Italia 90 was supposed to be a celebration of Azzurri glory on home soil, but West Germany gatecrashed the party to clinch a third World Cup title.

The tournament opened in spectacular fashion as holders Argentina were beaten 1-0 by Cameroon in Milan, Omam Biyik heading the winner, despite the Indomitable Lions having two players sent off.

Italy strolled into round two with three wins out of three, but it was West Germany who made the most impressive start, with a 4-1 win over Yugoslavia and a 5-1 demolition of UAE sending shivers through the other competitors.

Argentina only qualified for round two as one of the best third-placed teams in the group stage, but in the last 16 they created a major shock by knocking out South American rivals Brazil, with Claudio Caniggia netting the winner.

West Germany won a bad-tempered encounter with Holland 2-1, with Rudi Voller and Frank Rijkaard sent off for a child-like squabble.

The quarter-finals threw up little of not apart from a thrilling 3-2 win after extra-time for England against Cameroon, who had come within a few minutes of a place in the last four before Gary Lineker's double broke their spirit.

Penalties would decide both semi-finals, with home hopes dying as Argentina's run continued, reserve goalkeeper Sergio Goycoechea emerging as the hero by saving two Azzurri spot-kicks in the shootout.

England also went out of the competition in the cruellest possible manner, as West Germany's 100 per cent record in shootouts since 1976 continued.

Paul Gascoigne had lit up the tournament with some dazzling displays, but his tournament ended in a flood of tears after a booking that would have seen him miss the final in any case.

As it turned out, most spectators must have wished that they had missed the final, as Argentina's negative tactics ensured a dismal encounter in Rome.

West Germany emerged as 1-0 victors thanks to an Andreas Brehme penalty, but the game became most notable for the first sendings-off in a final, with Carlos Monzon and Gustavo Dezotti dismissed for the losers.