FRANCE 98 -Italy 1990

In accordance with FIFA rules, after Mexico in 1986, the 14th World Cup returned to Europe: to Italy, a mighty footballing nation where no expense was to be spared in making the World Cup a hearty success. Ten of the twelve World Cup stadiums were given a complete facelift and the other two (in Turin and Bari), were built from scratch especially for the event, the total cost in building work coming to FF 25 billion.

Even though fewer nations took part in the qualifying rounds than in 1986 (112 rather than 121), reaching the finals proved to be just as difficult. Among the teams that failed along the way were Denmark, Portugal and even France, the 1986 semi-finalists having named Michel Platini as coach to replace Henri Michel.

With the exception of the Costa Ricans, who reached the last sixteen in their very first World Cup finals, the first round turned out much as expected. Three players, however, Roger Milla, Salvatore Schillaci and the Argentinian goalkeeper Sergio Goycochea, all set the crowds alight. Milla, who came out of retirement to play in the tournament, became at 38 years and 20 days the oldest goalscorer in World Cup history when he hit the net against Romania. A few days later in the quarter-finals, the old “Lion” and his Cameroon team-mates were beaten at the death by England (3-2), after leading 2-1 with ten minutes to go. Cameroon’s marvellous display, along with Egypt’s excellent performance, did not go unnoticed, and meant that Africa would be able to field three—as opposed to two—teams in the next World Cup in 1994.

A virtually unknown quantity at the tournament’s outset, Salvatore Schillaci, better known as “Toto” in his homeland, carried an Italian eleven which, though they played entertaining football, were lacking in finishing power. Schillaci, 25, who played his club football for Juventus, was in such tremendous form—he scored 6 goals and finished as the tournament’s top goalscorer—that he virtually lifted Italy into the semi-finals on his own. There, however, the Squadra Azzura went out on penalties against Argentina, having only let in 2 goals in 7 games. Such is football!

Italy’s tormentor was none other than the Argentinian goalkeeper Sergio Goycochea, who came into the side to replace the seriously injured Nery Pumpido (who had a double fracture in his shinbone). As the last man in an uninspired but ever opportunist Argentinian side, Goycochea proved to be the decisive element against Brazil in the last sixteen, and then again in the penalty shoot-outs against Yugoslavia in the quarter-finals and Italy in the semis.

Goycochea could do nothing, however, to stop a very harsh penalty that the Mexican referee awarded Germany in the Final. The Germans, nonetheless, with victories over Yugoslavia (4-1), the Netherlands (2-1), Czechoslovakia (1-0) and England (1-1 at full time then 4 penalties to 3), were worthy champions. Well-coached by Franz Beckenbauer, who had captained the 1974 German team, they counted among their ranks Matthaus, Brehme, Voller, Klinsmann, Kohler, and Hassler, all great individual talents which also made up the tournament’s best unit.

In winning its third title, Germany joined Italy and Brazil as the World Cup’s most honoured nations.

ROGER MILLA The old “Lion” – 38 years young

The 1990 World Cup was the pinnacle of Roger Milla’s career. At 38, he had taken his leave of the big time to play for JS Saint-Pierroise, a team of modest abilities on Reunion Island. But he came out of retirement to leave a memorable mark on the Italian World Cup, not only becoming the oldest goalscorer in World Cup history, but above all propelling his countrymen into the quarter-finals.

“With hindsight, our showing in Italy would appear to be one of the high spots of my career, alongside winning the French Cup with Bastia and Monaco, and being promoted to the Premier League with two different clubs.

My inclusion in the Cameroon squad raised a few eyebrows as, at the time, I was playing for Saint-Pierre on Reunion Island in a lower division. But in fact I had only left Montpellier and top-flight football a few months earlier, and hadn’t completely gone to seed in such a short time!

The Cameroon side had one or two internal problems before the tournament kicked off. But the players that were selected wanted to show they could rub shoulders with the best in the world. That was our great strength. To everyone’s surprise, we beat the reigning world champion Argentina in the Opening Match and went from strength to strength—until our quarter-final against England. Today I still look back and regret that we missed the semi-finals by so little. It would’ve been marvellous, not only for Cameroon but for all of Africa. Of the 4 goals I scored in the tournament, even if the one against Colombia in the last sixteen is the most talked-about, I personally prefer to remember my second against Romania in the first round. It was by far the more difficult to score.