The knockout stage of the 1990 FIFA World Cup was the second and final stage of the final tournament, following the group stage. It began on 23 June with the round of 16 matches, and ended on 8 July with the final match of the tournament held in Rome, in which West Germany beat the defending champions Argentina 1–0 to claim their third World Cup.
Sixteen teams advanced to the knockout stage to compete in a single-elimination style tournament: The top two teams from each group plus the four best third-placed teams.
In the knockout stage (including the final), if a match was level at the end of 90 minutes, extra time of two periods (15 minutes each) would be played. If the score was still level after extra time, the match would be decided by a penalty shootout. A third place match was also included and played between the two losing teams of the semi-finals.
Assistant referees: Armando Pérez Hoyos (Colombia) Pietro d'Elia (Italy)
Brazil vs Argentina
External video
Brazil v Argentina (Italy 1990) Full match on YouTube
Brazil dominated for most of the match, but Diego Maradona went on a trademark run from the halfway line to the edge of the penalty area late in the match, and found Claudio Caniggia, who rounded the onrushing Cláudio Taffarel to give Argentina a lead that they would not relinquish.[1]
Assistant referees: Peter Mikkelsen (Denmark) Michał Listkiewicz (Poland)
Cameroon vs England
Apart from anything else, it was the only quarter-final to produce more than one goal. Despite Cameroon's heroics earlier in the tournament, David Platt put England ahead in the 25th minute. At half-time, Cameroon brought Milla on, and the game was turned on its head in five second-half minutes. First Cameroon were awarded a penalty, from which Emmanuel Kunde scored the equaliser. Then, in the 65th minute, Eugene Ekeke put Cameroon ahead. The African team came within eight minutes of reaching the semi-finals, but then they conceded a penalty, which Gary Lineker gratefully converted. Midway through extra time, England were awarded another penalty, which Lineker again scored from the spot. England were through to the semi-finals for the first time in 24 years.
Cameroon
2–3 (a.e.t.)
England
Kundé 61' (pen.) Ekéké 65'
Report
Platt 25' Lineker 83' (pen.), 105' (pen.)
Stadio San Paolo, Naples
Attendance: 55,205
Referee: Edgardo Codesal ( Mexico)
Cameroon
England
GK
16
Thomas N'Kono
104'
SW
6
Emmanuel Kundé
DF
14
Stephen Tataw (c)
DF
4
Benjamin Massing
28'
DF
5
Bertin Ebwellé
MF
15
Thomas Libiih
MF
21
Emmanuel Maboang
46'
MF
13
Jean-Claude Pagal
MF
10
Louis-Paul Mfédé
62'
FW
7
François Omam-Biyik
FW
20
Cyril Makanaky
Substitutes:
FW
9
Roger Milla
120'
46'
FW
11
Eugène Ekéké
62'
DF
12
Alphonse Yombi
MF
19
Roger Feutmba
GK
22
Jacques Songo'o
Manager:
Valeri Nepomniachi
GK
1
Peter Shilton
SW
14
Mark Wright
RB
12
Paul Parker
CB
5
Des Walker
CB
6
Terry Butcher (c)
73'
LB
3
Stuart Pearce
70'
RW
8
Chris Waddle
CM
17
David Platt
CM
19
Paul Gascoigne
LW
11
John Barnes
46'
FW
10
Gary Lineker
Substitutes:
FW
9
Peter Beardsley
46'
GK
13
Chris Woods
MF
16
Steve McMahon
MF
20
Trevor Steven
73'
FW
21
Steve Bull
Manager:
Bobby Robson
Assistant referees: Vincent Mauro (United States) Jassim Mandi (Bahrain)
Semi-finals
Argentina vs Italy
Argentina
1–1 (a.e.t.)
Italy
Caniggia 67'
Report
Schillaci 17'
Penalties
Serrizuela Burruchaga Olarticoechea Maradona
4–3
Baresi Baggio De Agostini Donadoni Serena
Stadio San Paolo, Naples
Attendance: 59,978
Referee: Michel Vautrot ( France)
Argentina
Italy
GK
12
Sergio Goycochea
DF
19
Oscar Ruggeri
71'
SW
20
Juan Simón
DF
18
José Serrizuela
MF
4
José Basualdo
99'
MF
14
Ricardo Giusti
30' 103'
MF
16
Julio Olarticoechea
76'
MF
7
Jorge Burruchaga
MF
6
Gabriel Calderón
46'
FW
8
Claudio Caniggia
82'
FW
10
Diego Maradona (c)
Substitutes:
MF
2
Sergio Batista
118'
99'
FW
9
Gustavo Dezotti
DF
15
Pedro Monzón
MF
21
Pedro Troglio
46'
GK
22
Fabián Cancelarich
Manager:
Carlos Bilardo
GK
1
Walter Zenga
SW
2
Franco Baresi
DF
3
Giuseppe Bergomi (c)
DF
6
Riccardo Ferri
MF
17
Roberto Donadoni
MF
11
Fernando De Napoli
MF
13
Giuseppe Giannini
22'
73'
MF
4
Luigi De Agostini
MF
7
Paolo Maldini
FW
21
Gianluca Vialli
70'
FW
19
Salvatore Schillaci
Substitutes:
DF
8
Pietro Vierchowod
MF
9
Carlo Ancelotti
GK
12
Stefano Tacconi
FW
15
Roberto Baggio
73'
MF
20
Aldo Serena
70'
Manager:
Azeglio Vicini
Assistant referees: Michał Listkiewicz (Poland) Peter Mikkelsen (Denmark)