Caution dominated with several teams content to play for a draw and gamble on winning the penalty competition. West Germany and Argentina met in the final, a repeat of the 1986 competition, but this time out it was West Germany who won. This was the German's sixth final, a new record.
1990 Overview | Group A | Group B | Group C | Group D | Group E | Group F | Knock Out Stages
Cameroon
Colombia
After 90 minutes there was no score. A mistake in extra-time by Colombia's eccentric goalkeeper, René Higuita, allowed Roger Milla to steal the ball from him 35 yards out to score his second goal, which proved decisive. Colombia clawed one back 5 minutes before the end.
(Melvin Abela)
Czechoslovakia
Costa Rica
Skuhravý put Czechoslovakia ahead in the 12th minute although nine minutes into the second half, González levelled the score. The Czechs scored three more to finish as comfortable winners, Skuhravý completing a hat trick.
Argentina
Brazil
An extremely tight game was settled ten minutes before the end by Caniggia.
West Germany
Netherlands
Another close game was scoreless at half-time. Klinsmann broke the deadlock early in the second half and Brehme made it 2-0 with eight minutes left. Ronald Koeman scored from a penalty in the final miniute, too late to make a difference.
Republic of Ireland
Romania
Ireland were content to defend and play out the match until the penalty competition. Both sides scored with their first four kicks and then Timofte's effort was brilliantly saved by Packie Bonner. David O'Leary scored the decisive kick.
Italy
Uruguay
Italy's goals both came in the second half.
Yugoslavia
Spain
Stojković broke the deadlock in the 78th minute but five minutes later, Julio Salinas equalised for Spain and the match went to extra time. Stojković scored again two minutes after the restart with what proved to be the winner.
England
Belgium
David Platt broke the deadlock after a tense but largely unremarkable match in the last minute of extra time. A free kick floated over his right shoulder, he spun and volleyed the ball into the net from the edge of the six yard box.
Argentina
Yugoslavia
Defences were dominant in yet another cagey game that went to penalties.
(James Ohare, Andre Silva)
Italy
Republic of Ireland
In the end Ireland could not rely on their defence to take them further, Schillaci scoring the decisive goal for Italy in the 38th minute. Even so, for the Irish it had been a remarkable tournament.
West Germany
Czechoslovakia
A penalty scored by Matthäus in the 25th minute was all that separated the teams.
England
Cameroon
England led at half time thanks to David Platt but in the second half, Cameroon stormed into the lead with two goals in four minutes. Lineker rescued England with a penalty seven minutes from time and in extra time, he converted another penalty to put England into the semi-finals.
Argentina
Italy
Schillacci scored for Italy in the 17th minute and they held the lead until the 67th minute when Caniggia equalised for the world champions. Eight minutes of added time were played at the end of the first period of extra time because the referee forgot to check his watch. Fortunately neither team scored during this impromptu extension. There was no more scoring so the match was decided on penalties.
(dax6721)
West Germany
England
Brehme scored the first goal for West Germany but Linekar equalised ten minutes from time. During extra-time, Paul Gascoigne received his second caution of the tournament, which meant he would miss the final if England won the game. The abiding image of Italia 90 is of Gazza in tears as the facts sank in. In the end it did not matter as West Germany broke English hearts in the penalty competition.
Italy
England
With the pressure off, both teams turned in an entertaining display, all three goals coming in the last twenty minutes.
West Germany
Argentina
Argentina, with half their squad suspended or injured, were unable to retain the trophy thay had won four years previously. An ill-tempered match in which Argentina had two players sent off was settled by a penalty scored by Andreas Brehme five minutes from time. Argentina managed just one shot on target throughout 90 minutes and seemed intent on hanging on until the penalty competition.