THE ROAD TO RUSSIA: 1990

Italy hosted the 14th edition of the World Cup from June 9 to July 8. Teams from 116 countries entered, and qualification began in April 1988. Twenty-two teams qualified, along with hosts Italy and defending champions Argentina.

The tournament was won by West Germany for their third World Cup title. They beat Argentina 1-0 at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, a rematch of the final four years earlier. Italy finished third, and England fourth, after both lost their semifinals in penalty shootouts.

This was the last tournament to feature a team from the divided Germany, with the country being reunified later in 1990, as well as teams from the Eastern Bloc prior to the end of the Cold War in 1991, as the Soviet Union, Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia teams ade appearances. Costa Rica, Ireland and the United Arab Emirates made their debuts in the finals.

The 1990 World Cup witnessed the lowest goalsper-game average, a deluge of sendings-off and arguably the worst final ever seen. Just 115 goals were scored from 52 games at an average of 2.21 per game. There were 16 red cards and 164 bookings at an average of 3.46 per match, another record.

In addition there were four penalty shootouts were routine — including both semi-finals. Argentina advanced at the expense of Italy and West Germany beat England. And it was a penalty, by Andreas Brehme for the Germans, that decided a sorry final which included two sendings off for Argentina.

Argentina’s performance was typical of the tournament. They reached the final despite winning only two games and scoring five goals in total. Maradona finished the final in tears.

Cameroon, inspired by the veteran Roger Milla, reached the quarter-finals, while the unheralded Toto Schillaci hit six goals for Italy to finish top scorer and take home the Golden Boot.

Adding to the woes were the hooligans. Some 300 were expelled by Italian police with England fans prominent in several ugly brawls which however, weren't as bad as had been feared before the finals.

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