The 1986 IF World Cup
After the success of the 1982 tournament in Britain, this tournament was the second to be joint-hosted and the first to be hosted in North America. Mexico and Texas were the two hosts, with the latter making their first appearance in a World Cup Finals. The qualification format was changed yet again; the top two teams in each group, along with the four best third-placed teams, went through to a 16-team knockout stage.
Group A
1st: Argentina 5pts
2nd: Italy 4pts
3rd: Bulgaria 2pts
4th: Korea 1pt
Despite their low points tally, Bulgaria made it through to the round of 16 with two draws and a loss. Argentina won the group by virtue of Italy's failure to beat Bulgaria.
Group B
1st: Mexico 5pts
2nd: Paraguay 4pts
3rd: Belgium 3pts
4th: Iraq 0pts
Tired of under-representation in national sports, many of the provinces of the Ottoman Empire had formed their own sporting associations. Iraq lost all three games, scoring just one goal.
Group C
1st: France 5pts
2nd: USA 5pts
3rd: Austria-Hungary 2pts
4th: Russia 0pts
Austria-Hungary were a disappointment at this tournament after their run to the semi-final four years ago in Britain. France topped the group on goal difference.
Group D
1st: Brazil 6pts
2nd: Spain 4pts
3rd: Ireland 1pt
4th: Algeria 1pt
Spain, eager for revenge after their defeat to Ireland in 1982, bounced back from their opening defeat to Brazil, who collected maximum points. Ireland could only draw with Algeria, preventing a repeat of their run in 1982.
Group E
1st: Denmark 6pts
2nd: Germany 3pts
3rd: Texas 2pts
4th: Uruguay 1pt
This group is notable for two reasons. Firstly, the Denmark team stunning Germany for maximum points, and secondly, Uruguay's Jose Batista being sent off after just 55 seconds in a match they needed to win to qualify. The game finished 0-0 and Texas qualified ahead of them.
Group F
1st: Portugal 4pts
2nd: Britain 3pts
3rd: Poland 3pts
4th: Morocco 2pts
Portugal pulled off a shock result in their opening game by beating Britain and beat Morocco in their final game to qualify as group winners. Britain scraped through with a 3-0 win over Poland in their final game, after drawing 0-0 with Morocco.
Round of 16
Mexico 2-0 Bulgaria
France 3-4 Belgium aet
Brazil 4-0 Poland
Argentina 1-0 Texas
Italy 0-2 USA
Portugal 0-1 Germany
Britain 3-0 Paraguay
Denmark 1-5 Spain
European Champions France were defeated in extra time in a thrilling game, and joint hosts Texas lost to Argentina. Brazil, Germany and Britain all made it through, but Denmark were handily defeated by Spain and Italy lost to surprise package USA. Mexico made the last eight for the first time in their history.
Quarter Finals
Brazil 1-1 USA (USA win 4-3 on penalties)
Germany 0-0 Mexico (Germany win 4-1 on penalties)
Argentina 2-1 Britain
Spain 1-1 Belgium (Spain win 5-4 on penalties)
Brazil were stunned by the USA on penalties when Socrates and Julio Cesar both missed their spot-kicks in the shootout. Germany had no such trouble from twelve yards and Spain reached the semis in similar circumstances, but the most memorable game was the one decided in 90 minutes. In the second half and with the scores at 0-0, Peter Shilton went to punch the ball clear of the onrushing Maradona, but miscued and punched backwards; the ball rebounded back off the top of the bar and into the path of Maradona, who had been first to react; he volleyed it into the net to give Argentina the lead. Four minutes later, he dribbled past four British players, including Shilton, to double the lead. Gary Lineker brought Britain back into it with ten minutes left and, along with Gordon Strachan, struck the post in the final ten minutes, but Argentina held on to win. When asked about his first goal after the game, Maradona shrugged and suggested “The hand of God, maybe?” The expression has since become the term for an extremely lucky break; it was used by British golfer George Spencer at the 2011 US Open at Congressional Country Club when he scored a hole in one after his ball ricocheted back off a tree.
Semi Finals
Spain 0-2 Germany
Argentina 2-0 USA
Normal service was resumed in the semi-finals, as Germany and Argentina both saw off the dark horses comfortably.
Third-place playoff
Spain 4-2 USA aet
Spain's overall class shone through here, as the USA ran out of steam in extra time.
Final
Argentina 2-3 Germany
Despite the high-scoring game, this is one of the dirtiest finals in history. Nine yellow cards were issued, and two red ones; both to Argentine players. Karl-Heinze Rummenigge, who had been fairly subdued so far, ran Argentina ragged and outshone even Maradona, scoring a brace to win the match after Rudi Voller's opener. Jose Brown and Jorge Valdano scored for Argentina, but four minutes after being pegged back from 2-0, Germany retook the lead and Argentina couldn't recover. The 1990 tournament would be hosted in France.
Titles:
1. Brazil 3
=2. Germany, Italy 2
4. Uruguay, Austria-Hungary, France, Argentina 1
After the success of the 1982 tournament in Britain, this tournament was the second to be joint-hosted and the first to be hosted in North America. Mexico and Texas were the two hosts, with the latter making their first appearance in a World Cup Finals. The qualification format was changed yet again; the top two teams in each group, along with the four best third-placed teams, went through to a 16-team knockout stage.
Group A
1st: Argentina 5pts
2nd: Italy 4pts
3rd: Bulgaria 2pts
4th: Korea 1pt
Despite their low points tally, Bulgaria made it through to the round of 16 with two draws and a loss. Argentina won the group by virtue of Italy's failure to beat Bulgaria.
Group B
1st: Mexico 5pts
2nd: Paraguay 4pts
3rd: Belgium 3pts
4th: Iraq 0pts
Tired of under-representation in national sports, many of the provinces of the Ottoman Empire had formed their own sporting associations. Iraq lost all three games, scoring just one goal.
Group C
1st: France 5pts
2nd: USA 5pts
3rd: Austria-Hungary 2pts
4th: Russia 0pts
Austria-Hungary were a disappointment at this tournament after their run to the semi-final four years ago in Britain. France topped the group on goal difference.
Group D
1st: Brazil 6pts
2nd: Spain 4pts
3rd: Ireland 1pt
4th: Algeria 1pt
Spain, eager for revenge after their defeat to Ireland in 1982, bounced back from their opening defeat to Brazil, who collected maximum points. Ireland could only draw with Algeria, preventing a repeat of their run in 1982.
Group E
1st: Denmark 6pts
2nd: Germany 3pts
3rd: Texas 2pts
4th: Uruguay 1pt
This group is notable for two reasons. Firstly, the Denmark team stunning Germany for maximum points, and secondly, Uruguay's Jose Batista being sent off after just 55 seconds in a match they needed to win to qualify. The game finished 0-0 and Texas qualified ahead of them.
Group F
1st: Portugal 4pts
2nd: Britain 3pts
3rd: Poland 3pts
4th: Morocco 2pts
Portugal pulled off a shock result in their opening game by beating Britain and beat Morocco in their final game to qualify as group winners. Britain scraped through with a 3-0 win over Poland in their final game, after drawing 0-0 with Morocco.
Round of 16
Mexico 2-0 Bulgaria
France 3-4 Belgium aet
Brazil 4-0 Poland
Argentina 1-0 Texas
Italy 0-2 USA
Portugal 0-1 Germany
Britain 3-0 Paraguay
Denmark 1-5 Spain
European Champions France were defeated in extra time in a thrilling game, and joint hosts Texas lost to Argentina. Brazil, Germany and Britain all made it through, but Denmark were handily defeated by Spain and Italy lost to surprise package USA. Mexico made the last eight for the first time in their history.
Quarter Finals
Brazil 1-1 USA (USA win 4-3 on penalties)
Germany 0-0 Mexico (Germany win 4-1 on penalties)
Argentina 2-1 Britain
Spain 1-1 Belgium (Spain win 5-4 on penalties)
Brazil were stunned by the USA on penalties when Socrates and Julio Cesar both missed their spot-kicks in the shootout. Germany had no such trouble from twelve yards and Spain reached the semis in similar circumstances, but the most memorable game was the one decided in 90 minutes. In the second half and with the scores at 0-0, Peter Shilton went to punch the ball clear of the onrushing Maradona, but miscued and punched backwards; the ball rebounded back off the top of the bar and into the path of Maradona, who had been first to react; he volleyed it into the net to give Argentina the lead. Four minutes later, he dribbled past four British players, including Shilton, to double the lead. Gary Lineker brought Britain back into it with ten minutes left and, along with Gordon Strachan, struck the post in the final ten minutes, but Argentina held on to win. When asked about his first goal after the game, Maradona shrugged and suggested “The hand of God, maybe?” The expression has since become the term for an extremely lucky break; it was used by British golfer George Spencer at the 2011 US Open at Congressional Country Club when he scored a hole in one after his ball ricocheted back off a tree.
Semi Finals
Spain 0-2 Germany
Argentina 2-0 USA
Normal service was resumed in the semi-finals, as Germany and Argentina both saw off the dark horses comfortably.
Third-place playoff
Spain 4-2 USA aet
Spain's overall class shone through here, as the USA ran out of steam in extra time.
Final
Argentina 2-3 Germany
Despite the high-scoring game, this is one of the dirtiest finals in history. Nine yellow cards were issued, and two red ones; both to Argentine players. Karl-Heinze Rummenigge, who had been fairly subdued so far, ran Argentina ragged and outshone even Maradona, scoring a brace to win the match after Rudi Voller's opener. Jose Brown and Jorge Valdano scored for Argentina, but four minutes after being pegged back from 2-0, Germany retook the lead and Argentina couldn't recover. The 1990 tournament would be hosted in France.
Titles:
1. Brazil 3
=2. Germany, Italy 2
4. Uruguay, Austria-Hungary, France, Argentina 1
