The Fifa World Cup final: A recent history
It is the pinnacle of any footballer’s career.
Players from the Netherlands and Spain will walk out at Johannesburg’s Soccer City tonight knowing that they could be just 90 minutes away from becoming immortals in the eyes of their country. They have the chance to create history and win the World Cup for the first time in their nation’s histories, and it is an opportunity that none of them want to pass up.
Many have been there before, and the finals always have their talking points. Here’s what happened in the last five:
West Germany 1 Argentina 0, Rome, July 8th 1990
It was a rematch of the 1986 final in Mexico City, which Argentina won 3-2, but this clash in Rome never hit those same heights, and is regarded by many as the worst final ever.
Just over an hour had been played when West German forward Jürgen Klinsmann vaulted over the challenge of Argentina substitute Pedro Monzón, adding a twisting somersault for good measure. Monzón – who’d only been on the pitch for 19 minutes – was given a straight red card, becoming the first player to be sent off in a World Cup final.
Only five minutes remained when when Roberto Sensini was adjudged to have fouled Rudi Völler in the box, and full back Andreas Brehme tucked the resultant penalty into the bottom corner of the net. There was still time for Gustavo Dezotti to become the second man – and the second Argentinian – to be sent off in a world football’s showpiece event, and the whole rather disappointing matter ended with a West Germany victory.
Brazil 0 Italy 0, Pasadena, July 17th 1994 (Brazil win 3-2 on penalties)
The big news pre-match was the return to fitness of Italian defensive linchpin Franco Baresi, who had been out of action ever since limping out of the second group match against Norway with what had looked to be a tournament ending injury.
This had been billed as Romário versus Roberto Baggio, but both were to be snuffed out as defences were on top in front of 94,194 in Pasadena. There were few chances, but Gianluca Pagliuca almost committed the biggest World Cup howler of all time as he allowed Mauro Silva’s long range effort to pass through him, but fortunately for the Italian goalkeeper in spooned up onto the post, which he then kissed. Both Bebeto and especially Romário missed sitters in extra time, and the World Cup final’s first penalty shootout became inevitable.
Baresi and Daniele Massaro were to miss for the Italians, and when Dunga converted for Brazil, it meant that Baggio had to score to keep Italy in it. He didn’t, and the sight of the ball ballooning over the crossbar meant that Brazil were world champions.
Brazil 0 France 3, Paris, July 12th 1998
There was only one topic for discussion at the Stade de France pre-kick off; where was Ronaldo? The name of the superstar forward, Brazil’s top scorer in the competition, was absent from the initial teamsheet before he was mysteriously restored to the starting lineup.
Conspiracy theories still rage about Ronaldo’s involvement in the final, but the most common consensus is that the forward had had some form of seizure or fit. Whatever it was, it was clear that he was not in the right frame of mind, and so the stage was set for a new icon of the world game to emerge. Enter Zinedine Zidane.
The Marseille-born playmaker of Algerian descent had become the symbol of the new, multi-cultural France throughout the hosts’ run to the final, and he headed his side in front from a corner shortly before the half hour mark. He repeated the trick in first half stoppage time to jubilant celebrations in Paris and all across France and, despite Marcel Desailly’s red card midway through the second period, Emmanuel Petit raced onto a Patrick Vieira through ball in stoppage time to seal a magical night, which ended with Zidane’s image being beamed onto the Arc de Triomphe.
Triumph indeed.
Germany 0 Brazil 2, Yokohama, June 30th 2002
What a difference four years makes. Ronaldo, written off by many after suffering various damaging injuries, was back in a World Cup final, and this time he would certainly make his presence felt.
Many had been wondering just how this fairly average German side had made it into the final, but they were to be undone by Ronaldo and his slick Brazilian team-mates. Midfielder Kleberson hit the crossbar with a long range effort in the first half, and German goalkeeper Oliver Kahn continually kept his opposition at bay, but his nightmare moment was to come.
Midway through the second half, Kahn spilled Rivaldo’s long range effort directly where he didn’t want it to go, and Ronaldo – sporting a distinctive hairstyle – was on hand to gobble up the rebound. Pretty soon it was 2-0, as Rivaldo’s dummy allowed Ronaldo the time and space to coolly finish into the bottom corner for his eighth goal of the tournament, emphatically confirming him as the Golden Boot winner, and Brazil as five-time champions of the world.
Italy 1 France 1, Berlin, July 9th 2006 (Italy win 5-3 on penalties)
An all European affair in Germany, and a match that had both an explosive opening and an astonishing ending.
Only seven minutes were on the clock when French winger Florent Malouda was tripped in the box and Zidane – in his final match as a professional footballer – chipped the penalty against the underside of the crossbar, then saw it bounce over the line. The lead didn’t last long though, as, just 12 minutes later, Marco Materazzi headed in Andrea Pirlo’s corner to equalise.
France were having the better of it but, with neither side able to force a winner, the match went into extra time where – to the astonishment of the watching world – Zidane chose to end his distinguished football career in the 110th minute of the final by planting a headbutt directly into the chest of Materazzi.
Penalties now beckoned, and after David Trezeguet saw his kick hit the crossbar, Italian left back Fabio Grosso had the opportunity to win the World Cup for his nation. He took it, sending all of Italy wild. Now who will follow in their footsteps in Johannesburg?
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