1990 FIFA World Cup Final

The 1990 FIFA World Cup Final was a football match played between West Germany and Argentina that took place on 8 July 1990 at the Stadio Olimpico, Rome to determine the winner of the 1990 FIFA World Cup. After meeting previously in the 1986 FIFA World Cup Final, in which Argentina had won 3–2, in this match West Germany beat the defending holders 1–0, with a late penalty kick taken by Andreas Brehme being the game's only goal. It was the first time a team from UEFA won the final against a non-European team.

It was an ill-tempered game, notable for the first two sendings off in a World Cup final. Pedro Monzón had the distinction of being the first player in 14 World Cup final games to be ejected, after being shown a straight red card for a tackle on Jurgen Klinsmann. Gustavo Dezotti, already booked earlier, received the second yellow card of the game when he hauled down Jürgen Kohler.

It was also the lowest-scoring final yet seen with Argentina becoming the first team not to score during a World Cup Final, having only one shot on goal, while Germany had 16 scoring chances. It has been suggested that Argentina's main strategy seemed to be going for the penalty-kick shootout, having already advanced twice by shootout.^[1][2][3] The only goal of the contest arrived in the 85th minute when Mexican referee Edgardo Codesal awarded a controversial penalty shot to West Germany, after a foul on Rudi Völler by Roberto Sensini, and Andreas Brehme converted the spot kick.

This victory gave West Germany their third World Cup success, making them the nation with most World Cup finals at the time (3 titles, 3 second places), as well as avenging their defeat at the hands of Argentina in the previous final.

Match details

References