The 1990 World Cup Final: The Penalty Awarded to West Germany Against Argentina That Decided the Title

Italy 1990 remains one of the most memorable World Cups in history, both for its lack of goals and the defensive style that dominated the tournament. The atmosphere was spectacular and produced unforgettable moments, although from a footballing standpoint it is not usually considered one of the greatest World Cups ever played.

Argentina, the defending world champion, was seeking back-to-back titles against West Germany. The Albiceleste also hoped to become the first South American team since Brazil to win a World Cup on European soil, something the Seleção had accomplished at Sweden 1958 thanks to the brilliance of Pelé.

A Difficult Road for Argentina

Argentina’s journey was complicated even before the tournament began. Injuries hit the squad hard. Jorge Valdano never recovered from a muscle tear suffered weeks before the World Cup. José Luis "Tata" Brown, one of the heroes of the 1986 final, was ruled out because of knee problems, while Néstor Clausen was also struggling with muscular issues.

Adding to the concerns was the physical condition of Diego Armando Maradona. Although he had just led Napoli to the Serie A title, he arrived at the tournament dealing with several physical problems and far from peak condition. Yet Maradona always seemed to transform himself during World Cups. Argentina also featured a young Claudio Paul Caniggia, whose pace and creativity made him one of the team's most dangerous players.

The tournament could hardly have started worse for the defending champions. Argentina lost the opening match to Cameroon following a mistake by Nery Pumpido and a memorable header from François Omam-Biyik.

The second match was a must-win situation, and that was when Diego produced something akin to a “Hand of God Part II.” With the score still level at 0-0, a Soviet shot beat Sergio Goycochea, but Maradona, standing on the goal line, used his hand to clear the ball away. The protests were massive, but just like in Mexico four years earlier, the infringement went unnoticed.

Argentina eventually won 2-0 thanks to goals from Pedro Troglio and Jorge Burruchaga. However, the victory came at a heavy cost. Nery Pumpido suffered a fractured fibula and was forced out of the tournament. His replacement, Sergio Goycochea, entered that very match and would go on to become one of the stars of the World Cup.

The third group-stage match marked a turning point for the Albiceleste. Maradona suffered a brutal challenge that caused a severe ankle sprain and even tore off a toenail on his left foot. From that point on, he had to play through pain with injections and a customized boot to prevent further irritation from his Puma Kings. Argentina drew with Romania and advanced as one of the best third-placed teams.

In the Round of 16, Brazil awaited. In a match dominated by the Seleção, Argentina survived and won thanks to a brilliant assist from Maradona and a composed finish by Caniggia. In the quarterfinals, the Albiceleste drew with Yugoslavia and advanced on penalties, with Goycochea emerging as the hero despite Maradona missing his spot kick.

The semifinal against Italy carried special significance. It was played in Naples, the city where Maradona was an unquestioned idol. Argentina eliminated the hosts in a penalty shootout and earned the hostility of much of the country. For many Italians, Diego went from hero to public enemy number one.

Meanwhile, West Germany had been a dominant force throughout the tournament. They comfortably won their group, eliminated the Netherlands, the reigning European champions, in the Round of 16, defeated Czechoslovakia in the quarterfinals thanks to a goal from Lothar Matthäus, and overcame England in a thrilling semifinal decided by penalties.

A Tense Final and a Controversial Decision

The stage was set for a rematch of the Mexico 1986 final. The tension was evident from the national anthems, as the Italian crowd booed Argentina’s anthem and Maradona reacted angrily.

The match was very different from the final played four years earlier. It became a physical, tactical battle with very few scoring opportunities. Argentina had reached its limit after playing extra time in multiple rounds and dealing with numerous injuries. Even Óscar Ruggeri was forced to leave the field because of a groin injury.

The Albiceleste was also without Caniggia, who was suspended due to yellow-card accumulation. Without their most dangerous attacking player, Argentina’s hopes rested on surviving and reaching a penalty shootout, once again trusting Sergio Goycochea.

West Germany controlled possession from the outset but found themselves facing an Argentine defense determined to resist through sheer pride and sacrifice. The final is often remembered as one of the least entertaining in World Cup history because of its lack of chances and relentless tactical struggle.

As the match entered its final stages, Argentina suffered another setback. In the 65th minute, Pedro Monzón committed a hard foul on Jürgen Klinsmann, prompting Mexican referee Edgardo Codesal to show a red card. Monzón became the first player ever sent off in a World Cup final.

Down to ten men and running out of energy, Argentina then faced the most controversial moment of the match in the 85th minute. Rudi Völler entered the penalty area, and Roberto Sensini went to ground in an attempt to win the ball. For many observers, it appeared to be a routine challenge, but Codesal pointed to the penalty spot.

The Argentine protests were immediate. Amid the chaos, Gustavo Dezotti was also sent off. The defending champions were on the brink.

The Penalty That Decided the World Cup

The usual penalty taker for West Germany was captain Lothar Matthäus, but a curious story changed the plan. Years earlier, he had borrowed a pair of boots from Maradona and became fascinated with the way Diego tied them. He continued wearing that same pair for years with the German national team. However, on the day of the final, those boots broke, forcing Matthäus to switch to a different pair he did not feel comfortable wearing. As a result, he handed the responsibility to Andreas Brehme, a specialist from the penalty spot.

Standing opposite him was Sergio Goycochea, the hero of countless shootouts. The challenge was that Brehme could strike the ball with either foot, making it difficult to predict his shot. The German defender delivered a perfect penalty. Goycochea guessed correctly but arrived a fraction too late. The ball hit the back of the net, and West Germany moved within minutes of becoming world champions.

Moments later, the final whistle blew. Maradona was left physically and emotionally devastated, while West Germany celebrated its third World Cup title. Months later, that triumph would also become a symbol of German reunification following the fall of the Berlin Wall.

More than three decades later, Edgardo Codesal’s decision remains the subject of debate. For some, it was a clear penalty. For others, it was an overly harsh call that ultimately decided one of the most controversial World Cup finals in history.