1990 FIFA World Cup Italy
West Germany beat Argentina 1–0 in the final for their third title. Germany reunified three months later, making this West Germany’s last World Cup.
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The tournament was held in Italy from 8 June to 8 July 1990. In the opening match in Milan, Cameroon beat the holders Argentina 1–0 and, inspired by 38-year-old Roger Milla, became the first African team to reach the quarter-finals. South Korea lost all three games, to Belgium, Spain and Uruguay.
With barely 2.2 goals a game it was the lowest-scoring World Cup ever. In the final at Rome’s Stadio Olimpico on 8 July, Andreas Brehme’s penalty five minutes from time gave West Germany a 1–0 win over Argentina, the first team to fail to score in a final and to have a player sent off in one. The coach, Franz Beckenbauer, became the second man to win the World Cup as both player and coach. Germany reunified on 3 October, three months later, so this was West Germany’s last World Cup. To curb defensive play, FIFA in 1992 barred goalkeepers from handling deliberate back-passes.
