San Marino stamps year 1990 Football World cup Italia

San Marino stamps year 1990 Football World cup Italia MNH MSS

The 1990 FIFA World Cup was held in Italy from June 8 to July 8. Here are the key highlights:

West Germany won their third World Cup title by defeating defending champions Argentina 1-0 in the final, with Andreas Brehme scoring the winning goal from a penalty in the 85th minute. This was the last World Cup appearance for West Germany before German reunification.

Host nation Italy finished third, beating England in the third-place playoff. The tournament is remembered for:

• Generally low-scoring matches and defensive tactics, with a record-low average of 2.21 goals per game
• The emergence of Cameroon, who reached the quarter-finals (the first African team to do so), led by 38-year-old Roger Milla
• Controversial refereeing, particularly in the final where Argentina’s Pedro Monzón and Gustavo Dezotti were sent off
• The memorable performances of players like Salvatore “Totò” Schillaci (Italy’s surprise top scorer), Lothar Matthäus (Germany), and Diego Maradona (Argentina)
• The official mascot “Ciao” and the official song “Un’estate italiana” by Edoardo Bennato and Gianna Nannini
• The iconic “Notti Magiche” (Magical Nights) theme that became synonymous with the tournament

Notable incidents included England reaching their best finish since 1966, and the Netherlands’ early exit despite being one of the favorites. The tournament was also marked by defensive tactics and what many considered negative football, leading to rule changes afterward to encourage more attacking play.