Article 44 — Italia 90
There isn’t much football to talk about now so I would like to look back at a tournament that I just missed but it’s effect shaped my future football choices and favourites.
I am talking about World Cup 1990 also known as Italia 90. My only memory from 1990 was waking up to the end of the live coverage of a World Cup match, which was watched by my father. I remember the Italia 90 mascot and memorabilia from that time.
Based on my father’s account, he had a beef against the eventual World Champions, West Germany and finalist, Argentina. My father is an England fan. He had already labelled the Argentines and their star man, Diego Maradona as a cheat for his Hand Of God in 1986. After Italia 90, he always told me both the Germans and Argentines were cheats. They would roll on the floor after a tackle to get the opposition player carded and then hop back on their feet soon after.
Italy became my favourite team after that World Cup and my father introduced me to Roberto Baggio, who would become my all-time favourite footballer and Salvatore Schillaci. Through these two players, I got acquainted with Serie A as well.
I have watched the BBC Review of Italia 90 a few times now because I am intrigued to find out more about this World Cup particularly on how Italy played. Those that have watched Italia 90 and USA 94, say that Italy had a better team in 1990. We didn’t lose a single match in the World Cup and yet didn’t even reach the final, losing in the semi-final. We didn’t concede a single goal in the tournament until the equaliser to Argentina’s Claudio Caniggia in the semi-final.
I know all about Italy’s magical, heroic run to the final of 1994 on the back of the brilliance of Baggio. What I really wanted to know was how well did Italy play in 1990. Unfortunately, there are no throwback full match videos of any of Italy’s matches from 1990 on FIFA TV’s YouTube channel. I guess I will never know until someone posts a full match video of Italy’s match.
Baggio and Schillaci emerged in this World Cup for Italy from unknowns to well-known. Schillaci would end the tournament as the Golden Boot and Golden Ball winner and Baggio scored the best goal of the tournament.
For the semi-final against Argentina, on hindsight, the Italian players have said their chances of winning would have been better if they played it in Rome where they have played all their other matches. It was clutching at the straws and a superstition thing for the Italians. Stadio Olimpico in Rome had been sent as a good luck omen as a venue after Italy remained unbeaten in the tournament for all matches played there. The other thing that was lamented was that Roberto Baggio was dropped from the starting line-up in favour for Gianluca Vialli after establishing himself as a first-teamer from the 3rd match in the group stage onwards. Vialli had a below-par performance in this tournament.
Diego Maradona who was playing for Napoli at that time and the hero for the people of Naples tried to get the support from the local Neapolitans for his native Argentina but it didn’t work. Italy lost on the dreaded lottery called the penalty shootout that would continue to haunt us for the next 2 World Cups. We did win the consolation 3rd/4th placing match against England.
After watching the highlights of Italia 90’s final between West Germany and Argentina, I felt that for the neutrals, it would have been a better watch had Italy played England or West Germany in the final rather than Argentina. Argentina had 2 men sent off in the final, players hounding and man-handling the referee. It was disgraceful behaviour from the defending champions. Not to mention, players from both sides flipping through the air and rolling on the floor after a tackle. In terms of tackles, there were some wild tackles dished out as well.
England had a great run in the World Cup, going as far as they have ever been since winning their one and only World Cup in 1966. Sir Bobby Robson led the team well and was one of the last great English managers for me personally. Paul Gascoigne emerged on the international stage with his raw explosive talent. Gary Lineker followed up his Golden Boot winning performance in 1986 with another high-scoring tournament to end it as England’s all-time top scorer at the World Cup. Unfortunate for England, like Italy to lose the semi-final on penalties. England hit the post and if I am not mistaken so did Germany during 120 minutes of play. The goal England conceded as well was so unlucky.
This World Cup would also be known for Rene Higuita’s exuberance of dribbling out of his penalty area with the ball. In 1990, goalkeepers were not penalised if they handled the ball outside their area so he had that safety blanket but was still robbed by Roger Milla for Cameroon’s winning goal in the 2nd Round.
Roger Milla and Cameroon were an exciting, colourful team. Their goal celebrations were wonderful to see. Francois Omam Biyik is another Cameroonian player that I remember from that team. There was also the disgraceful, unsporting and shameful behaviour from Frank Rijkaard spitting at Rudi Voller in an ill-tempered encounter between Holland and West Germany.
Share your thoughts with me on what you remember of this tournament especially for those that have watched it from start to the end. Which teams caught your eye? Were West Germany deserved champions overall? How good was Italy? How good was England? Did Argentina ride their luck to the final? Which teams disappointed you? Which players caught your eye? Which players disappointed you? I would like to know.
