FIFA World Cup 1990 - Group B - Historical Football Kits

FIFA World Cup 1990 Group B

fifa world cup 1990 poster Cameroon emerged as the best team in Group B, beating the reigning World Champions, Argentina in the opening match. Their inspiration was the 38-year old Roger Milla who had come out of retirement at the personal request of the Cameroonian president Paul Biya. Romania's shirts had no crest: following the bloody revolution six months earlier, all communist iconography was removed from public life and the Romanian Football Federation had yet to come up with a new design. This was the last time that the Soviet Union appeared in the finals, as that nation would break up in 1991.

Cameroon

Argentina

Cameroon 1 Argentina 0

San Siro, Milan (73,780)
8 June 1990

Despite being reduced to nine men, Cameroon pulled off a shock beating the World Champions thanks to a goal by Omam-Biyek in the 67th minute.

Romania

Soviet Union

Romania 2 Soviet Union 0

Stadio San Nicola, Bari (42,907)
9 June 1990

Marius Lăcătuş scored once in each half to give Romania a convincing win although his second, from a penalty awarded for handball by Vagiz Khidiatullin, was controversial. Television replays showed that the offence occurred some way outside the penalty area.

(Andre Silva)

Argentina

Soviet Union

Argentina 2 Soviet Union 0

Stadio San Paolo (55,759)
13 June 1990

Argentina put themselves back in contention with goals in each half. Maradona played a prominent part, keeping out a certain Soviet goal with his hand (an offence not spotted by the referee). Troglio opened the scoring with a fine header in the 27th minute while Argentina took advantage when the Soviet defence stopped playing after bringing down an Argentinian forward in the 79th minute. The referee had waved play on allowing Burruchaga to run through and score.

(Andre Silva)

Cameroon

Romania

Cameroon 2 Romania 1

Stadio San Nicola, Bari (38,687)
14 June 1990

Roger Milla scored twice for Cameroon after coming on as substitute. His goals came in the 76th and 86th minute and his celebration dance at the corner flag became one of the abiding images of the competition. Romania struck back immediately but there was no time for them to find an equaliser.

Argentina

Romania

Argentina 1 Romania 1

Stadio San Paolo, Naples (52,733)
18 June 1990

This was a crucial match for both sides with progress into the knock out stage at stake. Monzón put Argentina into the lead in the 63rd minute heading home a Maradona corner but within five minutes, Balint had equalised. The World Champions could not find the winner and finished level on points with Romania with an identical goal difference. Romania went through by virtue of having scored four goals in their group games against Argentina's three.

Soviet Union

Cameroon

Soviet Union 4 Cameroon 0

Stadio San Nicola, Bari (37,307)
18 June 1990

With qualification already assured, Cameroon could afford to take it easy against the USSR but made only one change from their previous match. A 4-0 hammering was not what they were expecting.