FIFA World Cup History 1990: When the 1986 Mexico World Cup ended, it seemed that football had found a new king. Diego Maradona was no longer just Argentina’s hero, he had become the world’s biggest attraction. From Europe to Africa, millions of people were glued to the TV to watch him. He became less of a player and more of a global phenomenon. But there is a rule of the game. The most difficult World Cup for a player is not the one in which he becomes great but the most difficult is the one in which he has to prove his greatness again. The 1990 World Cup is the story of exactly this test.
when the world itself was changing
This World Cup came at a time when the world itself was going through major changes. The Cold War was coming to an end. The Berlin Wall had fallen. Signs of disintegration of the Soviet Union were beginning to appear. During this time, “Italia ’90” was played in Italy. The last World Cup in which teams like West Germany, the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia played in their old political form. After this the world map changed and so did the history of these teams.
When football became most defensive
Italy was considered the center of football at the time, their “Serie A” league was the strongest in the world. Maradona, Matthias, Gullit, Van Basten, Baggio, all were playing there. But the football played on the field is considered by many experts to be the most defensive football in history.
By the late 80s football had changed. The influence of coaches had increased. Teams became more organized but less risk-taking. The 1990 World Cup became the biggest example of this thinking. An average of just 2.21 goals per match was the lowest goal average in history. FIFA later had to introduce the “back-pass” rule to prevent this boring play.
Cameroon: Roar of Africa
Still, some stories in this World Cup made it immortal. The first story was from Cameroon. African football was considered inferior for a long time but Cameroon changed this perception.
In the opening match, they faced defending champions Argentina. Everyone expected an easy victory for Argentina. But Cameroon played with discipline and courage and won 1-0. This team was called “The Untamed Lions”. Despite playing with nine players, he brought Maradona’s team to its knees.
Cameron did not stop here. He reached the quarter finals. Their 38-year-old striker Roger Milla became the most popular face of the World Cup. His style of dancing near the corner flag after scoring a goal was liked by the whole world. Mila scored 4 goals and became the oldest goalscorer in the World Cup. In the quarter-finals, England defeated them 3–2 in extra time but Africa had proved that they could no longer be ignored.
Toto: Italy’s overnight hero
The second big story was about host Italy. The team was strong but the biggest star of the tournament was not an established name but a new striker, Salvatore Sciallacci. Very few people knew him before the tournament. Then he scored goal after goal and the whole country accepted him as their hero. Scilacci, fondly called “Toto”, became the tournament’s top scorer with 6 goals. And he received both the Golden Boot and the Golden Ball.
Maradona: Injured, controversial, but still dangerous
But the most emotional story of this tournament again revolved around Maradona. After 1986 his life had become complicated. Injuries were increasing. His personal life was surrounded by controversies. Still, there was skill left on the field. Argentina’s game was not that bright this time and the team was seen struggling in many matches. But great players are often most dangerous when they don’t look their brightest. Yugoslavia were defeated in the quarter-finals. Goalkeeper Sergio Goycochea was a major troubleshooter on this trip, making exceptional saves in penalty shootouts against both Yugoslavia and Italy to take the team ahead.
Naples: where love and patriotism come face to face
The semi-final was in Naples. The same city where Maradona played club football. Who gave him the status of God. Before the match, Maradona told the people of Naples, the people of Northern Italy never considered you their own, now suddenly they want you to support Italy. This statement became a controversy throughout the country. Italy advanced in the match. Argentina equalised. The matter went to a penalty shootout and Argentina won. The whole of Italy was stunned. The host country was out. Many fans of Naples had supported Maradona instead of Italy that day, after which questions were raised on his patriotism.
Germany: In the final for the third consecutive time
On the other hand, West Germany was continuously moving forward. Captain Lothar Matthias was one of the best players of that era. The team was organized and balanced. Germany had played in both the 1982 and 1986 finals. Now had reached the final for the third time in a row, an extraordinary achievement in itself.
Final: 1986’s second chapter, with a different ending
The final was going to be the same match that took place in Mexico four years ago, Argentina versus Germany, Maradona versus Matthias. But this time the situation was different, Argentina was weak, Germany was strong. 8 July 1990, Olympic Stadium of Rome. The match was very tense, chances were few, emotions were high. The Rome crowd were angry at Maradona after Italy’s defeat in the semi-finals, and the entire stadium booed as the Argentinian national anthem was played. Maradona continued cursing angrily at the spectators in front of the TV cameras.
Germany got a penalty in the last part of the match, Argentina protested, the debate continues till today as to how right that decision was. Andreas Brehme scored, Germany went ahead 1–0. Argentina’s Pedro Monzón received a red card in this match, becoming the first player to receive a red card in the history of a World Cup final. Gustavo Dezotti then also received a red card, leaving Argentina with just nine players at the end of the match.
When Maradona cried on the field
A few minutes later the final whistle blew. West Germany became champions, completing the revenge for the 1986 defeat. The win made coach Franz Beckenbauer the second person in the world after Mario Zagallo to win the World Cup as both captain and coach, and the first person in the world to win the World Cup as both captain and coach.
Maradona crying on the field, this picture is counted among the most emotional pictures in World Cup history. Four years ago they were winners, now they stood defeated, helpless. But there was dignity in that defeat too, he had taken a team with limited resources to its second consecutive final. While not in his best form, he still remained the soul of Argentina.
which will be remembered
The 1990 World Cup is often remembered for the low number of goals scored and defensive play. But its importance in history is much greater than this. It was the World Cup that heralded Africa’s rise, that returned Germany to the top, and that wrote the last great chapter of Maradona’s golden era. But football history never leaves a blank space. As one legend begins to depart, another appears on the horizon. 1994 would see the World Cup reach the United States for the first time, ushering in a new era in business and TV, and football would also see Maradona’s saddest story.
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