Updates and news
The aim of this website is to collect all knowledge and analyse every aspect of Italia'90. The site is a work in progress, with also published material being continuously revised. We will only begin publishing match reports from the 1990 World Cup tournament when all qualifiers have been covered. We are currently (June 2019) working on UEFA qualifiers Group 5. Next up: Yugoslavia v France (domizio) and Cyprus v Scotland (kaltz). To receive updates on twitter, follow @1990qual (kaltz) and @1990worldcup (domizio).
NEWEST: Yugoslavia 4-0 Cyprus
11 December 1988, Belgrade: Yugoslavia do not mess about even in the early stages: They immediately set their sights on supremacy. It goes without saying that they have individuals of much higher calibre than their opponents, who are pinned back deep inside their own half almost from the first kick. Not only do the Yugoslavs' technically more adapt players make sure Cyprus straight away realize they're in for a tough shift, but even collectively they're switched on. Once during the initial phase Cyprus are across the halfway line whilst in possession, and Yugoslavia make sure to treat them seriously, with players covering for one another and working hard until they've won possession back. With so many players committed defensively, it was clear right away that Cyprus would have a long way to come in order to provide any levels of threat in front of Tomislav Ivković, the 28 year old Austria based goalkeeper for the hosts who was making his 14th international appearance. Read more . . .
RECENT (second take): Austria 2 – Iceland 1
Rodax
23 August 1989, Salzburg: Hickersberger was facing two challenges: How to replace Herbert Prohaska and Toni Polster? Prohaska had retired from football at the end of the 89-90 season, and the qualifier against Iceland away was likely the last official game of football in his career altogether. Toni Polster, arguably the star player of the team, was recovering from an injury and was only fit enough to start on the bench for this game. For this match, Hickersberger opted for a 4-3-3 formation, scrapping the 5-3-2 he had been using in the qualifiers thus far. Perhaps a sign of more attacking intent for this home encounter and a will to try something new.
Previously: Czechoslovakia v Switzerland (1989 qualifier)
Previously: Wales v Netherlands (1989 qualifier)
From the news archives
One of the last qualifiers covered at italia1990.com is Iceland v Soviet Union (31 August 1988) from UEFA Group 3, provided by our writer kaltz. In addition, we give you the front page of the Icelandic newspaper Tíminn on 1 September 1988: Its headline was not so much the result of the game, as the naked person who entered the field. This is allegedly the first time this phenomenon was witnessed on a sporting venue on the island. Insular innocence stolen.
(Thanks to @WC1930blogger for notifying us.)
From the archives
Greece 1-4 Yugoslavia, 5 April 1989
Group 7 Quiz
Who was Belgium's regular libero in the 1990 qualifiers? And who's the player in the middle in the picture to the right? Test your UEFA qualification group 7 knowledge with our new group 7 quiz. Difficulty level: Difficult . . .