History of the World Cup: 1930 - 2010 by Clemente Angelo Lisi

Author:Clemente Angelo Lisi [Lisi, Clemente Angelo]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Soccer, Sports & Recreation, Reference, History, Football, Non-Fiction
ISBN: 9780810877535
Google: WaWWNrh67aUC
Publisher: Scarecrow Press
Published: 2011-08-15T04:00:00+00:00

The Final

The championship game was billed as a battle between two continents. The game was played on June 29 before 114,580 fans and featured all the color and pageantry worthy of a coronation. Matthaeus had been given the responsibility of marking Maradona—a double gamble on Beckenbauer's part. Matthaeus remained the most creative player on a team known more for its efficiency than beauty. With Matthaeus busy moving from the midfield to defense, the West Germans would be deprived of their most offensively gifted player. At the same time, Argentina wasted no time getting on the board, taking a 1-0 lead thanks to a goal by Jose Luis Brown in the 22nd minute. Although the West Germans were able to keep Maradona from finding the back of the net, it often meant that he was double-teamed, leaving his teammates wide open for passes. The only way for West Germany to stop Maradona was to foul him. One of those fouls, which resulted in a free kick, gave Argentina the lead. Matthaeus, who had earned a yellow card from Brazilian referee Romualdo Arpri Filho for his foul on Maradona from behind, could do nothing but watch as Burruchaga took the free kick and sent a cross in front of Schumacher, who was unable to catch the ball. That's when the ball reached Brown, who headed it into the net. The crowd was back on its feet in the 56th minute when a Maradona pass found Enrique, who dished it off to Valdano. Schumacher came out of his goal to try and cut off the shot and Valdano slipped the ball past him at the far post for the 2-0 lead.

Brown hurt his right shoulder with thirty minutes left in the game, but Bilardo refused to take him out of the game. Brown played the rest of the contest with his arm strapped to his body, bringing back memories of Beckenbauer playing in a sling against Italy in the 1970 World Cup semifinals. For all intents and purposes, the game appeared over. Argentina was bracing itself for a massive celebration. Beckenbauer replaced Felix Magath with Dieter Hoeness five minutes after the second Argentine goal and picked up some momentum from that switch. The West Germans rallied and got a goal from Rummenigge in the 74th minute off a Brehme corner kick that allowed the veteran striker to poke the ball in past Pumpido from three yards out. The West Germans continued to attack and amazingly tied the score seven minutes later when an unmarked Voeller headed it past Pumpido for the 2-2 tie.

The West Germans had played their best stretch of the tournament in the second half and it could not have come at a better time. Matthaeus, whose job appeared done, deserted Maradona in the game's dying minutes. What a tactical error that would turn out to be. If the West Germans expected Argentina to become complacent and gamble in overtime, they were sadly mistaken. Instead, Bilardo's team stayed focused and with

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