham Hotspur, Brighton & Hove Albion and Wigan...
– entered their respective squads during the tournament to replace injured players (Nery Pumpido
Nery Pumpido
Nery Alberto Pumpido is a football coach and former goalkeeper who played for the Argentine national team in two World Cups. After retirement, Pumpido moved into club management and is currently in his second spell as coach of Paraguayan side Olimpia of Asunción.-Club career:Pumpido began his...
and David Seaman
David Seaman
David Andrew Seaman MBE is a former English football goalkeeper who played for several clubs, most notably Arsenal. He retired from the game on 13 January 2004, following a recurring shoulder injury...
).
Match officials
41 match officials from 34 countries were assigned to the tournament to serve as referees and assistant referees. Officials in italics were only used as assistants during the tournament. Referees dressed only in traditional black jerseys for the final time at a World Cup (a red change shirt was used for two Group C games in which Scotland wore their navy blue shirts).Africa Mohamed Hansal Neji Jouini
Neji Jouini
Neji Jouini is a former Tunisian football referee. He is known for having refereed three matches in the FIFA World Cup, one in 1990 and two in 1994. Currently, he is the head of the Referees Association of the Qatar Football Association....
Jean-Fidele Diramba
Jean-Fidele Diramba
Jean-Fidele Diramba , is a former football referee from the African state of Gabon. He is known for having officiated the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea. Diramba officiated the 1990 Africa Cup of Nations Final in Algiers between Algeria and Nigeria.Jean-Fidele Diramba was the referee in...
Asia Jamal Al Sharif
Jamal Al Sharif
Jamal Al Sharif . A football referee from Damascus, Syria. He is mostly known for supervising six matches in the FIFA World Cup...
Jassim Mandi
Jassim Mandi
Jassim Abdul-Rahman Mandi . Is a former football referee from the Asian state of Bahrain. He is known to have officiated the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea.-References:*...
Shizuo Takada
Shizuo Takada
is a former Japanese football referee. He refereed a first round match between Spain and Algeria in the 1986 FIFA World Cup. He also officiated a first round match between Yugoslavia and UAE in the 1990 FIFA World Cup.-References:*...
Europe Luigi Agnolin
Luigi Agnolin
Luigi Agnolin . Is a former football referee from Italy. He is mostly known for supervising four matches in the FIFA World Cup. One in 1986 and three in 1990. He also refereed the European Cup final in 1988.-References:...
Emilio Soriano Aladrén
Emilio Soriano Aladren
Emilio Soriano Aladrén is a retired Spanish football referee. He officialed one match in the 1990 FIFA World Cup. He also officialed two matches in the UEFA European Football Championship, one in the 1988 and one in the 1992.-References:...
George Courtney
George Courtney
George Courtney is an English former football referee based in Spennymoor, County Durham.He is said to be a freemason. His vocational career was spent as a primary school headteacher.-Ascent through English refereeing:...
Pietro D'Elia Erik Fredriksson
Erik Fredriksson
Erik Fredriksson is a former Swedish football referee. He officiated four World Cup games: Yugoslavia v Northern Ireland in 1982; Italy v Bulgaria and USSR v Belgium in 1986; and Argentina v USSR in 1990....
Siegfried Kirschen
Siegfried Kirschen
Siegfried Kirschen is a retired German football referee. He is perhaps best known for supervising four matches in the FIFA World Cup two in 1986 and two in 1990.- References :...
Helmut Kohl
Helmut Kohl (referee)
Helmut Kohl was a football referee from Austria. He is known for officiating three matches in the 1990 FIFA World Cup in Italy and also the 1990 European Cup Final. He died little over a year later at the age of 48.- Source :...
Tullio Lanese
Tullio Lanese
Tullio Lanese is a former football referee from Italy. He is mostly known for supervising three matches in the 1990 FIFA World Cup in Italy. He also refereed the European Cup final in 1991....
Michał Listkiewicz Rosario Lo Bello Carlo Longhi Pierluigi Magni Peter Mikkelsen Pierluigi Pairetto
Pierluigi Pairetto
Pierluigi Pairetto is an Italian former football referee. Among the many prestigious games he officiated were the Euro 96 final between Germany and the Czech Republic at Wembley, and the classic USA 94 second-round clash between Romania and Argentina in Pasadena.He held the position of Italian...
Zoran Petrović
Zoran Petrovic
Zoran Petrović is a retired Serbian football referee.He is known for having refereed four matches in the FIFA World Cup, two in the 1986 World Cup and two in 1990 World Cup.-External sources:...
Joël Quiniou
Joël Quiniou
Joël Quiniou is a former football referee from France. He is mostly known for supervising 8 matches in the FIFA World Cup. One in 1986, three in 1990 and four in 1994..-World Cup Matches:-Italy vs Bulgaria:...
Kurt Röthlisberger
Kurt Röthlisberger
Kurt Röthlisberger is a retired football referee from Switzerland. He is mostly known for supervising five matches in the FIFA World Cup...
Aron Schmidhuber
Aron Schmidhuber
Aron Schmidhuber is a retired football referee from Germany. He is mostly known for supervising two matches in the 1990 FIFA World Cup in Italy.-External links:*...
Carlos Silva Valente
Carlos Silva Valente
Carlos Alberto Silva Valente is a retired Portuguese football referee. He is known for having refereed three matches in the FIFA World Cup, one in the 1986 and two in the 1990.-References:*...
George Smith
George Smith (referee)
George Smith is a Scottish retired football referee. He is best known for refereeing at the 1990 FIFA World Cup in Italy, where he officiated the game between Austria and Czechoslovakia, handing out seven yellow cards in what was a rough game.Smith took charge of the 1980 , 1988 and 1990...
Alan Snoddy
Alan Snoddy
Alan Snoddy is a retired Northern Irish football referee, known for having refereed two matches in the FIFA World Cup: one in 1986 and one in 1990. At the 1986 World Cup Snoddy was appointed to referee the game between Morocco and Portugal in Guadalajara which ended 2-0 to Morocco...
Alexey Spirin
Alexey Spirin
Alexey Nikolayevich Spirin is a former association football referee from Russia. He is mostly known for supervising one match in the 1990 FIFA World Cup in Italy.-References:...
Marcel van Langenhove
Marcel van Langenhove (referee)
Marcel van Langenhove is a Belgian politician and a former football referee.He refereed one game at the 1990 FIFA World Cup, between Ireland and Egypt.He is currently the mayor of his native city of Wemmel.-External links:...
Michel Vautrot
Michel Vautrot
Michel Vautrot is a retired football referee from France. He is mostly known for supervising 5 matches in the FIFA World Cup: two in 1982 and three in 1990. He also refereed three European Championships in 1984 in 1988, including the final game between the USSR and the Netherlands...
North and Central America Edgardo Codesal
Edgardo Codesal
Edgardo Codesal Méndez is an Uruguayan-Mexican football referee, best known for supervising the final match of the 1990 World Cup held in Italy.-Career:...
Vincent Mauro
Vincent Mauro
Vincent Mauro is a retired American referee. He is best known for having refereed one match in the 1990 FIFA World Cup in Italy.-References:*...
Berny Ulloa Morera
Berny Ulloa Morera
Berny Ulloa Morera is a retired football referee from Costa Rica. He is known for having refereed the famous quarter-final match in the 1986 FIFA World Cup between Argentina and England, and in the final of the same tournament between Argentina and Germany.-References:*...
Oceania Richard Lorenc
Richard Lorenc
Richard Renald Lorenc is an Australian former football referee. He is, as of July 2009, referees coordinator for Football New South Wales....
South America Juan Daniel Cardellino
Juan Daniel Cardellino
Juan Daniel Cardellino de San Vicente was a football referee from Uruguay, who officiated at two FIFA World Cups: 1982 and 1990 .-References:*...
Armando Pérez Hoyos Elías Jácome
Elias Jácome
Elías Jácome Guerrero was the first Ecuadorian soccer referee to participate in a FIFA World Cup. He supervised the Spain versus South Korea match during the 1990 FIFA World Cup held in Italy.-References:* *...
Juan Carlos Loustau
Juan Carlos Loustau
Juan Carlos Loustau is a former Argentine football referee. He is known for supervising three matches in the 1990 FIFA World Cup in Italy.-References:...
Carlos Maciel
Carlos Maciel
Carlos Maciel is a former Paraguayan football referee. He is known for having refereed one match in the 1990 FIFA World Cup in Italy.-References:*...
Hernán Silva
Hernán Silva
Hernán Silva Arce is a retired Chilean football referee. He is known for having refereed two matches in the FIFA World Cup, one in the 1986 and one in the 1990.-References:*...
José Roberto Wright
José Roberto Wright
José Roberto Ramiz Wright, also known as José Roberto Wright or José Ramiz Wright , is a former Brazilian football referee. He supervised four matches during the 1990 FIFA World Cup in Italy.-References:...
Seedings
The six seeded teams for the 1990 tournament were announced on 7 December 1989. The seeds were then allocated to the six groups in order of their seeding rank (1st seed to Group A, 2nd seed to Group B, etc.).The seeds were decided by FIFA based on the nations' performance in, primarily, the 1986 World Cup
1986 FIFA World Cup
The 1986 FIFA World Cup, the 13th FIFA World Cup, was held in Mexico from 31 May to 29 June. The tournament was the second to feature a 24-team format. Colombia had been originally chosen to host the competition by FIFA but, largely due to economic reasons, was not able to do so and officially...
with the 1982 World Cup
1982 FIFA World Cup
The 1982 FIFA World Cup, the 12th FIFA World Cup, was held in Spain from 13 June to 11 July. The tournament was won by Italy, after defeating West Germany 3–1 in the final.-Host selection:...
also considered as a secondary influence. Six of the final eight in 1986 had qualified for the 1990 tournament. Italy – who were seeded first as hosts – had not reached the final eight in 1986, and this left FIFA needing to exclude one of the three (qualified) nations who were eliminated in the 1986 quarter finals: Brazil, England or Spain.
Owing to their performance in 1982 but also to their overall World Cup record, Brazil were seeded third and not considered to drop out of the seedings. FIFA opted to seed England ahead of Spain. Spain had only been eliminated in 1986 on penalties, while England had been defeated in 90 minutes; both countries had also reached the second stage in the 1982 event, but Spain had also appeared in the 1978 event
1978 FIFA World Cup
The 1978 FIFA World Cup, the 11th staging of the FIFA World Cup, was held in Argentina between 1 June and 25 June. The 1978 World Cup was won by Argentina who beat the Netherlands 3–1 after extra time in the final. This win was the first World Cup title for Argentina, who became the fifth...
, while England had failed to qualify. FIFA President João Havelange
João Havelange
Jean-Marie Faustin Goedefroid de Havelange , more commonly known as João Havelange , was the 7th President of FIFA, serving from 1974 to 1998. He received the title of Honorary President when leaving office. He succeeded Sir Stanley Rous and was succeeded by Joseph Blatter...
had reportedly earlier stated that Spain would be seeded.
Spain believed the seeding was contrived to ensure England would be placed in Group F, the group to be held off the Italian mainland, in a bid to contain England's hooliganism problems. Spanish coach Luis Suárez
Luis Suárez Miramontes
Luis Suárez Miramontes , also known by the diminutive Luisito, is a Spanish former footballer and manager. He played as a midfielder for Deportivo de La Coruña, CD España Industrial, CF Barcelona, Internazionale, Sampdoria and Spain. Suárez is regarded as one of Spain's greatest players; as a...
said, "We feel we've been cheated...they wanted to seed England and to send it to Cagliari at all costs. So they invented this formula". FIFA countered that "the formula was based on the teams' respective showings during the previous two World Cups. England merited the sixth position. This is in no way a concession to English hooliganism".
| Pot 1 | Pot 2 | Pot 3 | Pot 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
(1st) (2nd) (3rd) (4th) (5th) (6th) |
Final draw
On 9 December 1989 the draw was held at the Palazzetto dello sportPalazzetto dello sport
The Palazzetto dello Sport, also known as the PalaTiziano and PalaFlaminio is an indoor arena located in Piazza Apollodoro in Rome, Italy. Built for the 1960 Summer Olympics , it has a 3,500 seating capacity and was designed by Pier Luigi Nervi. It hosted basketball among other sports during the...
in Rome, where the group lineups and order of matches was determined. The ceremony was hosted by Italian television presenter Pippo Baudo
Pippo Baudo
Giuseppe Baudo , known as Pippo Baudo, is a popular Italian television presenter. He is often referred to as "Superpippo". Baudo has also been the artistic director and president of Teatro Stabile di Catania....
, with Italian actress Sophia Loren
Sophia Loren
Sophia Loren, OMRI is an Italian actress.In 1962, Loren won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in Two Women, along with 21 awards, becoming the first actress to win an Academy Award for a non-English-speaking performance...
and opera singer Luciano Pavarotti
Luciano Pavarotti
right|thumb|Luciano Pavarotti performing at the opening of the Constantine Palace in [[Strelna]], 31 May 2003. The concert was part of the celebrations for the 300th anniversary of [[St...
conducting the draw alongside FIFA General Secretary Sepp Blatter
Sepp Blatter
Joseph S. Blatter , commonly known as Sepp Blatter, is a Swiss football administrator, who serves as the 8th and current President of FIFA . He was elected on 8 June 1998, succeeding João Havelange. He was re-elected as President in 2002, 2007, and 2011...
.
The draw show was FIFA's most ambitious yet with Pelé
Pelé
However, Pelé has always maintained that those are mistakes, that he was actually named Edson and that he was born on 23 October 1940.), best known by his nickname Pelé , is a retired Brazilian footballer. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest football players of all time...
, Bobby Moore
Bobby Moore
Robert Frederick Chelsea "Bobby" Moore, OBE was an English footballer. He captained West Ham United for more than ten years and was captain of the England team that won the 1966 World Cup...
and Karl-Heinz Rummenigge
Karl-Heinz Rummenigge
Karl-Heinz "Kalle" Rummenigge is a German former football player.He had his greatest career success with German club Bayern Munich, where he won the Intercontinental Cup, the European Cup, as well as two league titles and two domestic cups.A member of the German national team, Rummenigge won the...
, as well as a performance of the tournament's official song
FIFA World Cup official songs
FIFA World Cup championship theme songs are songs adopted officially to be used as warm-ups to the event, to accompany the championships during the event and as a souvenir reminder of the events as well as for advertising campaigns leading for the World Cup, giving the singers exceptional universal...
, "Un'estate italiana
Un'estate italiana
"Un'estate italiana" or "An Italian Summer" , is a 1990 song composed by Giorgio Moroder with lyrics by Tom Whitlock for the 1990 FIFA World Cup held in Italy...
" being performed by Edoardo Bennato
Edoardo Bennato
Edoardo Bennato is an Italian singer-songwriter. He is the brother of the singer-songwriter Eugenio Bennato.-Biography:...
and Gianna Nannini
Gianna Nannini
Gianna Nannini is an Italian female singer-songwriter and pop musician. She may be best known for her 1986 song "Bello e Impossibile".-Personal life:...
.
Stick figure
A stick figure is a very simple type of drawing made of lines and dots, often of the human form or other animals. In a stick figure, the head is represented by a circle, sometimes embellished with details such as eyes, mouth or crudely scratched-out hair. The arms, legs and torso are all...
player with a football head and an Italian tricolor body
Flag of Italy
The flag of Italy is a tricolour featuring three equally sized vertical pales of green, white, and red, with the green at the hoist side...
. Its name is an Italian greeting.
Tournament review
1986 FIFA World Cup
The 1986 FIFA World Cup, the 13th FIFA World Cup, was held in Mexico from 31 May to 29 June. The tournament was the second to feature a 24-team format. Colombia had been originally chosen to host the competition by FIFA but, largely due to economic reasons, was not able to do so and officially...
: 24 qualified teams were divided into six groups of four. The top two teams and four best third place finishers from the six groups advanced to the knockout stage, which eliminated the teams until a winner emerged. In total, 52 games were played.
Negative tactics
The tournament generated a record low goals-per-game average and a then-record of 16 red cards were handed out. In the knockout stage, many teams would "play it safe" for 120 minutes and try their luck in the penalty shoot-out, rather than risk going forward. There were four penalty shootouts, a record subsequently equalled in the 2006 tournament2006 FIFA World Cup
The 2006 FIFA World Cup was the 18th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 9 June to 9 July 2006 in Germany, which won the right to host the event in July 2000. Teams representing 198 national football associations from all six...
.
Ireland and Argentina were prime examples of this trend of cautious defensive play; the Irish scored just twice in five games in drawing all their matches until their defeat to Italy in the quarter-finals. Losing finalists Argentina, meanwhile, scored only five goals in the entire tournament (a record low for a finalist that, as of 2010, still stands). Argentina also became the first (and so far only) team to advance twice on penalty shootouts, the first team to fail to score in a World Cup final, and the first to have a player sent off in a World Cup final.
Largely as a result of this trend FIFA introduced the back-pass rule
Back-pass rule
The back-pass rule refers to two clauses within Law 12 of the Laws of the Game of association football. These clauses prohibit the goalkeeper from handling the ball when a team-mate has intentionally "kicked" the ball to him, or when handling the ball directly from a team-mate's throw-in...
in time for the 1994 tournament
1994 FIFA World Cup
The 1994 FIFA World Cup, the 15th staging of the FIFA World Cup, was held in nine cities across the United States from June 17 to July 17, 1994. The United States was chosen as the host by FIFA on July 4, 1988...
in order to make it harder for teams to time-waste by repeatedly passing the ball back for their goalkeepers to pick up. Three, rather than two, points would be awarded for victories at future tournaments to help further encourage attacking play.
Emergence of Cameroon
CameroonCameroon national football team
The Cameroon national football team, nicknamed Les Lions Indomptables , is controlled by the Fédération Camerounaise de Football and is Africa's most successful side in FIFA world cup; having qualified for the FIFA World Cup six times – in 1982, 1990, 1994, 1998, 2002 and 2010– more than any...
reached the quarter-finals, where they were narrowly defeated by England. They opened the tournament with a shock victory over reigning champions Argentina, before topping the group ahead of both them and European Championship runners-up the Soviet Union. Their success was fired by the goals of Roger Milla
Roger Milla
Roger Milla is a retired Cameroonian footballer who played as a striker. He was one of the first African players to be a major star on the international stage...
, a 38 year old forward who came out of international retirement to join the national squad at the last moment after a personal request from Cameroonian President Paul Biya
Paul Biya
Paul Biya is a Cameroonian politician who has been the President of Cameroon since 6 November 1982. A native of Cameroon's south, Biya rose rapidly as a bureaucrat under President Ahmadou Ahidjo in the 1960s, serving as Secretary-General of the Presidency from 1968 to 1975 and then as Prime...
. Milla's four goals and flamboyant goal celebrations made him one of the tournament's biggest stars as well as taking Cameroon to the last eight. In reaching this stage, they had gone further than any African nation had ever managed in a World Cup before; a feat only equalled twice since (by Senegal
Senegal national football team
The Senegal national football team, nicknamed the Lions of Teranga, is the national team of Senegal and is controlled by the Fédération Sénégalaise de Football...
in 2002
2002 FIFA World Cup
The 2002 FIFA World Cup was the 17th staging of the FIFA World Cup, held in South Korea and Japan from 31 May to 30 June. It was also the first World Cup held in Asia, and the last in which the golden goal rule was implemented. Brazil won the tournament for a record fifth time, beating Germany 2–0...
and Ghana
Ghana national football team
The Ghana national football team, popularly known as the Black Stars, is the national association football team of Ghana and is controlled by the Ghana Football Association...
in 2010
2010 FIFA World Cup
The 2010 FIFA World Cup was the 19th FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in South Africa from 11 June to 11 July 2010...
). Their success was African football's biggest yet on the world stage, and FIFA subsequently decided to offer the CAF qualifying zone
Confederation of African Football
The Confederation of African Football is the administrative and controlling body for African association football.CAF represents the national football associations of Africa, runs continental, national, and club competitions, and controls the prize money, regulations and media rights to those...
an additional place for the next World Cup tournament.
All-champion final four
Despite the performances of nations such as Cameroon, Colombia and Costa Rica, the final four consisted of reigning champions Argentina, England, Italy and West Germany. All nations were previous World Cup winners, with a total of eight previous titles between them. After the 1970 tournament1970 FIFA World Cup
The 1970 FIFA World Cup, the ninth staging of the World Cup, was held in Mexico, from 31 May to 21 June. The 1970 tournament was the first World Cup hosted in North America, and the first held outside South America and Europe. In a match-up of two-time World Cup champions, the final was won by...
, this is only the second time in the history of the World Cup this has occurred. The teams which finished first, second and third had also contested both the two previous World Cup Finals between themselves.
Results
All kick-off times local (CEST
Central European Summer Time
Central European Summer Time is one of the names of the Daylight saving time offset using the UTC offset of UTC+02:00, 2 hours ahead of Coordinated Universal Time. It is used as a summer daylight saving time in most European countries. During the winter, Central European Time is used...
/UTC+2
UTC+2
UTC+02 is an identifier for a time offset from UTC of +02. In ISO 8601 the associated time would be written as . This time is used in:-Central Africa Time:*Botswana*Burundi*Democratic Republic of the Congo...
)
First round
The first round, or group stage, saw the twenty-four teams divided into six groups of four teams. Each group was a round-robinRound-robin tournament
A round-robin tournament is a competition "in which each contestant meets all other contestants in turn".-Terminology:...
of six games, where each team played one match against each of the other teams in the same group. Teams were awarded two points for a win, one point for a draw and none for a defeat. The teams coming first and second in each group qualified for the Round of 16. The four best third-placed teams would also advance to the next stage.
If teams were level on points, they were ranked on the following criteria in order:
| Key to colours in group tables | |
|---|---|
| Group winners, runners-up, and best four third-placed teams advance to the Round of 16 | |
Group A
Hosts ItalyItaly national football team
The Italy National Football Team , represents Italy in association football and is controlled by the Italian Football Federation , the governing body for football in Italy. Italy is the second most successful national team in the history of the World Cup having won four titles , just one fewer than...
won Group A with a 100 per cent record. They beat Austria
Austria national football team
The Austria national football team is the association football team that represents the country of Austria in international competition and is controlled by the Austrian Football Association ....
1–0 thanks to substitute Salvatore 'Toto' Schillaci
Salvatore Schillaci
Salvatore Schillaci , commonly referred to by his nickname Totò is a former Italian football player. During his career, he played for Messina , Juventus , Internazionale and Júbilo Iwata...
, who had played only one international before but would become a star during the tournament. A second 1–0 victory followed against a United States team
United States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
already thumped 5–1 by Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia national football team
The Czechoslovakia national football team was the national association football team of Czechoslovakia from 1922 to 1993. At the dissolution of Czechoslovakia at the end of 1992, the team was participating in UEFA qualifying Group 4 for the 1994 World Cup; it completed this campaign under the name...
. The Czechoslovaks ended runners-up in the group, while the USA's first appearance in a World Cup Finals since 1950
1950 FIFA World Cup
The 1950 FIFA World Cup, held in Brazil from 24 June to 16 July, was the fourth FIFA World Cup. It was the first World Cup since 1938, the planned 1942 and 1946 competitions having been canceled owing to World War II...
ended with three consecutive defeats.
| Team | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 6 | ||
| 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 4 | ||
| 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 | −1 | 2 | |
| 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 8 | −6 | 0 |
| 9 June 1990 | |||
| 1 – 0 | Stadio Olimpico Stadio Olimpico The Stadio Olimpico is the main and largest sports facility of Rome, Italy. It is located within the Foro Italico sports complex on the north of the city. An asset of the Italian National Olympic Committee, the structure is intended primarily for football... , Rome |
||
| 10 June 1990 | |||
| 1 – 5 | Stadio Comunale Stadio Artemio Franchi (Florence) Stadio Artemio Franchi is a football stadium in Florence, Italy. It is currently the home of ACF Fiorentina. The stadium was temporarily noticed as the host of Italy's Six Nations matches from 2012. The old nickname of the stadium was "Comunale."... , Florence Florence Florence is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany and of the province of Florence. It is the most populous city in Tuscany, with approximately 370,000 inhabitants, expanding to over 1.5 million in the metropolitan area.... |
||
| 14 June 1990 | |||
| 1 – 0 | Stadio Olimpico Stadio Olimpico The Stadio Olimpico is the main and largest sports facility of Rome, Italy. It is located within the Foro Italico sports complex on the north of the city. An asset of the Italian National Olympic Committee, the structure is intended primarily for football... , Rome |
||
| 15 June 1990 | |||
| 0 – 1 | Stadio Comunale Stadio Artemio Franchi (Florence) Stadio Artemio Franchi is a football stadium in Florence, Italy. It is currently the home of ACF Fiorentina. The stadium was temporarily noticed as the host of Italy's Six Nations matches from 2012. The old nickname of the stadium was "Comunale."... , Florence Florence Florence is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany and of the province of Florence. It is the most populous city in Tuscany, with approximately 370,000 inhabitants, expanding to over 1.5 million in the metropolitan area.... |
||
| 19 June 1990 | |||
| 2 – 1 | Stadio Comunale Stadio Artemio Franchi (Florence) Stadio Artemio Franchi is a football stadium in Florence, Italy. It is currently the home of ACF Fiorentina. The stadium was temporarily noticed as the host of Italy's Six Nations matches from 2012. The old nickname of the stadium was "Comunale."... , Florence Florence Florence is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany and of the province of Florence. It is the most populous city in Tuscany, with approximately 370,000 inhabitants, expanding to over 1.5 million in the metropolitan area.... |
||
| 2 – 0 | Stadio Olimpico Stadio Olimpico The Stadio Olimpico is the main and largest sports facility of Rome, Italy. It is located within the Foro Italico sports complex on the north of the city. An asset of the Italian National Olympic Committee, the structure is intended primarily for football... , Rome |
Group B
CameroonCameroon national football team
The Cameroon national football team, nicknamed Les Lions Indomptables , is controlled by the Fédération Camerounaise de Football and is Africa's most successful side in FIFA world cup; having qualified for the FIFA World Cup six times – in 1982, 1990, 1994, 1998, 2002 and 2010– more than any...
defeated reigning champions Argentina
Argentina national football team
The Argentina national football team represents Argentina in association football and is controlled by the Argentine Football Association , the governing body for football in Argentina. Argentina's home stadium is Estadio Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti and their head coach is Alejandro...
. Despite ending the match with only nine men, the African team held on for a shock 1–0 win, with contrasting fortunes for the brothers Biyik: François Omam scoring the winning goal, shortly after seeing Andre Kana sent off for a serious foul. In their second game the introduction of Roger Milla
Roger Milla
Roger Milla is a retired Cameroonian footballer who played as a striker. He was one of the first African players to be a major star on the international stage...
was the catalyst for a 2–1 win over Romania
Romania national football team
The Romania national football team is the national football team of Romania and is controlled by the Romanian Football Federation.Romania is one of only four national teams, the other three being Brazil, France, and Belgium, that took part in the first three World Cups.However, after that...
, Milla scoring twice from the bench (making him the oldest goalscorer in the tournament). With progression assured, Cameroon slumped to a 4–0 defeat in their final group game to a Soviet Union
USSR national football team
The Soviet Union National Football Team was the national football team of the Soviet Union. It ceased to exist after the break up of the Union...
side striving to stay in the tournament on goal difference after successive 2-0 defeats. A 1–1 draw between Romania and Argentina sent both through, the latter as one of the best third-placed teams.
| Team | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 5 | −2 | 4 | |
| 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 3 | ||
| 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 3 | ||
| 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 2 |
| 8 June 1990 | |||
| 0 – 1 | San Siro San Siro The Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, originally and commonly referred to as the San Siro because of its location, officially given its current name on 3 March 1980, is a football stadium located in the San Siro district in Milan, Italy. It is the home of both A.C. Milan and F.C. Internazionale Milano... , Milan Milan Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,... |
||
| 9 June 1990 | |||
| 0 – 2 | Stadio San Nicola Stadio San Nicola The Stadio San Nicola is a multi-use all-seater stadium designed by Renzo Piano in Bari, Italy. It is currently used mostly for football matches and is the home stadium of Associazione Sportiva Bari. It hosted the 1991 European Cup Final, won by Red Star Belgrade. The stadium itself resembles a... , Bari Bari Bari is the capital city of the province of Bari and of the Apulia region, on the Adriatic Sea, in Italy. It is the second most important economic centre of mainland Southern Italy after Naples, and is well known as a port and university city, as well as the city of Saint Nicholas... |
||
| 13 June 1990 | |||
| 2 – 0 | Stadio San Paolo Stadio San Paolo Stadio San Paolo is a multi-purpose stadium in the western suburb of Fuorigrotta in Naples, Italy, and is the third largest football stadium in Italy after the San Siro and Stadio Olimpico. For the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome, it hosted the football preliminaries. It is currently used mostly for... , Naples Naples Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples... |
||
| 14 June 1990 | |||
| 2 – 1 | Stadio San Nicola Stadio San Nicola The Stadio San Nicola is a multi-use all-seater stadium designed by Renzo Piano in Bari, Italy. It is currently used mostly for football matches and is the home stadium of Associazione Sportiva Bari. It hosted the 1991 European Cup Final, won by Red Star Belgrade. The stadium itself resembles a... , Bari Bari Bari is the capital city of the province of Bari and of the Apulia region, on the Adriatic Sea, in Italy. It is the second most important economic centre of mainland Southern Italy after Naples, and is well known as a port and university city, as well as the city of Saint Nicholas... |
||
| 18 June 1990 | |||
| 1 – 1 | Stadio San Paolo Stadio San Paolo Stadio San Paolo is a multi-purpose stadium in the western suburb of Fuorigrotta in Naples, Italy, and is the third largest football stadium in Italy after the San Siro and Stadio Olimpico. For the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome, it hosted the football preliminaries. It is currently used mostly for... , Naples Naples Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples... |
||
| 0 – 4 | Stadio San Nicola Stadio San Nicola The Stadio San Nicola is a multi-use all-seater stadium designed by Renzo Piano in Bari, Italy. It is currently used mostly for football matches and is the home stadium of Associazione Sportiva Bari. It hosted the 1991 European Cup Final, won by Red Star Belgrade. The stadium itself resembles a... , Bari Bari Bari is the capital city of the province of Bari and of the Apulia region, on the Adriatic Sea, in Italy. It is the second most important economic centre of mainland Southern Italy after Naples, and is well known as a port and university city, as well as the city of Saint Nicholas... |
Group C
Costa RicaCosta Rica national football team
The Costa Rica national football team, nicknamed La Sele, is the national team of Costa Rica and is controlled by the Federación Costarricense de Fútbol. Costa Rica is the third most successful team in CONCACAF after Mexico and the United States...
beat Scotland
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
1–0 in their first match, lost 1-0 to Brazil
Brazil national football team
The Brazil national football team represents Brazil in international men's football and is controlled by the Brazilian Football Confederation , the governing body for football in Brazil. They are a member of the International Federation of Association Football since 1923 and also a member of the...
in their second, then saw off Sweden
Sweden national football team
The Swedish national football team represents Sweden in association football and is controlled by the Swedish Football Association, the governing body for Football in Sweden. Sweden's home ground is Råsunda Stadium in Stockholms län and their head coach is Erik Hamrén. Sweden made their first...
2–1 to claim a place in the second round. Brazil took maximum points from the group. They began with a 2–1 win over Sweden, then beat both Costa Rica and Scotland 1–0. Scotland's 2–1 win over Sweden was not enough to save them from an early return home as one of the two lowest-ranked third-placed teams.
| Team | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 6 | ||
| 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 4 | ||
| 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 | −1 | 2 | |
| 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 6 | −3 | 0 |
| 10 June 1990 | |||
| 2 – 1 | Stadio Delle Alpi Stadio delle Alpi The Stadio delle Alpi was a football and athletics stadium in Turin, Italy and was the home of both Juventus Football Club and Torino Football Club between 1990 and 2006. In English, the name meant "Stadium of the Alps," a reference to the nearby Alps mountain range... , Turin Turin Turin is a city and major business and cultural centre in northern Italy, capital of the Piedmont region, located mainly on the left bank of the Po River and surrounded by the Alpine arch. The population of the city proper is 909,193 while the population of the urban area is estimated by Eurostat... |
||
| 11 June 1990 | |||
| 1 – 0 | Stadio Luigi Ferraris Stadio Luigi Ferraris Stadio Comunale Luigi Ferraris, also known as the Marassi from the name of the ward where is located, is a multi-use stadium in Genoa, Italy. It opened in 1911 and is one of the first and oldest stadiums still in use for football and other sports in Italy.Hosts since its birth the inside of Genoa,... , Genoa Genoa Genoa |Ligurian]] Zena ; Latin and, archaically, English Genua) is a city and an important seaport in northern Italy, the capital of the Province of Genoa and of the region of Liguria.... |
||
| 16 June 1990 | |||
| 1 – 0 | Stadio Delle Alpi Stadio delle Alpi The Stadio delle Alpi was a football and athletics stadium in Turin, Italy and was the home of both Juventus Football Club and Torino Football Club between 1990 and 2006. In English, the name meant "Stadium of the Alps," a reference to the nearby Alps mountain range... , Turin Turin Turin is a city and major business and cultural centre in northern Italy, capital of the Piedmont region, located mainly on the left bank of the Po River and surrounded by the Alpine arch. The population of the city proper is 909,193 while the population of the urban area is estimated by Eurostat... |
||
| 1 – 2 | Stadio Luigi Ferraris Stadio Luigi Ferraris Stadio Comunale Luigi Ferraris, also known as the Marassi from the name of the ward where is located, is a multi-use stadium in Genoa, Italy. It opened in 1911 and is one of the first and oldest stadiums still in use for football and other sports in Italy.Hosts since its birth the inside of Genoa,... , Genoa Genoa Genoa |Ligurian]] Zena ; Latin and, archaically, English Genua) is a city and an important seaport in northern Italy, the capital of the Province of Genoa and of the region of Liguria.... |
||
| 20 June 1990 | |||
| 1 – 0 | Stadio Delle Alpi Stadio delle Alpi The Stadio delle Alpi was a football and athletics stadium in Turin, Italy and was the home of both Juventus Football Club and Torino Football Club between 1990 and 2006. In English, the name meant "Stadium of the Alps," a reference to the nearby Alps mountain range... , Turin Turin Turin is a city and major business and cultural centre in northern Italy, capital of the Piedmont region, located mainly on the left bank of the Po River and surrounded by the Alpine arch. The population of the city proper is 909,193 while the population of the urban area is estimated by Eurostat... |
||
| 1 – 2 | Stadio Luigi Ferraris Stadio Luigi Ferraris Stadio Comunale Luigi Ferraris, also known as the Marassi from the name of the ward where is located, is a multi-use stadium in Genoa, Italy. It opened in 1911 and is one of the first and oldest stadiums still in use for football and other sports in Italy.Hosts since its birth the inside of Genoa,... , Genoa Genoa Genoa |Ligurian]] Zena ; Latin and, archaically, English Genua) is a city and an important seaport in northern Italy, the capital of the Province of Genoa and of the region of Liguria.... |
Group D
Group D featured the most goals of all the groups, due in part to the defensive inadequacies of a United Arab EmiratesUnited Arab Emirates national football team
The United Arab Emirates national football team represents United Arab Emirates in association football and is controlled by the United Arab Emirates Football Association, the governing body for football in United Arab Emirates...
team that lost 2–0 to Colombia
Colombia national football team
The Colombian national football team represents Colombia in international football competitions and is controlled by the Colombian Football Federation. It is a member of the CONMEBOL...
, 5–1 to West Germany
Germany national football team
The Germany national football team is the football team that has represented Germany in international competition since 1908. It is governed by the German Football Association , which was founded in 1900....
and 4–1 to Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia national football team
The Yugoslavia national football team represented the Kingdom of Yugoslavia and the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in association football. It enjoyed a modicum of success in international competition. In 1992, during the Yugoslav wars, the team was suspended from international...
. All three of the UAE's first round opponents reached the last 16, with West Germany topping the group after a 4–1 opening victory over group runners-up Yugoslavia.
| Team | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 3 | 5 | ||
| 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 4 | ||
| 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 3 | ||
| 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 11 | −9 | 0 |
| 9 June 1990 | |||
| 0 – 2 | Stadio Renato Dall'Ara Stadio Renato Dall'Ara Stadio Renato Dall'Ara is a multi-purpose stadium in Bologna, Italy. It is currently used mostly for football matches and the home of Bologna F.C. 1909. The stadium was built in 1927 and holds 38,279... , Bologna Bologna Bologna is the capital city of Emilia-Romagna, in the Po Valley of Northern Italy. The city lies between the Po River and the Apennine Mountains, more specifically, between the Reno River and the Savena River. Bologna is a lively and cosmopolitan Italian college city, with spectacular history,... |
||
| 10 June 1990 | |||
| 4 – 1 | San Siro San Siro The Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, originally and commonly referred to as the San Siro because of its location, officially given its current name on 3 March 1980, is a football stadium located in the San Siro district in Milan, Italy. It is the home of both A.C. Milan and F.C. Internazionale Milano... , Milan Milan Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,... |
||
| 14 June 1990 | |||
| 1 – 0 | Stadio Renato Dall'Ara Stadio Renato Dall'Ara Stadio Renato Dall'Ara is a multi-purpose stadium in Bologna, Italy. It is currently used mostly for football matches and the home of Bologna F.C. 1909. The stadium was built in 1927 and holds 38,279... , Bologna Bologna Bologna is the capital city of Emilia-Romagna, in the Po Valley of Northern Italy. The city lies between the Po River and the Apennine Mountains, more specifically, between the Reno River and the Savena River. Bologna is a lively and cosmopolitan Italian college city, with spectacular history,... |
||
| 15 June 1990 | |||
| 5 – 1 | San Siro San Siro The Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, originally and commonly referred to as the San Siro because of its location, officially given its current name on 3 March 1980, is a football stadium located in the San Siro district in Milan, Italy. It is the home of both A.C. Milan and F.C. Internazionale Milano... , Milan Milan Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,... |
||
| 19 June 1990 | |||
| 1 – 1 | San Siro San Siro The Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, originally and commonly referred to as the San Siro because of its location, officially given its current name on 3 March 1980, is a football stadium located in the San Siro district in Milan, Italy. It is the home of both A.C. Milan and F.C. Internazionale Milano... , Milan Milan Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,... |
||
| 4 – 1 | Stadio Renato Dall'Ara Stadio Renato Dall'Ara Stadio Renato Dall'Ara is a multi-purpose stadium in Bologna, Italy. It is currently used mostly for football matches and the home of Bologna F.C. 1909. The stadium was built in 1927 and holds 38,279... , Bologna Bologna Bologna is the capital city of Emilia-Romagna, in the Po Valley of Northern Italy. The city lies between the Po River and the Apennine Mountains, more specifically, between the Reno River and the Savena River. Bologna is a lively and cosmopolitan Italian college city, with spectacular history,... |
Group E
The winners of Group E were SpainSpain national football team
The Spain national football team represents Spain in international association football and is controlled by the Royal Spanish Football Federation, the governing body for football in Spain. The current head coach is Vicente del Bosque...
, for whom Michel hit a hat-trick as they beat South Korea
Korea Republic national football team
The Korea Republic national football team represents Korea Republic in international football and is controlled by the Korea Football Association. Korea Republic is the most successful Asian football team in the history of the FIFA World Cup having participated in eight World Cup tournaments,...
3–1 in an unbeaten group campaign. Belgium won their first two games against South Korea and Uruguay
Uruguay national football team
The Uruguayan national football team represents Uruguay in international association football and is controlled by the Uruguayan Football Association, the governing body for football in Uruguay. The current head coach is Óscar Tabárez...
to ensure their progress; Uruguay's advance to the second round came with an injury time winner against South Korea to edge them through as the weakest of the third-placed sides to remain in the tournament.
| Team | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 5 | ||
| 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 4 | ||
| 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | −1 | 3 | |
| 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 6 | −5 | 0 |
| 12 June 1990 | |||
| 2 – 0 | Stadio Marc'Antonio Bentegodi, Verona Verona Verona ; German Bern, Dietrichsbern or Welschbern) is a city in the Veneto, northern Italy, with approx. 265,000 inhabitants and one of the seven chef-lieus of the region. It is the second largest city municipality in the region and the third of North-Eastern Italy. The metropolitan area of Verona... |
||
| 13 June 1990 | |||
| 0 – 0 | Stadio Friuli Stadio Friuli Stadio Friuli is a multi-purpose stadium in Udine, Italy. The stadium was built in 1976 and holds 41,652 people. It is currently used mostly for football matches and the home of Udinese Calcio.-Structure:... , Udine Udine Udine is a city and comune in northeastern Italy, in the middle of Friuli-Venezia Giulia region, between the Adriatic sea and the Alps , less than 40 km from the Slovenian border. Its population was 99,439 in 2009, and that of its urban area was 175,000.- History :Udine is the historical... |
||
| 17 June 1990 | |||
| 3 – 1 | Stadio Marc'Antonio Bentegodi, Verona Verona Verona ; German Bern, Dietrichsbern or Welschbern) is a city in the Veneto, northern Italy, with approx. 265,000 inhabitants and one of the seven chef-lieus of the region. It is the second largest city municipality in the region and the third of North-Eastern Italy. The metropolitan area of Verona... |
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| 1 – 3 | Stadio Friuli Stadio Friuli Stadio Friuli is a multi-purpose stadium in Udine, Italy. The stadium was built in 1976 and holds 41,652 people. It is currently used mostly for football matches and the home of Udinese Calcio.-Structure:... , Udine Udine Udine is a city and comune in northeastern Italy, in the middle of Friuli-Venezia Giulia region, between the Adriatic sea and the Alps , less than 40 km from the Slovenian border. Its population was 99,439 in 2009, and that of its urban area was 175,000.- History :Udine is the historical... |
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| 21 June 1990 | |||
| 1 – 2 | Stadio Marc'Antonio Bentegodi, Verona Verona Verona ; German Bern, Dietrichsbern or Welschbern) is a city in the Veneto, northern Italy, with approx. 265,000 inhabitants and one of the seven chef-lieus of the region. It is the second largest city municipality in the region and the third of North-Eastern Italy. The metropolitan area of Verona... |
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| 0 – 1 | Stadio Friuli Stadio Friuli Stadio Friuli is a multi-purpose stadium in Udine, Italy. The stadium was built in 1976 and holds 41,652 people. It is currently used mostly for football matches and the home of Udinese Calcio.-Structure:... , Udine Udine Udine is a city and comune in northeastern Italy, in the middle of Friuli-Venezia Giulia region, between the Adriatic sea and the Alps , less than 40 km from the Slovenian border. Its population was 99,439 in 2009, and that of its urban area was 175,000.- History :Udine is the historical... |
Group F
Group F was one of the tightest groups in World Cup history. In its six games, featuring European champions the NetherlandsNetherlands national football team
The Netherlands National Football Team represents the Netherlands in association football and is controlled by the Royal Dutch Football Association , the governing body for football in the Netherlands...
, England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
, the Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland national football team
The Republic of Ireland national football team represents Ireland in association football. It is run by the Football Association of Ireland and currently plays home fixtures at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, which opened in May 2010....
and Egypt, no team managed to score more than once in a match, and only one match failed to end in a draw. England's bright start against Ireland - including an early goal from Lineker - faded rapidly, and their lead was cancelled out 20 minutes from time by Kevin Sheedy's strike. The Netherlands, highly rated following their European Championship victory in 1988, conceded a late penalty to allow an Egyptian equalizer. England largely dominated their match against the Netherlands - despite, for the second World Cup in succession, losing their captain Bryan Robson
Bryan Robson
Bryan Robson OBE is an English football manager and a former player. He is best known for playing in midfield for Manchester United, where he was the longest serving captain in club history. He was the manager of Sheffield United, being relieved of his first team duties at the club in February 2008...
to an injury which would keep him out of the rest of the tournament - but the closest they came was a Stuart Pearce
Stuart Pearce
Stuart Pearce OBE is an English football manager and former player. He is currently the manager of the England national under-21 team and the Great Britain and Northern Ireland Olympic football team...
free-kick which went directly into the net, but was disallowed because the referee had in fact awarded an indirect free kick. (Goalkeeper Van Breukelen was also apparently unaware the freekick was supposed to be indirect, and came very close to touching the ball in attempting to save it, which would have made it a goal if he had touched it but failed to keep it out.) Gary Lineker
Gary Lineker
Gary Winston Lineker, OBE , is a former English footballer, who played as a striker. He is a sports broadcaster for the BBC, Al Jazeera Sports and Eredivisie Live...
also had a goal ruled out earlier in the game. Ireland and Egypt failed to have a single shot on target between them in the 90 minutes of their 0-0 draw. The decisive result was England's 1–0 victory over Egypt, thanks to a headed goal by Mark Wright, which won them the group and eliminated the Africans: meanwhile the Netherlands, for the second time, conceded a late equalizer, this time to Niall Quinn
Niall Quinn
Niall John Quinn honorary MBE is a former Irish international footballer, and the ex-chairman of Sunderland AFC. He still works at the club as an overseas manager. He is also heavily involved in the management side of horse racing...
. For the first time in World Cup Finals history, the drawing of lots was required to divide two teams, as Ireland and the Netherlands ended with identical results.
| Team | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | ||
| 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 | |
| 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 | |
| 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | −1 | 2 |
The Republic of Ireland and the Netherlands finished with identical records. With both teams assured of progressing, they were split by the drawing of lots to determine second and third place.
| 11 June 1990 | |||
| 1 – 1 | Stadio Sant'Elia Stadio Sant'Elia Stadio Comunale Sant'Elia is a football stadium in Cagliari, Italy. It is currently the home of Cagliari Calcio. The stadium has a capacity of 23,486... , Cagliari Cagliari Cagliari is the capital of the island of Sardinia, a region of Italy. Cagliari's Sardinian name Casteddu literally means castle. It has about 156,000 inhabitants, or about 480,000 including the outlying townships : Elmas, Assemini, Capoterra, Selargius, Sestu, Monserrato, Quartucciu, Quartu... |
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| 12 June 1990 | |||
| 1 – 1 | Stadio La Favorita Stadio Renzo Barbera Stadio Renzo Barbera is a football stadium in Palermo, Italy. It is currently home of U.S. Città di Palermo football team. The stadium was inaugurated on January 24, 1932 and was named Stadio Littorio in homage to the Fascism. The opening match was Palermo vs Atalanta, with Palermo winning 5–1... , Palermo Palermo Palermo is a city in Southern Italy, the capital of both the autonomous region of Sicily and the Province of Palermo. The city is noted for its history, culture, architecture and gastronomy, playing an important role throughout much of its existence; it is over 2,700 years old... |
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| 16 June 1990 | |||
| 0 – 0 | Stadio Sant'Elia Stadio Sant'Elia Stadio Comunale Sant'Elia is a football stadium in Cagliari, Italy. It is currently the home of Cagliari Calcio. The stadium has a capacity of 23,486... , Cagliari Cagliari Cagliari is the capital of the island of Sardinia, a region of Italy. Cagliari's Sardinian name Casteddu literally means castle. It has about 156,000 inhabitants, or about 480,000 including the outlying townships : Elmas, Assemini, Capoterra, Selargius, Sestu, Monserrato, Quartucciu, Quartu... |
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| 17 June 1990 | |||
| 0 – 0 | Stadio La Favorita Stadio Renzo Barbera Stadio Renzo Barbera is a football stadium in Palermo, Italy. It is currently home of U.S. Città di Palermo football team. The stadium was inaugurated on January 24, 1932 and was named Stadio Littorio in homage to the Fascism. The opening match was Palermo vs Atalanta, with Palermo winning 5–1... , Palermo Palermo Palermo is a city in Southern Italy, the capital of both the autonomous region of Sicily and the Province of Palermo. The city is noted for its history, culture, architecture and gastronomy, playing an important role throughout much of its existence; it is over 2,700 years old... |
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| 21 June 1990 | |||
| 1 – 0 | Stadio Sant'Elia Stadio Sant'Elia Stadio Comunale Sant'Elia is a football stadium in Cagliari, Italy. It is currently the home of Cagliari Calcio. The stadium has a capacity of 23,486... , Cagliari Cagliari Cagliari is the capital of the island of Sardinia, a region of Italy. Cagliari's Sardinian name Casteddu literally means castle. It has about 156,000 inhabitants, or about 480,000 including the outlying townships : Elmas, Assemini, Capoterra, Selargius, Sestu, Monserrato, Quartucciu, Quartu... |
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| 1 – 1 | Stadio La Favorita Stadio Renzo Barbera Stadio Renzo Barbera is a football stadium in Palermo, Italy. It is currently home of U.S. Città di Palermo football team. The stadium was inaugurated on January 24, 1932 and was named Stadio Littorio in homage to the Fascism. The opening match was Palermo vs Atalanta, with Palermo winning 5–1... , Palermo Palermo Palermo is a city in Southern Italy, the capital of both the autonomous region of Sicily and the Province of Palermo. The city is noted for its history, culture, architecture and gastronomy, playing an important role throughout much of its existence; it is over 2,700 years old... |
Ranking of third-placed teams
| Group | Team | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 3 | ||
| D | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 3 | ||
| F | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 | |
| E | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | −1 | 3 | |
| A | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 | −1 | 2 | |
| C | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 | −1 | 2 |
Knockout stage
The knockout stageSingle-elimination tournament
A single-elimination tournament, also called a knockout, cup or sudden death tournament, is a type of elimination tournament where the loser of each match or bracket is immediately eliminated from winning the championship or first prize in the event...
involved the sixteen teams that qualified from the group stage of the tournament. There were four rounds of matches, with each round eliminating half of the teams entering that round. The successive rounds were: round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals, final. There was also a play-off to decide third/fourth place. For each game in the knockout stage, any draw at 90 minutes was followed by thirty minutes of extra time; if scores were still level there would be a penalty shootout (at least five penalties each, and more if necessary) to determine who progressed to the next round. Scores after extra time are indicated by (a.e.t.), and penalty shoot outs are indicated by (pen.).
Round of 16
Two of the ties – Argentina vs Brazil and Italy vs Uruguay – pitted former champion countries against each other, and West Germany met the Netherlands in a rematch of the 1974 World Cup Final1974 FIFA World Cup Final
-References:...
.
The all-South American game was won for Argentina by a goal from Claudio Caniggia
Claudio Caniggia
Claudio Paul Caniggia is a former Argentine football forward, who played 50 times for the Argentine national team. He appeared in three World Cups, and was a member of both rival clubs River Plate and Boca Juniors. Caniggia was known for his speed as a player and competed in Athletics before his...
with ten minutes remaining after a run through the Brazilian defence by Diego Maradona
Diego Maradona
Diego Armando Maradona is a retired Argentine football player and widely regarded as one of the greatest football players of all time. Over the course of his professional club career Maradona played for Argentinos Juniors, Boca Juniors, Barcelona, Napoli, Sevilla and Newell's Old Boys, setting...
and an outstanding performance from their goalkeeper Sergio Goycochea. A strong second half showing from Italy saw them beat Uruguay 2–0, thanks to another goal from Schillaci and one from Aldo Serena
Aldo Serena
Aldo Serena is an Italian former footballer. He played for the Azzurri in the 1986 FIFA World Cup and the 1990 FIFA World Cup. In total he earned 24 caps and scored 5 goals for Italy...
.
The West Germany–Netherlands clash was held in Milan, and both sides featured several notable players from the two Milanese clubs. After 22 minutes Rudi Völler
Rudi Völler
Rudolf 'Rudi' Völler is a German former international football striker, and a former manager of the German national team...
and Frank Rijkaard
Frank Rijkaard
Franklin Edmundo Rijkaard is a Dutch football manager of Dutch and Surinamese descent and former player. Rijkaard has played for Ajax, Real Zaragoza and Milan, and represented his national side 73 times, scoring 10 goals. In his coaching career, he has been at the helm of the Dutch national side,...
were dismissed after a spitting incident. Early in the second half, Jürgen Klinsmann
Jürgen Klinsmann
Jürgen Klinsmann is a German football manager and former player who is currently the coach of the United States Men's National Team. As a player, Klinsmann played for several prominent clubs in Europe and was part of the West German team that won the 1990 FIFA World Cup and the German one that...
put the West Germans ahead and Andreas Brehme
Andreas Brehme
Andreas "Andy" Brehme is a German football coach and former football defender. He is best known for scoring the winning goal for Germany in the 1990 FIFA World Cup Final against Argentina on a 85th minute penalty kick....
added a second with eight minutes left. A Ronald Koeman
Ronald Koeman
Ronald Koeman is a former Dutch footballer, and the current manager of Feyenoord. He is the younger brother of former Feyenoord coach Erwin Koeman and the son of former Dutch international Martin Koeman...
penalty for the Netherlands in the 89th minute narrowed the score to 2–1 but the Germans saw the game out to gain some revenge for their exit to the Dutch in the previous European Championship.
Meanwhile, the heroics of Cameroon and Roger Milla continued in their game with Colombia. Milla was introduced as a second half substitute with the game goalless, eventually breaking the deadlock midway in extra time. Three minutes later he netted a second after Colombian goalkeeper, René Higuita
René Higuita
José René Higuita Zapata is a former Colombian football goalkeeper nicknamed El Loco...
was dispossessed by Milla while well out of his goal, leaving the striker free to slot the ball into the empty net. Though the deficit was soon reduced to 2-1, Cameroon held on to become the first African team ever to reach the World Cup quarter-finals. Costa Rica were comfortably beaten 4–1 by Czechoslovakia, for whom Tomáš Skuhravý
Tomáš Skuhravý
Tomáš Skuhravý is a Czech former football player.At club level, he mostly played in the Italian Serie A in the early 1990s with Genoa, being signed from Sparta Prague, forming a prolific partnership with Uruguayan Carlos Aguilera...
scored the tournament's second and final hat-trick
Hat-trick
A hat-trick or hat trick in sport is the achievement of a positive feat three times during a game, or other achievements based on threes. The term was first used in 1858 in cricket to describe HH Stephenson's feat of taking three wickets in three balls. A collection was held for Stephenson, and he...
.
The Republic of Ireland's match with Romania remained goalless after extra time, and the Irish side won 5–4 on penalties. David O'Leary
David O'Leary
David Anthony O'Leary is an Irish football manager and former player. His managerial career began at Leeds United and later he managed Aston Villa. He most recently worked as the manager of Al-Ahli Dubai...
converted the penalty that clinched Ireland's place in the quarter-finals. Ireland thus became the only team in history to reach the last eight in a World Cup finals tournament without winning a match outright. Yugoslavia beat Spain 2–1 after extra time, with Dragan Stojković
Dragan Stojkovic
Dragan Stojković , also known under the nickname Piksi is a Serbian former footballer and current manager of J...
scoring both the Yugoslavs' goals. England were the final qualifier against a largely dominating Belgium, but midfielder David Platt's swivelling volley broke the stalemate with the game moments away from a pealty shootout.
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Quarter-finals
The first game of the last 8 saw Argentina and a Yugoslav side, reduced to 10 men after only half an hour, play out a goalless stalemate. The holders reached the semi-finals after winning the penalty shoot-out 3–2, despite Maradona having his penalty saved. A second Argentine miss (by Pedro Troglio) looked to have eliminated them until goalkeeper Sergio Goycochea – playing because first choice Nery PumpidoNery Pumpido
Nery Alberto Pumpido is a football coach and former goalkeeper who played for the Argentine national team in two World Cups. After retirement, Pumpido moved into club management and is currently in his second spell as coach of Paraguayan side Olimpia of Asunción.-Club career:Pumpido began his...
broke his leg during the group stage – rescued his side by stopping the Yugoslavs' final two spotkicks.
The Republic of Ireland's World Cup run was brought to an end by a single goal from Schillaci in the first half of their quarter-final with hosts Italy. West Germany beat Czechoslovakia with a 25th minute Lothar Matthäus
Lothar Matthäus
Lothar Herbert Matthäus , is a German football manager and former player.In 1990, he was named European Footballer of the Year and World Soccer Player of the Year after captaining West Germany to victory in the 1990 World Cup...
penalty.
In the last quarter-final Cameroon came to within seven minutes of reaching the semi-finals. After Platt headed England ahead in the 25th minute of their quarter-final fixture, the half time introduction of Roger Milla turned the game in the space of five second half minutes. First, Cameroon were awarded a penalty, from which Emmanuel Kundé
Emmanuel Kundé
Emmanuel Jerome Kundé is a Cameroonian former professional football defender. He spent the majority of his professional career playing for Canon Yaoundé...
equalised, before Eugène Ekéké
Eugène Ekeke
Eugène Ekéké is a former Cameroonian footballer. He appeared for Cameroon at the 1990 World Cup in Italy. He famously scored to give Cameroon the lead against England in the quarter finals, before eventually losing 3-2....
put them ahead, then they conceded a penalty, which Gary Lineker
Gary Lineker
Gary Winston Lineker, OBE , is a former English footballer, who played as a striker. He is a sports broadcaster for the BBC, Al Jazeera Sports and Eredivisie Live...
converted to equalise. Midway through extra time, England were awarded another penalty that Lineker again converted to send them through to the semi-finals.
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Semi-finals
The first semi-final pitted the host nation, Italy, against the world champion, Argentina. 'Toto' SchillaciSalvatore Schillaci
Salvatore Schillaci , commonly referred to by his nickname Totò is a former Italian football player. During his career, he played for Messina , Juventus , Internazionale and Júbilo Iwata...
scored to put Italy ahead in the 17th minute, but Claudio Caniggia
Claudio Caniggia
Claudio Paul Caniggia is a former Argentine football forward, who played 50 times for the Argentine national team. He appeared in three World Cups, and was a member of both rival clubs River Plate and Boca Juniors. Caniggia was known for his speed as a player and competed in Athletics before his...
equalised midway through the second half, the first player to breach the Italian defence in a World Cup record 517 minutes' play. There were no further goals, but a series of serious fouls saw five yellow cards and a red issued, largely to Argentina: the game went to a shootout which Argentina won 4–3, after Roberto Donadoni
Roberto Donadoni
Roberto Donadoni is an Italian football manager and former player, last in charge of Serie A club Cagliari.An attacking midfielder or winger known for pace and technique, he was a pillar of the powerhouse AC Milan teams of the late 1980s and early 1990s and one of the pioneers of Major League...
and Aldo Serena
Aldo Serena
Aldo Serena is an Italian former footballer. He played for the Azzurri in the 1986 FIFA World Cup and the 1990 FIFA World Cup. In total he earned 24 caps and scored 5 goals for Italy...
both had their kicks saved by Sergio Goycochea. Argentina's decisive penalty had been converted by Diego Maradona
Diego Maradona
Diego Armando Maradona is a retired Argentine football player and widely regarded as one of the greatest football players of all time. Over the course of his professional club career Maradona played for Argentinos Juniors, Boca Juniors, Barcelona, Napoli, Sevilla and Newell's Old Boys, setting...
, who playing in his club "home city" of Naples had urged locals to support him rather than their homeland, creating a more muted atmosphere than Italy's previous games in Rome. Argentina reached the final having scored only five goals in the tournament, an all-time record low.
The second semi-final was between West Germany and England. Neither side was able to fashion a clear-cut chance in the first half. The deadlock was broken on the hour mark when a free kick from Andreas Brehme
Andreas Brehme
Andreas "Andy" Brehme is a German football coach and former football defender. He is best known for scoring the winning goal for Germany in the 1990 FIFA World Cup Final against Argentina on a 85th minute penalty kick....
was heavily deflected by the on-rushing Paul Parker, sending the ball into the net. With 10 minutes left, Gary Lineker equalised for England, forcing extra-time. In the 99th minute, England's Paul Gascoigne
Paul Gascoigne
Paul John Gascoigne , commonly referred to as Gazza, is a retired English professional footballer.Playing in the position of midfield, Gascoigne's career included spells at Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur, Lazio, Rangers, Middlesbrough, Everton and Gansu Tianma, where he scored at least a goal...
received his second yellow card of the competition and the English player openly wept at the realisation that he would not be allowed to play in the final were England to advance. Extra-time ended without any further scoring, although both sides hit the post, and England had another Platt goal ruled out for off-side, the game went to penalty kicks, where West Germany won their third straight World Cup shoot-out, 4–3, to take them to a third consecutive final.
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Third place match
The game saw three goals in a fifteen minute spell. Roberto BaggioRoberto Baggio
Roberto Baggio is a retired Italian footballer. Widely regarded as one of the finest footballers of his generation, Baggio won both the Ballon d'Or and the FIFA World Player of the Year in 1993. He is the only Italian player ever to score in three World Cups. He is also one of the top 5 all-time...
opened the scoring after a rare mistake by England's goalkeeper Peter Shilton, in his final game before international retirement, presented a simple opportunity. A header by David Platt levelled the game 10 minutes later but Schillaci
Salvatore Schillaci
Salvatore Schillaci , commonly referred to by his nickname Totò is a former Italian football player. During his career, he played for Messina , Juventus , Internazionale and Júbilo Iwata...
was fouled in the penalty area five minutes later, leading to a penalty. Schillaci himself got up to convert the kick to win him the tournament's Golden Shoe for his six goal tally. Nicola Berti
Nicola Berti
Nicola Berti is an Italian former footballer whose career spanned three decades.- Biography :In his early years, as a seventeen year old, his debut season was with Parma including the Serie C1 1983–84....
had a goal ruled out minutes later, but the hosts claimed third place. England had the consolation prize of the Fair Play award, having received no red cards and the lowest average number of yellows per match.
Final
The final between West Germany and Argentina has been cited as the most cynical and lowest quality of all World Cup Finals. In the 65th minute, Argentina's Pedro MonzonPedro Monzón
Pedro Damián Monzón is an Argentine football coach and former footballer.-Biography:Moncho Monzón played in different clubs, but most importantly in Independiente, with which he obtained 4 titles, including the Intercontinental Cup in 1984.Monzón was famously the first player to be sent off in a...
was sent off for a foul on Jürgen Klinsmann
Jürgen Klinsmann
Jürgen Klinsmann is a German football manager and former player who is currently the coach of the United States Men's National Team. As a player, Klinsmann played for several prominent clubs in Europe and was part of the West German team that won the 1990 FIFA World Cup and the German one that...
, the first player ever to be sent off in a World Cup Final.
Argentina, weakened by suspension and injury, offered little attacking threat throughout a contest dominated by the West Germans, who struggled to create many clear goalscoring opportunities. The only goal of the contest arrived in the 85th minute when Mexican referee Edgardo Codesal
Edgardo Codesal
Edgardo Codesal Méndez is an Uruguayan-Mexican football referee, best known for supervising the final match of the 1990 World Cup held in Italy.-Career:...
awarded a penalty
Penalty kick
A penalty kick is a type of direct free kick in association football, taken from twelve yards out from goal and with only the goalkeeper of the defending team between the penalty taker and the goal.Penalty kicks are performed during normal play...
to West Germany, after a foul on Rudi Völler
Rudi Völler
Rudolf 'Rudi' Völler is a German former international football striker, and a former manager of the German national team...
by Roberto Sensini
Roberto Néstor Sensini
Roberto Néstor Sensini is an Argentine former association football player in the role of defender, and currently a manager.-Career:...
. Andreas Brehme
Andreas Brehme
Andreas "Andy" Brehme is a German football coach and former football defender. He is best known for scoring the winning goal for Germany in the 1990 FIFA World Cup Final against Argentina on a 85th minute penalty kick....
, who later said there was no foul, converted the spot kick to settle the contest. In the closing moments, Argentina were reduced to nine after Gustavo Dezotti
Gustavo Dezotti
Gustavo Abel Dezotti is a former football striker from Argentina. He played most of his career for Newell's Old Boys in Argentina, he was part of the team that won the Primera Division Argentina championship of 1987-1988....
received the second red card of the game when he hauled Jürgen Kohler
Jürgen Kohler
Jürgen Kohler is a World Cup-winning German centre back football player and football manager. Kohler has retired from professional sports, but still occasionally plays for Alemannia Adendorf in the Kreisliga C...
to the ground during a stoppage in play. The 1–0 scoreline provided another first: Argentina were the first team to fail to score in a World Cup Final.
With its third title (and three second place finishes) West Germany – in its final tournament before national reunification
German reunification
German reunification was the process in 1990 in which the German Democratic Republic joined the Federal Republic of Germany , and when Berlin reunited into a single city, as provided by its then Grundgesetz constitution Article 23. The start of this process is commonly referred by Germans as die...
– became the most successful World Cup nation, until Brazil won their fourth title in 1994
1994 FIFA World Cup
The 1994 FIFA World Cup, the 15th staging of the FIFA World Cup, was held in nine cities across the United States from June 17 to July 17, 1994. The United States was chosen as the host by FIFA on July 4, 1988...
. West German manager Franz Beckenbauer
Franz Beckenbauer
Franz Anton Beckenbauer is a German football coach, manager, and former player, nicknamed Der Kaiser because of his elegant style, his leadership, his first name "Franz" , and his dominance on the football pitch...
became the only man to both captain (in 1974
1974 FIFA World Cup
The 1974 FIFA World Cup, the tenth staging of the World Cup, was held in West Germany from 13 June to 7 July. The tournament marked the first time that the current trophy, the FIFA World Cup Trophy, created by the Italian sculptor Silvio Gazzaniga, was awarded...
) and manage a World Cup winning team, and only the second man (after Mário Zagallo
Mário Zagallo
Mário Jorge Lobo Zagallo is a Brazilian former football player and manager.-Biography:Mário Jorge Lobo Zagallo was born in Maceió, Alagoas, to a family of Lebanese and Italian heritage....
of Brazil) to win the World Cup as a player and as team manager. It was also the first time a team from UEFA won the final against a non-European team.
Awards
| Golden Boot Winner | Golden Ball Winner | FIFA Fair Play Trophy |
|---|---|---|
 Italy Salvatore SchillaciSalvatore Schillaci Salvatore Schillaci , commonly referred to by his nickname Totò is a former Italian football player. During his career, he played for Messina , Juventus , Internazionale and Júbilo Iwata... |
Italy Salvatore Schillaci Salvatore Schillaci Salvatore Schillaci , commonly referred to by his nickname Totò is a former Italian football player. During his career, he played for Messina , Juventus , Internazionale and Júbilo Iwata... |
All-star team
| Goalkeeper | Defenders | Midfielders | Forwards |
|---|---|---|---|
 Argentina Sergio Goycochea  Costa Rica Luis Gabelo ConejoLuis Gabelo Conejo Luis Gabelo Conejo Jiménez is a former Costa Rican footballer, who played as a goalkeeper.-Football career:... |
 Germany Andreas BrehmeAndreas Brehme Andreas "Andy" Brehme is a German football coach and former football defender. He is best known for scoring the winning goal for Germany in the 1990 FIFA World Cup Final against Argentina on a 85th minute penalty kick.... Italy Paolo MaldiniPaolo Maldini Paolo Cesare Maldini is an Italian former footballer who played as a left or central defender. He spent all 25 seasons of his career at Serie A club Milan, before retiring at the age of 41 in 2009, becoming a symbol and a legend of the club... Italy Franco BaresiFranco Baresi Franco Baresi is an Italian football youth team coach and former player. He played as a sweeper and spent his entire career with Serie A club AC Milan, acknowledged as one of the greatest defenders ever to play the game. Baresi was nicknamed "Piscinin", Milanese for "Little one"... |
Argentina Diego Maradona Diego Maradona Diego Armando Maradona is a retired Argentine football player and widely regarded as one of the greatest football players of all time. Over the course of his professional club career Maradona played for Argentinos Juniors, Boca Juniors, Barcelona, Napoli, Sevilla and Newell's Old Boys, setting... Germany Lothar MatthäusLothar Matthäus Lothar Herbert Matthäus , is a German football manager and former player.In 1990, he was named European Footballer of the Year and World Soccer Player of the Year after captaining West Germany to victory in the 1990 World Cup...  England Paul GascoignePaul Gascoigne Paul John Gascoigne , commonly referred to as Gazza, is a retired English professional footballer.Playing in the position of midfield, Gascoigne's career included spells at Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur, Lazio, Rangers, Middlesbrough, Everton and Gansu Tianma, where he scored at least a goal... Italy Roberto DonadoniRoberto Donadoni Roberto Donadoni is an Italian football manager and former player, last in charge of Serie A club Cagliari.An attacking midfielder or winger known for pace and technique, he was a pillar of the powerhouse AC Milan teams of the late 1980s and early 1990s and one of the pioneers of Major League... |
Italy Salvatore Schillaci Salvatore Schillaci Salvatore Schillaci , commonly referred to by his nickname Totò is a former Italian football player. During his career, he played for Messina , Juventus , Internazionale and Júbilo Iwata...  Cameroon Roger MillaRoger Milla Roger Milla is a retired Cameroonian footballer who played as a striker. He was one of the first African players to be a major star on the international stage... Germany Jurgen KlinsmannJürgen Klinsmann Jürgen Klinsmann is a German football manager and former player who is currently the coach of the United States Men's National Team. As a player, Klinsmann played for several prominent clubs in Europe and was part of the West German team that won the 1990 FIFA World Cup and the German one that... Argentina Claudio CaniggiaClaudio Caniggia Claudio Paul Caniggia is a former Argentine football forward, who played 50 times for the Argentine national team. He appeared in three World Cups, and was a member of both rival clubs River Plate and Boca Juniors. Caniggia was known for his speed as a player and competed in Athletics before his... |
Goalscorers
Salvatore SchillaciSalvatore Schillaci
Salvatore Schillaci , commonly referred to by his nickname Totò is a former Italian football player. During his career, he played for Messina , Juventus , Internazionale and Júbilo Iwata...
received the Golden Shoe award for scoring six goals in the World Cup. This made him the second Italian footballer to have this honour, after Paolo Rossi
Paolo Rossi
Paolo Rossi is an Italian former football striker. In 1982, he led Italy to the 1982 FIFA World Cup title, scoring six goals to win the Golden Boot/top scorer honors, and the Golden Ball. After his performance at the 1982 FIFA World Cup he became a hero in the hearts of all Italians...
won the award in 1982. In total, 115 goals were scored by 75 different players (none credited as own goals).
6 goals Salvatore Schillaci
Salvatore Schillaci
Salvatore Schillaci , commonly referred to by his nickname Totò is a former Italian football player. During his career, he played for Messina , Juventus , Internazionale and Júbilo Iwata...
5 goals
Tomáš Skuhravý
Tomáš Skuhravý
Tomáš Skuhravý is a Czech former football player.At club level, he mostly played in the Italian Serie A in the early 1990s with Genoa, being signed from Sparta Prague, forming a prolific partnership with Uruguayan Carlos Aguilera...
4 goals Roger Milla
Roger Milla
Roger Milla is a retired Cameroonian footballer who played as a striker. He was one of the first African players to be a major star on the international stage...
Gary Lineker
Gary Lineker
Gary Winston Lineker, OBE , is a former English footballer, who played as a striker. He is a sports broadcaster for the BBC, Al Jazeera Sports and Eredivisie Live...
Lothar Matthäus
Lothar Matthäus
Lothar Herbert Matthäus , is a German football manager and former player.In 1990, he was named European Footballer of the Year and World Soccer Player of the Year after captaining West Germany to victory in the 1990 World Cup...
Míchel
3 goals David Platt Andreas Brehme
Andreas Brehme
Andreas "Andy" Brehme is a German football coach and former football defender. He is best known for scoring the winning goal for Germany in the 1990 FIFA World Cup Final against Argentina on a 85th minute penalty kick....
Jürgen Klinsmann
Jürgen Klinsmann
Jürgen Klinsmann is a German football manager and former player who is currently the coach of the United States Men's National Team. As a player, Klinsmann played for several prominent clubs in Europe and was part of the West German team that won the 1990 FIFA World Cup and the German one that...
Rudi Völler
Rudi Völler
Rudolf 'Rudi' Völler is a German former international football striker, and a former manager of the German national team...
2 goals Claudio Caniggia
Claudio Caniggia
Claudio Paul Caniggia is a former Argentine football forward, who played 50 times for the Argentine national team. He appeared in three World Cups, and was a member of both rival clubs River Plate and Boca Juniors. Caniggia was known for his speed as a player and competed in Athletics before his...
Careca Müller Bernardo Redín
Bernardo Redín
Bernardo Redín Valverde is a former Colombian football player. During the 1980s Bernardo Redin was part of Deportivo Cali's Dinamic Duo with famous football player Carlos "El Pibe" Valderrama...
Michal Bílek
Michal Bílek
Michal Bílek is a retired Czech football right midfielder, and a current coach of the Czech Republic national football team.-Club career:...
Roberto Baggio
Roberto Baggio
Roberto Baggio is a retired Italian footballer. Widely regarded as one of the finest footballers of his generation, Baggio won both the Ballon d'Or and the FIFA World Player of the Year in 1993. He is the only Italian player ever to score in three World Cups. He is also one of the top 5 all-time...
Gavril Balint
Gavril Balint
Gavril Pelé Balint is a former Romanian football striker and the current head coach of Moldovan national team. His scored the second and last goal at the penalties shoot-out during the 1986 European Cup final, helping his team, Steaua Bucureşti, to win the trophy.-Career as a football player:Born...
Marius Lăcătuş
Marius Lacatus
Marius Mihai Lăcătuş is a Romanian retired football player and football coach. He is so far the most successful football player ever to play for Steaua Bucureşti...
Davor Jozić
Davor Jozic
Davor Jozić is a former footballer of Bosnian Croat ethnicity.Jozić started playing at a local club FK Igman Konjic and then he moved to FK Sarajevo where he played in 450 games. After came clubs such as Cesena, Club América, and Spezia...
Darko Pančev
Darko Pancev
Darko Pančev is a retired Yugoslav and Macedonian footballer, and winner of the Golden Boot award in 1991.-Club career:Pančev was the highest scorer in top-division European football in the 1990–91 season with 34 goals, and should have won the European Golden Boot award...
Dragan Stojković
Dragan Stojkovic
Dragan Stojković , also known under the nickname Piksi is a Serbian former footballer and current manager of J...
1 goal Andreas Ogris
Andreas Ogris
Andreas Ogris is an Austrian football coach and former player.He is the older brother of former Austrian international and Hertha BSC player Ernst Ogris.-Club career:...
Gerhard Rodax
Gerhard Rodax
Gerhard Rodax is a former professional football player from Austria.-Club career:Rodax started his professional career at Admira Wacker and stayed with them for 7 years, becoming Austrian Football Bundesliga top goalscorer in 1990...
Jorge Burruchaga
Jorge Burruchaga
Jorge Luis Burruchaga is a former Argentine professional football player, and last manager of Arsenal de Sarandí in the Primera División Argentina...
Pedro Monzón
Pedro Monzón
Pedro Damián Monzón is an Argentine football coach and former footballer.-Biography:Moncho Monzón played in different clubs, but most importantly in Independiente, with which he obtained 4 titles, including the Intercontinental Cup in 1984.Monzón was famously the first player to be sent off in a...
Pedro Troglio Jan Ceulemans
Jan Ceulemans
Jan Anna Gumaar Ceulemans is a Belgian former football player who played as a midfielder.He is his country's most capped player with 96 international appearances. Most of his time with Belgium took place under the guidance of Guy Thys...
Lei Clijsters
Lei Clijsters
Leo Albert Jozef "Lei" Clijsters was a Belgian professional footballer, who played as a central defender.Throughout his extensive senior career, the tough stopper was mainly associated with KV Mechelen, with whom he won the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup and the UEFA Super Cup...
Michel De Wolf
Michel De Wolf
Michel Jean de Wolf is a retired Belgian footballer who played as a left defender.-Club career:...
Marc Degryse
Marc Degryse
Marc Gabriel Degryse , nicknamed Le Lutin d'Ardooie and The Little One, is a former Belgian footballer, who played as a forward.-Club career:...
Enzo Scifo Patrick Vervoort
Patrick Vervoort
Patrick Felix Vervoort is a retired Belgian footballer.The left midfielder has played for a number of clubs, including Beerschot, Anderlecht and Standard Liège in Belgium, Ascoli in Italy's Serie A, as well Girondins de Bordeaux in France.He was also a member of the Belgium team in the 1986 and...
Eugène Ekéké
Eugène Ekeke
Eugène Ekéké is a former Cameroonian footballer. He appeared for Cameroon at the 1990 World Cup in Italy. He famously scored to give Cameroon the lead against England in the quarter finals, before eventually losing 3-2....
Emmanuel Kundé
Emmanuel Kundé
Emmanuel Jerome Kundé is a Cameroonian former professional football defender. He spent the majority of his professional career playing for Canon Yaoundé...
François Omam-Biyik
François Omam-Biyik
François Omam-Biyik is a former football player from Cameroon. He also has French nationality. He was one of the most important players of the Cameroonian national team in the nineties, playing at the three World Cups in 1990, 1994 and 1998...
Freddy Rincón Carlos Valderrama Juan Cayasso
Juan Cayasso
Juan Arnoldo Cayasso Reid is a former Costa Rican football player who shined during the 1980s and 1990s. Cayasso played in Costa Rica for the two biggest teams, starting out in LD Alajuelense in the early 80's, and later switching to their arch-rivals Saprissa before the 1988 season...
Róger Flores
Roger Flores
Róger Flores Solano is a retired Costa Rican football player and manager. He was the captain of the Costa Rica national football team during the 1990 FIFA World Cup held in Italy...
Rónald González Hernán Medford
Hernán Medford
Hernán Evaristo Medford Bryan is a Costa Rican football player and coach.Nicknamed "Pelicano", or "Pelican", he played in several different leagues worldwide, including Serie A of Italy , the Yugoslav First League , the Austrian Bundesliga , La Liga in Spain playing for Rayo Vallecano, and the...
Ivan Hašek
Ivan Hašek
Ivan Hašek is a retired Czech footballer who played as a central midfielder.He spent 11 years of his career with Sparta Prague, appearing in more than 300 official games with the club, and later acting as its manager....
Luboš Kubík
Luboš Kubík
Luboš Kubík is a Czech former professional footballer and former manager of Torquay United, who played sweeper for the Czechoslovakia and Czech Republic national teams, winning 56 caps in total, and a number of notable clubs...
Milan Luhový
Milan Luhový
Milan Luhový is a former football player. He played 31 matches for Czechoslovakia and scored seven goals.In his club career he played for Slovan Bratislava, Dukla Prague, Sporting Gijón, AS Saint-Étienne, PAOK Salonika and K. Sint-Truidense V.V.. He won twice the Czechoslovak Cup, in 1982 with...
Magdi Abdelghani
Magdi Abdelghani
Magdi Abdelghani Sayed Ahmed , known as Abdelghani, is a former Egyptian footballer, who played as an attacking midfielder .-Club career:...
Mark Wright Uwe Bein
Uwe Bein
Uwe Bein is a former German footballer.Although, due to his reserved nature, he was never able to gain large public fame, his fans and experts call him one of the most technically-gifted German midfielders of his time...
Pierre Littbarski
Pierre Littbarski
Pierre Michael Littbarski is a German football manager and former player. He was mainly a winger or attacking midfielder and is best known for his brilliant dribbling abilities. He was a FIFA World Cup winner with West Germany in 1990. He was also runner–up twice in 1982 and 1986 with West Germany...
Niall Quinn
Niall Quinn
Niall John Quinn honorary MBE is a former Irish international footballer, and the ex-chairman of Sunderland AFC. He still works at the club as an overseas manager. He is also heavily involved in the management side of horse racing...
Kevin Sheedy Giuseppe Giannini
Giuseppe Giannini
Giuseppe Giannini is a former Italian international footballer, who currently serves as head coach of Serie B side Grosseto. He spent the majority of his 16-year playing career with A.S...
Aldo Serena
Aldo Serena
Aldo Serena is an Italian former footballer. He played for the Azzurri in the 1986 FIFA World Cup and the 1990 FIFA World Cup. In total he earned 24 caps and scored 5 goals for Italy...
Ruud Gullit
Ruud Gullit
OON is a Dutch football manager and former football player, who played professionally in the 1980s and 1990s. He was the captain of the Netherlands national team that was victorious at Euro 88 and was also a member of the squad for the 1990 World Cup. He was named the European Footballer of the...
Wim Kieft
Wim Kieft
Willem "Wim" Cornelis Nicolaas Kieft is a retired Dutch footballer who played as a centre forward.A prolific goalscorer whose main asset resided in his heading ability, he played in his country for two of the most important clubs, Ajax Amsterdam and PSV Eindhoven, with equal team and individual...
Ronald Koeman
Ronald Koeman
Ronald Koeman is a former Dutch footballer, and the current manager of Feyenoord. He is the younger brother of former Feyenoord coach Erwin Koeman and the son of former Dutch international Martin Koeman...
Mo Johnston
Mo Johnston
Maurice John Giblin "Mo" Johnston is a former football striker.Johnston began his football career with Partick Thistle in 1981 before moving to Watford in 1983. With Watford Johnston scored 23 league goals, made his international debut, and helped the team reach the 1984 FA Cup Final...
Stuart McCall
Stuart McCall
Andrew Stuart Murray McCall , usually known as Stuart McCall, is a former footballer who played in central midfield. He played a total of 763 league games during his career, the 13th highest of all British footballers...
Hwangbo Kwan
Hwangbo Kwan
Hwangbo Kwan is a South Korean football manager and former player.In the 1990 FIFA World Cup, he recorded a 114 km/h shot on goal against Spain.- Club career :*1988-1995 Yukong Kokkiri...
Igor Dobrovolski
Igor Dobrovolski
Igor Ivanovich Dobrovolski is retired footballer in the wide attacking midfielder role. He is currently the manager of Dacia Chişinău.He started his career at Moldavian SSR, then played in Russian SFSR, Spain, Italy, France, Germany before retired in Moldova...
Oleh Protasov Oleksandr Zavarov Andrei Zygmantovich
Andrei Zygmantovich
Andrei Vikentyevich Zygmantovich is a retired Belarusian footballer.Mainly a defensive midfielder with good control of the match tempo, positioning on the field and ability to sacrifice himself for the team, he played for nearly a decade with Dynamo Minsk, also having abroad stints in Holland and...
Alberto Górriz
Alberto Górriz
Alberto Górriz Echarte is a retired Spanish footballer who played mainly as a central defender.His main asset was his tremendous heading ability, and he often scored from set pieces...
Julio Salinas
Julio Salinas
Julio Salinas Fernández is a retired Spanish footballer who played during the 1980s and 1990s....
Tomas Brolin
Tomas Brolin
Per Tomas Brolin is a Swedish former professional football player who had a successful period with A.C. Parma during the early nineties winning the 1992 Coppa Italia, the 1993 Cup Winners' Cup, the 1993 UEFA Super Cup and the 1995 UEFA Cup.Brolin also played for the Swedish national team,...
Johnny Ekström
Johnny Ekström
Johnny Ekström is a Swedish former footballer.He is most noted for his career in IFK Göteborg, where he was highly successful. As a professional he was less successful, often just staying a year in the team...
Glenn Strömberg
Glenn Strömberg
Glenn Peter Strömberg is a Swedish former footballer. He won the 1982 UEFA Cup with IFK Göteborg. Apart from Göteborg, he has also played for Benfica and Atalanta. He was voted Swedish footballer of the year, winning Guldbollen 1985. For his majestic way of playing in the midfield he was nicknamed...
Khalid Ismaïl
Khalid Ismaïl
Khalid Ismaïl Mubarak is a UAE football player who played as a midfielder for the UAE national football team and Al-Nasr Club in Dubai...
Ali Thani
Ali Thani
'Ali Thani Juma'a Al-Ehawi :pl:Ali Thani / , is a footballer from UAE who played as an offensive midfielder for Sharjah Club in Sharjah, and the UAE national football team. He scored a goal against Yugoslavia in the 1990 FIFA World Cup.-External links:...
Paul Caligiuri
Paul Caligiuri
Paul David Caligiuri is a retired American soccer player.Caliguiri's professional career spanned 16 years, during which he played for numerous teams in the United States and Germany, and for the U.S. national team...
Bruce Murray Pablo Bengoechea
Pablo Bengoechea
Pablo Javier Bengoechea Dutra is a Uruguayan former professional footballer. A midfielder of exquisite technique, he played for several clubs in Uruguay and Spain. He was the captain of the club C.A. Peñarol and the Uruguay national team.He did also play at 1990 World Cup...
Daniel Fonseca
Daniel Fonseca
Daniel Fonseca Garis is an Uruguayan former footballer, now a football agent . As a forward, he played for Italy's S.S.C Napoli, A.S. Roma and Juventus....
Robert Prosinečki
Robert Prosinecki
Robert Prosinečki is a Croatian football manager and former football midfielder. Prosinečki is regarded by many as the player with best technique that ever played in and for Croatia. Former national squad teammate Zvonimir Boban, humbly, also agreed with this. His dribbling is considered...
Safet Sušić
Safet Sušic
Safet "Pape" Sušić is a Bosnian former footballer and current manager of the Bosnia and Herzegovina national football team. In his playing days, he operated as playmaking attacking midfielder...
- There were no own goals scored in the tournament.
FIFA Final Ranking
After the tournament, FIFA published a ranking of all teams that competed in the 1990 World Cup finals based on progress in the competition, overall results and quality of the opposition.Final
3rd and 4th place
Eliminated in the quarter-finals
Eliminated in the round of 16
Eliminated at the group stage
Statistics
- Most wins: ItalyItaly national football teamThe Italy National Football Team , represents Italy in association football and is controlled by the Italian Football Federation , the governing body for football in Italy. Italy is the second most successful national team in the history of the World Cup having won four titles , just one fewer than...
(6) - Most defeats: Korea RepublicKorea Republic national football teamThe Korea Republic national football team represents Korea Republic in international football and is controlled by the Korea Football Association. Korea Republic is the most successful Asian football team in the history of the FIFA World Cup having participated in eight World Cup tournaments,...
, SwedenSweden national football teamThe Swedish national football team represents Sweden in association football and is controlled by the Swedish Football Association, the governing body for Football in Sweden. Sweden's home ground is Råsunda Stadium in Stockholms län and their head coach is Erik Hamrén. Sweden made their first...
, UAEUnited Arab Emirates national football teamThe United Arab Emirates national football team represents United Arab Emirates in association football and is controlled by the United Arab Emirates Football Association, the governing body for football in United Arab Emirates...
, United StatesUnited States men's national soccer teamThe United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
(3) - First goal: François Omam Biyik (for Cameroon vs Argentina; Group B, 8 June)
- Fastest goal in a match: 3 minutes 59 seconds – Safet SušićSafet SušicSafet "Pape" Sušić is a Bosnian former footballer and current manager of the Bosnia and Herzegovina national football team. In his playing days, he operated as playmaking attacking midfielder...
(for Yugoslavia vs UAE; Group D, 19 June) - Latest goal scored in a match (apart from penalty shoot-outs): 119 minutes – David Platt (for England vs Belgium; Round of 16, 16 June)
- Biggest win: 5–1 – by Czechoslovakia vs United States, and by West Germany vs UAE
- Most goals in the tournament (team): West GermanyGermany national football teamThe Germany national football team is the football team that has represented Germany in international competition since 1908. It is governed by the German Football Association , which was founded in 1900....
(15) - Most goals in the tournament (player): Salvatore SchillaciSalvatore SchillaciSalvatore Schillaci , commonly referred to by his nickname Totò is a former Italian football player. During his career, he played for Messina , Juventus , Internazionale and Júbilo Iwata...
(ItalyItaly national football teamThe Italy National Football Team , represents Italy in association football and is controlled by the Italian Football Federation , the governing body for football in Italy. Italy is the second most successful national team in the history of the World Cup having won four titles , just one fewer than...
) (6) - Least goals in the tournament (team): Egypt and Korea RepublicKorea Republic national football teamThe Korea Republic national football team represents Korea Republic in international football and is controlled by the Korea Football Association. Korea Republic is the most successful Asian football team in the history of the FIFA World Cup having participated in eight World Cup tournaments,...
(1) - Most goals in a game: 6 (United States 1 Czechoslovakia 5; West Germany 5 UAE 1)
- Most goals in a game (player): 3, by Míchel (for Spain vs Korea Republic) and Tomáš SkuhravýTomáš SkuhravýTomáš Skuhravý is a Czech former football player.At club level, he mostly played in the Italian Serie A in the early 1990s with Genoa, being signed from Sparta Prague, forming a prolific partnership with Uruguayan Carlos Aguilera...
(for Czechoslovakia vs Costa Rica) - Least goals conceded: BrazilBrazil national football teamThe Brazil national football team represents Brazil in international men's football and is controlled by the Brazilian Football Confederation , the governing body for football in Brazil. They are a member of the International Federation of Association Football since 1923 and also a member of the...
, Egypt and ItalyItaly national football teamThe Italy National Football Team , represents Italy in association football and is controlled by the Italian Football Federation , the governing body for football in Italy. Italy is the second most successful national team in the history of the World Cup having won four titles , just one fewer than...
(2) - Total goals scored: 115 (average 2.21 goals per game, a record low in World Cup history)
- Most clean sheets: ItalyItaly national football teamThe Italy National Football Team , represents Italy in association football and is controlled by the Italian Football Federation , the governing body for football in Italy. Italy is the second most successful national team in the history of the World Cup having won four titles , just one fewer than...
(5) - Number of penalties awarded: 18 (13 scored, 5 missed)
- Most yellow cards in a game: 9 – Austria vs United States (Group A, 19 June)
- Most yellow cards in the tournament: ArgentinaArgentina national football teamThe Argentina national football team represents Argentina in association football and is controlled by the Argentine Football Association , the governing body for football in Argentina. Argentina's home stadium is Estadio Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti and their head coach is Alejandro...
(22) - Total yellow cards: 162
- Most red cards in the tournament: ArgentinaArgentina national football teamThe Argentina national football team represents Argentina in association football and is controlled by the Argentine Football Association , the governing body for football in Argentina. Argentina's home stadium is Estadio Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti and their head coach is Alejandro...
(3) - Total red cards: 16 (a record high for a 24 team World Cup)
- Highest attendance: 74,765 – West Germany vs Yugoslavia (Group D, 10 June)
- Lowest attendance: 27,833 – Yugoslavia vs UAE (Group D, 19 June)
- Average attendance: 48,391 (5th highest in World Cup history)
- Oldest player: Peter ShiltonPeter ShiltonPeter Leslie Shilton OBE is a former English footballer who played as a goalkeeper. He currently holds the record for playing more games for England than anyone else, earning 125 caps....
(EnglandEngland national football teamThe England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
) (40 years 292 days) - Youngest player: Rónald González Brenes (Costa RicaCosta Rica national football teamThe Costa Rica national football team, nicknamed La Sele, is the national team of Costa Rica and is controlled by the Federación Costarricense de Fútbol. Costa Rica is the third most successful team in CONCACAF after Mexico and the United States...
) (19 years 307 days)
- Italy's performance of 6 wins, 1 draw and 0 losses is the highest ever winning percentage for a team that did not win the World Cup.
- The Republic of Ireland became the second team in World Cup history to reach the last eight without winning a match (Sweden progressed to the last eight by default in 1938 when Austria withdrew).
See also
- Sir Bobby Robson Trophy matchSir Bobby Robson Trophy matchThe Sir Bobby Robson Trophy match was a charity football match played in honour of the former England and Newcastle United manager, Sir Bobby Robson, and in aid of his cancer charity, the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation. Produced under license by as it was played at St James' Park in Newcastle upon...
, a 2009 replay of the 1990 England Germany semi-final in honour of the England manager Bobby Robson