The aftermath. There was official praise of this and that, but negative views and concerns were much more after the 1990 – and rapid, vast and, as it turned out, endless changes were going to be implemented in order of saving football from dying. On the positive side was the simple fact of increased quality of most teams – apart from USA and the United Arab Emirates, there were no outsiders at the 1990 World Cup. Anonymous teams like Costa Rica and Egypt were pretty much equal to star-studded teams. No outsiders, but hardly pleasant surprises either – only Colombia and Costa Rica.
Costa Rica against Scotland. Well… the unknowns proved capable of playing the same tough football as the big guys. Competent pressure and crowding, what else.
If the ‘smaller’ continents and countries climbed up, there was nothing optimistic at the top – rather, the traditional powers went down to lower level. Everybody was quite the same, no outsiders, but no favourites either and maybe Germany was ‘rightful’ champion, but it could be almost any other team – the final revealed unplesant truth: the ‘well oiled’ Germans in full strength managed to beat shapeless, badly trained Argentina, which had 4 regulars missing (Olarticoechea, Batista, Giusti, and Caniggia – all of them suspended for collecting cards) and finishing the match with 9 men. It took disputable – at least disputable – penalty to score the winning goal and without it… Argentina could have prevailed, who knows. And it was not that Argentina played any football. No wonder that practically one match in the whole championship pleased observers – Germany vs Holland. Football was seriously sick, going to die.
Nothing new was shown on the tactical field – that is, everybody used similar and familiar tactics, aimed mostly to destroy the opposition. Defense was the central idea. The World champions used 5-3-2 formation and the losing finalist entirely defensive and destructive ‘concept’, hoping that Maradona will eventually pull a trick or hand and that will win the match. Short of that – the penalty shootout gambling (which essentially voids any blame from the loser – Vicini defended himself that Italy finished the tournament with 6 wins and 1 tie, unbeaten). The difference between old hated catenaccio and the 1990 defensive football was largely in that: it was not just defensive play, but active hunt of the key players of the opposition anywhere on the field and destroying them. Physically destroying them. Any dirty trick was used – and defended as rightful: either kill the opponent star in the name of victory, or simulate theatrically, so the referee will expel the opposing player. Perhaps the biggest example of the state of the game was the new discoveries – practically none.
Dancing Roger Milla was the discovery of 1990 World Cup – back in 1958, the discovery was 17-years old Pele. Now it was 38-years old and retired for 2 two years former professional player, who was not exactly a great star in his earlier years.
The top scorer of the 1990 World Cup, Toto Schillaci, was of the same suspect mold: not exactly young striker, who shined largely because the ‘stars’ (Vialli and Mancini) utterly disappointed. Schilacci had his 15 minutes of fame and that was that… he never became a true star. In the grand leveling such moments were possible – the development of football in the 1980s made that exactly possible: no real difference between a star and competent ordinary player. As long as anybody can run 90 minutes and is not killed by the opposition, one can do better than Maradona in a given match – even 38-years old retiree or chancy reserve. The problem, however, is that no teenage magician could emerge in such environment.
So let concentrate on the negative side, a whole list of problems. Ugly brutality on and off the field.
The English fans distinguished themselves once again, but their habits of invading a city and destroy anything on their way was rapidly spreading already around the globe. Old problem by now, by fans violence would stubbornly stay with game no matter what measures were, are, and will be taken.
No better on the pitch. 176 yellow and red cards were given in the 1990 finals.
Argentina ‘won’ the championship with 3 red and 21 yellow cards. It was a World Cup which started and finished with expelled players. For the first time there was red card shown at the final – and Argentina took a big leap ‘forward’ in that with 2 players sent off. Hard to beat such lead.
Cameroon was second ‘best’ with 2 red and 14 yellow cards. Yes, the outsiders vastly improved… back in time, the outsiders collected cards largely because of incompetence and frustration. Now it was just like the leading teams: cold-blooded fearless calculated professional brutality. Deliberate, tactical, and no big deal that ‘we’ will play with fewer man – the point was to scare and destroy the ‘others’. It worked – the more you kick and spit, the farther you go… Followed by ‘mellow’ Czechoslovakia – 1 red and 13 yellow cards. The new world champions were very good too: they came 4th in registered brutality with 1 red and 8 yellow cards. Brazil had the same strong record.
Austria played only 3 games, but managed 1 red and 7 yellow cards in them. If they played more… sky was the limit. Uruguay, well remembered as the brutes in the 1986 World Cup, could not even compete with current leaders – they got only 9 yellow cards. The British teams were the gentlemen of the tournament – collectively, they got 13 cards, all yellow (England – 6, Ireland – 4, Scotland – 3). Poor Belgium was last on this honorable table with 1 card (however, it was red – as if trying to catch up with the rest by one big effort). Only 4 games ended with no cards distributed – 3 in the first round (Costa Rica – Scotland, Belgium – Spain, England – Scotland) and the meaningless 3rd place match Italy – England.
This picture is not even full, for the concerns with brutality already forced FIFA to make special statements and instructions to the referees to punish the offenders. But such instructions were quietly and no so quietly reversed as the championship progressed and neared its end: now there were too many cards, it was not good for the commercial image of the World Cup and there were too many complains, for key players missed key games. Argentina had 4 regulars suspended for the final, but the Germans were in full force – is that just? From what point of view? Fans want the best. Television and sponsors want the best. What kind of a final is the one where some obscure reserves play? A dark cast spreads over the champions – if Argentina was not depleted by suspensions, was it possible for the Germans to win? They barely managed – and with referee’s help! – to prevail against severely handicapped squad and against only 9 men of them. On the other hand… Argentina deserved more than two to be red-carded at the final and Germans deserved to see a player or two sent off too.
Brutal football, no fun at all, based on plethora of dirty tricks on one hand, bad refereeing on the other hand. Referees were under criticism for a long time, but in 1990 they were found inadequate. Of course, the Mexican Codesal was in the center of controversy: in short, he did not see a genuine penalty in German favour and later awarded non-existant one, thanks to which the Germans won the title. That was the culmination of complains against the refereeing in 1990. Earlier in the tournament there was special moment, which probably never happened before – a bit of a scandal between a referee and one of the linesmen during the match. The linesman had to be warned sternly that he is not the one making the decision, but this linesman was a referee with much higher status and authority than the one conducting the game – looked like a case of ego clash, but… FIFA was mostly to blame – politics played a huge role in assignments, beginning with the long established practice of ‘fair’ continental inclusion, which in fact put referees with little experience, even knowledge of, contemporary game. They made big mistakes, increasing the tensions on the pitch. Backroom maneuvering brought Codesal to the final and his performance was terrible. There were much better referees than him, but politics prevailed. In the same time FIFA looked for two opposite things at the same time: to clean the ugly game, thus instructing referees to punish many offenses severely. But money were another key aim to FIFA and television and sponsors wanted the big names to be present – there was more than bit of truth in Maradona’s accusation that everybody was against Argentina, because FIFA and sponsors wanted profitable Italy-Germany final. The ‘bright’ image of football was big stars, the strongest teams possible, festive atmosphere – no yellow and red cards shown left and right and teams appearing with reserve players because the regulars were suspended. So, the earlier instructions changed as the championship progressed and the number of yellow and red cards became massive: now, suddenly, it was to be other way around – try not to show cards. No wonder the referees were confused and lost their way – they were criticized for showing cards and not showing cards in the same time and frustration only increased their mistakes.
The combination of problems had only one solution: changing of rules and a process started after the World Cup and continues to this very day and certainly in the future too. More or less, the only helpful and meaningful change was the ban on goal-keepers playing with hands when the ball came to them from a teammate. Time-wasting was killed at last – the end of endless passing between a defender and a goalkeeper. No other rule change really benefited the game – rather, artificially made it speedier and a bit more attractive, but not because it was played better. Anyhow, changes were still in the future in 1990 – presently, it was concluded that the game was practically dying and needed big and massive changes. And that was finally shown by the best eleven of the finals.
Of course, there were various ‘best eleven’, but El Grafico version represents the general tendency. Goycoechea (Argentina) became unlikely hero – thanks to heavy injury of Pumpido he appeared and since so many games ended with penalty shoot-out, he was lucky to save a few penalties and thus the propel Argentina to the final. He did not play badly during the games either, but it was the penalties he saved making him number one – for he was not extraordinary goalkeeper… and there were at least a few better than him at the World Cup, but they played fewer games for early eliminated teams. Bergomi and Baresi… well, Italy did not win the championship, did not even reach the final, so… big names, steady players, but not exactly shining this year. Yet, Augenthaler with them was disturbing – the fact that such a player could be a key figure mostly showed how impoverished on talent football became: a player like Schwarzenbeck, not like Beckenbauer was the best. Brehme deserved his place – at least because there was no other so dependable and versatile left fullback at the finals. Wright… the same as Augenthaler – one can be only sorry for the past when there were impressive players. Same with Matthaus and Gascoigne. To a point, same with Maradona – the only artist among the ‘best eleven’, but he was not particularly great at this championship. Klinsmann deserved his place. Schillaci – yes, a pleasant surprise and the goal-scorer of the championship, but… a great star he was not. For whatever reasons many real stars disappointed: Gullit, van Basten, Rijkard, Vialli, Butragueno, Francescoli, Burruchaga, etc. Only a tiny trickle of young talent and that mostly showing promise: Caniggia, Gascoigne, Baggio, Raducioiu, Popescu, Ingesson, Brolin, Reuter, Richard Witschge. Of them only Reuter made it to the final, yet, as a substitute – seemingly, the days of youngsters like Pele were gone forever…
A picture like this one symbolized best the 1990 state of the game: controversial artist, mixing cocaine with handballs, still ahead of gritty workaholic with limited skills and imagination, who may be behind in talent, but ahead on winning precisely because of his grit.
Well, everything eventually comes to its end… and thus end was a culmination of sorts: culmination of everything wrong with football in the 1980s. Yes, for the first time same finalists opposed each other in the two World Cups in a row. Yes, the stakes were high – both opponents have been World champions twice and had a chance to equal Brazil with 3 titles. Yes, it was impossible to say that other teams would have been better or at least more interesting and deserving finalists. Yes, big stars opposed each other, starting with Maradona. But it was little football played at the final – it was a battle, a war. It was triumph of ugly football as well – if the opening match of the World Cup set the poisonous tone of the whole tournament, the final did not veer away: the championship started with 2 players expelled and ended 2 players expelled. The pictures provided tell the story well enough. If West Germany – or Germany – seemed slightly better on the field, it was only because Argentina played defensively and visible dominance did not translate into real outplaying and scoring opportunities. Not only that, but the mighty Germans had 2 men advantage for considerable time of the game and their best played against impoverished side. True, the Argentines had only themselves to blame for collecting too many cards having banned players, but even so the Germans had to play dirty tricks in order to achieve their aim: the referee would be blamed at end for not seen the theatrics of Klinsmann first, which lead to the expulsion of Monzon, and later giving a very suspect penalty in favour of the Germans, but the Argentines were no angels and already built a nasty reputation, which the Germans explored. Brehme scored the penalty and very well he did, for after suffering 90 minutes it was more than difficult to suffer another 30 minutes of pushing, kicking, tackling, simulating, or time wasting. Football is about scoring goals, but this World Cup simply reached the peak of the 1980s tendencies: there were no goals. A penalty was becoming the only chance of seen the ball in the net and resolve a game – either penalty extracted by hook or crook during the actual game, or penalty shootout after 120 minutes extremely boring and ugly clash. The only heroic thing about a victory was that it saved the fans of suffering at last.
Losing finalists standing from left: Nestor Lorenzo, Jose Serrizuela, Sergio Goycochea, Oscar Ruggeri, Juan Simon, Diego Maradona.
Third time World champions, a great achievement for coach and team. The machine won again and for many, this time the Germans deserved it. In terms of effort and determination… yes, they deserved it. Beckenbauer certainly deserved to win. As for playing football worth the title… the best to say is that among the equally ugly teams the most consistent prevailed: unlike previous World Cups, there were no dazzling teams which would have been better champions. The triumph of gritty, physical football was really Germany and if that was football, they were the true leaders and champions of it: winners of a war, no matter how. Spectacular diving was introduced by them in 1974 and brought results. There was almost no creativity, but one can always look for some invented penalty. Germany was no fun, but heroes had to be made and proclaimed, so… here they were and forget that Matthaus had no imagination and finesse even remotely similar to Beckenbauer, Netzer, Overat, Breitner, Schuster. Forget that there were no goal-scorers like Gerd Muller – ‘we can get a penalty somehow and Brehme would not miss’. And so it was. Perhaps the real symbol of the whole 1990 World Cup was Franz Beckenbauer alone in the center of the field when the ‘festivities’ carried everybody else away along with the spotlights – instantly forgotten hero, not fitting the official festive scenario, perhaps thinking ‘what the hell happened to the beautiful game’. At least his solitary and somewhat sad figure suggested that. To a point, it would have been better if Argentina won.
But a World Cup has to have a winner and the Germans won. Champions are heroes and so there are the heroes. Heroes are praised, so the Germans were praised – collectively and individually. After all, they went all the way. They scored at the final and Argentina did not. Nothing can be said against the facts.
07.06.90 (20.00) Bari, Stadio San Nicola
What is there to say… The match for 3rd place already had no meaning for teams and fans. Reserves got chance to play precisely because of that. Lose or win, no big deal. No wonder actual photos of teams are hardly available. Robson pretty much said in advance the match was not important, so why photograph… England lost, so what. Problems were presented in full during the important games, but even that was hardly something to worry Robson – he was leaving the national team anyway. Shilton made a record in both age and number of appearances for the national squad, simultaneously pointing at heavy problem: England already had no world-class goalkeeper behind Shilton. The following decade will make this problem particularly bad. There were other shaky elements in the team and no solution, but England made its best finish since 1970 and although bitter, the mood was – or at least presented as – upbeat and optimistic. Reality replaced by illusions and the English were not alone in that.
Bronze medals spelled out grand failure for Italy. They did not deserve better – from what was displayed on the field – but… since they were hardly worse than the rest, why not winning? Just and unjust criticism piled up – and Vicini was justly criticized for some obvious mistakes he made, but still he had a big standpoint for defense: Italy was unbeaten. Six wins and one tie – elimination came from penalty shootout. Right, wrong, whatever… Italy finished with bronze and nobody was happy of that.
03.07.90 (20.00) Napoli, Stadio San Paolo
Mega-disappointment – Italy was expected to win the world title at home. Blame was distributed in every direction – first, the venue. Naples was blamed by the Italian players and huge number of Italians, mostly from the North. Naples as a whole was blamed for not only unpatriotic, but outright hostile to its own national team. Locals were not exactly helpful, having to chose between their own god, Maradona, and the national team of Italy, which had 3 players of Napoli, but only De Napoli played against Argentina. The rest of team was made of… well, of regular enemies, normally trying to beat their own team and kick and push Maradona around. Those others preferred to play in Rome, not in Naples, expressed by somewhat mysteriously – in Naples, the Italians felt as if playing with chains, but in Rome they always felt free to fly. Vicini made mistakes, hard to miss: he started with Vialli, who disappointed so far and in this match again, so had to be replaced eventually, but Baggio was left out and used as a substitute, but Vicini fielded him too late. As a whole, Italy was not convincing so far and unlike 1982, sluggish and difficult start was not followed by gradual improvement and building of strength. The usual hopes that in the upcoming match Italy was finally going to unfold so far hidden qualities never materialized and even if the team was practically unbeaten, it did not look as winning team either. Playing for bronze medals was not at all what the whole country wanted from the team – hosting the World Cup automatically demanded victory and no excuses.
04.07.90 (20.00) Turin, Stadio Delle Alpi
If Italy was only blamed to mythical extend, England went in the opposite direction – the tears of Gazza were hailed and made an emblem of this team. Yes, this was biggest English success since Mexico 1970. The boys were heroes, only a bit unlucky. Could have been world champions, if only Waddle did not miss the net… but that happens and look at Gazza’s face! England was hardly great so far and struggled a lot, even was lucky to go beyond the first round – and that was the objective view, omitting the tears of a player, who should have scored goals instead of crying.
30.06.90 (17.00) Florence, Stadio Communale
30.06.90 (21.00) Roma, Stadio Olimpico
The Irish did much better than anybody expected. Predictable performance – big hearts, excellent fighters, well motivated – which paid off to the delight of every Irish in the world and those cherishing underdogs, instant heroes, especially considering their limited skills and resources. Jack Charlton summed it all: ‘now I can sit and enjoy a beer with the boys’. Well deserved beer for all.
01.07.90 (17.00) Milano, Stadio Giuseppe Meazza (San Siro)
Czechoslovakia fought well, holding its ground to the end. Nothing to be ashamed of, nothing excellent either. The players knew very well that good World Cup was going to give them good contracts with western professional clubs and did not miss the opportunity.
01.07.90 (21.00) Napoli, Stadio San Paolo
Cameroon excelled and perhaps with just a bit of luck would have reached semi-finals. They were equal to the leading teams of the world – African football was no longer a joke, nor even ‘developing’: it was equal. With a little twist… a rather as comment on the state of game in 1990: a retired 38 years old player came to the World Cup and was one of the best on the field. Not even Maradona shined in 1990 as Milla shined. Wonderful in itself. Cameroon also played very well as a team and achieving equality with the leading countries, Camerron achieved it in full: they were the second most brutal team in the finals. Equality also meant ugliness, that was the sad reality.
23.06.90 (17.00) Napoli, Stadio San Paolo
Colombia left good impression, but what a stupid way to get itself eliminated – the memorable idiocy of Rene Higuita going ahead and trying to trick Milla instead of passing the ball safely to one of his teammates. Yet, it was good going so far and at home satisfaction prevailed. Internationally, the world discovered that there is more talent in Colombia than Valderrama.
23.06.90 (21.00) Bari, Stadio San Nicola
Costa Rica outdid itself. They lost badly at the 1/8 finals, but still it was proud exit. If anything, the Costaricans proved that anonymous team needs only to learn the rules of modern collective and pressing football to be equal to the big boys. Bora Milutinovic did good job and perhaps in Italy he got real international recognition. At home, the boys were instant heroes.
24.06.90 (17.00) Turin, Stadio Delle Alpi
Brazil came to win the title, but had to go home early instead. Many things to blame for the failure, but at the end the most convenient excuse was the ‘poisoned water’ offered to Branco by the Argentines. Hardly the reason for missed scoring opportunities, though.
24.06.90 (21.00) Milano, Stadio Giuseppe Meazza (San Siro)
25.06.90 (17.00) Genoa, Stadio Luigi Ferraris
Hard to blame Romania for anything – they were eliminated only in the penalty shootout and even that was a matter of one penalty saved by Bonner. No disappointment at the end. As for home reactions, it is hard to tell how much football was really on the minds of the Romanians in the middle of political turmoil, made present at the World Cup by country’s flags with a hole in the middle where the Communist emblem used to be. Most players were already noticed and after the World Cup quickly moved to play for foreign clubs.
Italy was the favourite, so no much trouble over losing – Uruguay did well with its limited resources and Tabarez was judged favorably. The team lost some of their image of brutes, but hardly because of cleaning its play – it was just that most teams played brutal football and Uruguay blended in the environment.
26.06.90 (17.00) Verona, Stadio Marc Antonio Bentegodi
Spain performed more or less as expected – nothing especially bright and creative. Reaching the 1/8 finals was pretty much the limit. Once again the team disappointed the fans at home, but that was a tradition… and not taken as bad as in 1982.
Belgium did not disappoint, did not excel. They delivered their usual sturdy and determined performance, but with little bright moments. To a point, it was too bad they were eliminated, for England struggled too and won the match only by a very late goal by substitute, but football counts goals, not wishes. One thing was sure – this was the twilight of some great heroes: Gerets, Ceulemans, very likely van der Elst and Preud’homme. And Guy Thys.
11.06.90 (21.00) Cagliari, Stadio Sant’ Elia
12.06.90 (21.00) Palermo, Stadio Della Favorita
16.06.90 (17..00) Cagliari, Stadio Sant’ Elia
EGY – IRL 0:0
ENG – EGY 1:0 (0:0)
HOL – IRL 1:1 (1:0)
4. EGY 3 0 2 1 2 1-2
Head coach: Bobby Robson
Head coach: Leo Beenhakker
Head coach: Jack Charlton
Head coach: Mahmoud Al-Gohari
12.06.90 (17.00) Verona, Stadio Marc Antonio Bentegodi
13.06.90 (17.00) Udine, Stadio Friuli
17.06.90 (21.00) Verona, Stadio Marc Antonio Bentegodi
21.06.90 (17.00) Verona, Stadio Marc Antonio Bentegodi
21.06.90 (17.00) Udine, Stadio Friuli
4. KOR 3 0 0 3 0 1-6
Head coach: Luis Suárez
Head coach: Guy Thys
Head coach: Óscar Tabárez
Head coach: Lee Hoe-taik