1982 and beyond-alternate history of FIFA World Cups
- Thread starter Jan Olbracht
- Start date
Third place play-off
England and France, teams, that faced each other in group stage before, met again in third place play-off. It was their third encounter at World Cup level, as they shared group also at Spanish tournament in 1982. France, playing without Platini, was defeated 2-3. Gary Lineker, who scored 2 goals in that match and 8 in total, received Golden Boot as best scorer at the tournament.
Frequent encounters between France and England at World Cups became widely known as Hundred Years' War [1]
[1] That is not the last encounter. I guess France-England football rivalry would be much stronger ITTL as result.
Frequent encounters between France and England at World Cups became widely known as Hundred Years' War [1]
[1] That is not the last encounter. I guess France-England football rivalry would be much stronger ITTL as result.
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He already was half-fit during semi-final game and not played in third place play-off IOTL.
Final
Final of 1986 World Cup, played at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City on 29 June, was exciting match with more goals scored than in any other final since Brazil's 5-2 victory over Sweden in 1958. Argentina took 2-0 lead after goals of Brown and Valdano, but thanks to Rummenigge and Voller West Germany came from behind. Argentina had chance to regain the lead in 86 minute, but Burruchaga missed minimally. Regulation time ended with 2-2 draw and extra time was needed to decide who'd win the tournament. For West Germany it was third match in row, which eneded with extra time, while for Argentina it was first extra time at that World Cup and soon it became visible.
Burruchanga redeemed himself for 86 minute miss and gave Argentina lead near end of first half of extra time, five minutes later action of Maradona and Valdano ended with goal scored by the latter, West Germany responded with consolation goal scored in last action of the match by Magath. Argentina defeated West Germany 4-3 and won World Cup for second time
Argentinian players celebrating victory in World Cup final.
Burruchanga redeemed himself for 86 minute miss and gave Argentina lead near end of first half of extra time, five minutes later action of Maradona and Valdano ended with goal scored by the latter, West Germany responded with consolation goal scored in last action of the match by Magath. Argentina defeated West Germany 4-3 and won World Cup for second time
Argentinian players celebrating victory in World Cup final.
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World Cup 1986-summary
Final positions:
1.
Argentina (2nd title)
2.
West Germany
3.
England
4.
France
Best player:
Diego Maradona
Top scorer:
Gary Lineker (8 goals)
1.
2.
3.
4.
Best player:
Top scorer:
Coppa del Mondo Italia '90
1990 tournament, hosted for the second time in history by Italy, also featured 24 teams divided into 6 groups. Host nation, top 4 teams of previous tournament and Brazil were seeded teams [1]. Italy hoped to win World Cup played on home soil and regain title of world champion after long 52 years of misfortune.
Seedings of 1990 World Cup [2]
[1] Atl least England's seeding would not be that controversial as IOTL, as England is third team of previous tournament. Group E, where England is automatically relocated, would obviously play all matches in Sardinia. @Ruperto Pesto mentioned, thatHavelange FIFA wanted Brazil-Italy and Germany Argentina in semi-finals, thus Brazil in group C. Argentina failed to win her group, thus whole plan also failed, ITTL one of that Big Four also would upset FIFA, but this time it would not be Argentina...
[2] This time there are few more changes than East Germany instead of Bulgaria...
Seedings of 1990 World Cup [2]
[1] Atl least England's seeding would not be that controversial as IOTL, as England is third team of previous tournament. Group E, where England is automatically relocated, would obviously play all matches in Sardinia. @Ruperto Pesto mentioned, that
[2] This time there are few more changes than East Germany instead of Bulgaria...
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And there are the Groups:
A) Italy, USA, Israel, Scotland
B) Argentina, Cameroon, Romania, Soviet Union
C) Brazil, Mexico, Austria, Poland
D) West Germany, United Arab Emirates, Czechoslovakia, Belgium
E) England, South Korea, Uruguay, Spain
F) France, Egypt, Ireland, Netherlands
A) Italy, USA, Israel, Scotland
B) Argentina, Cameroon, Romania, Soviet Union
C) Brazil, Mexico, Austria, Poland
D) West Germany, United Arab Emirates, Czechoslovakia, Belgium
E) England, South Korea, Uruguay, Spain
F) France, Egypt, Ireland, Netherlands
A) Italy, USA, Israel, Scotland
B) Argentina, Cameroon, Romania, Soviet Union
C) Brazil, Mexico, Austria, Poland
D) West Germany, United Arab Emirates, Czechoslovakia, Belgium
E) England, South Korea, Uruguay, Spain
F) France, Egypt, Ireland, Netherlands
B) Argentina, Cameroon, Romania, Soviet Union
C) Brazil, Mexico, Austria, Poland
D) West Germany, United Arab Emirates, Czechoslovakia, Belgium
E) England, South Korea, Uruguay, Spain
F) France, Egypt, Ireland, Netherlands
Group stage, part 1
Group A
Italy being drawn with USA, returning to the tournament after 40 years long abscence, and Israel, which played at World Cup only once in 1970, not winning sinle match, gave rise to accusations, that draw was rigged. Italy, as expected, won all matches, not losing single goal. Scotland advanced as runner-up, thanks to victories over USA and Israel. Israel won first match at World Cup, defeating USA 2-1, but it happened to be not enough to advance to round of 16.
Table and matches of Group A
Group B
Defending champion Argentina started with unexpected 0-1 loss to Cameroon, but 2-0 victory over Soviet Union and 1-0 victory over Romania, combined with Cameroon's 0-4 defeat in last match of group stage against Soviet Union, ensured Argentina's advance from first place. Cameroon, equal on points but with worse goal difference, advanced as runner-up. Romania and Soviet Union failed to advance.
Table and matches of Group B
Italy being drawn with USA, returning to the tournament after 40 years long abscence, and Israel, which played at World Cup only once in 1970, not winning sinle match, gave rise to accusations, that draw was rigged. Italy, as expected, won all matches, not losing single goal. Scotland advanced as runner-up, thanks to victories over USA and Israel. Israel won first match at World Cup, defeating USA 2-1, but it happened to be not enough to advance to round of 16.
Table and matches of Group A
Group B
Defending champion Argentina started with unexpected 0-1 loss to Cameroon, but 2-0 victory over Soviet Union and 1-0 victory over Romania, combined with Cameroon's 0-4 defeat in last match of group stage against Soviet Union, ensured Argentina's advance from first place. Cameroon, equal on points but with worse goal difference, advanced as runner-up. Romania and Soviet Union failed to advance.
Table and matches of Group B
Group stage, part 2
Group C
Group C was won without much problems by Brazil. Brazilians won all matches without losing single goal. Mexico [1] advanced to knock-out stage as runner-up. Poland, equal on points but with worse goal difference, advanced from third place. World Champions from 1982 were not the same team as few years ago. Veterans, who won medals at World Cups in Germany and Spain, retired and there was no player on the horizon, who would replace Boniek as leader. Frequent changes of coach and rotation of squad also have not helped, but Poland luckily managed to advance to fifth World Cup in row, and draw with Mexico and victory with Austria, which played most of the match reduced to 10 men after Artner was send off, were enough to once again advance to knockout stage from third place [2]
Table and matches of Group C
[1] Mexico is not banned-Cachirules scandal is avoided.
[2] 1990s were black hole in history of Polish football-16 years without advance to any tournament between 1986 and 2002 (followed by 7 tournaments between 2002 and 2021). There were some near-misses (like qualifications to Euro 1992 and Euro 2000) but besides having weaker team than during 1980s or 2000s, Poland also had really bad luck in draws. As I do this TL for pleasure I'd make Poland more fortunate obviously.
Group C was won without much problems by Brazil. Brazilians won all matches without losing single goal. Mexico [1] advanced to knock-out stage as runner-up. Poland, equal on points but with worse goal difference, advanced from third place. World Champions from 1982 were not the same team as few years ago. Veterans, who won medals at World Cups in Germany and Spain, retired and there was no player on the horizon, who would replace Boniek as leader. Frequent changes of coach and rotation of squad also have not helped, but Poland luckily managed to advance to fifth World Cup in row, and draw with Mexico and victory with Austria, which played most of the match reduced to 10 men after Artner was send off, were enough to once again advance to knockout stage from third place [2]
Table and matches of Group C
[1] Mexico is not banned-Cachirules scandal is avoided.
[2] 1990s were black hole in history of Polish football-16 years without advance to any tournament between 1986 and 2002 (followed by 7 tournaments between 2002 and 2021). There were some near-misses (like qualifications to Euro 1992 and Euro 2000) but besides having weaker team than during 1980s or 2000s, Poland also had really bad luck in draws. As I do this TL for pleasure I'd make Poland more fortunate obviously.
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Group stage, part 3
Group D
Group D featured West Germany, finalists of two previous World Cups, as well as Czechoslovakia, Belgia and United Arab Emirates. West Germany won matches against Czechoslovakia and United Arab Emirates (the latter were source of points for all other teams in the group) but in the last match, despite taking lead first, were defeated by Belgium thanks to two goals scored by Degryse during last 5 minutes of the match. As result unexpectedly Belgium won Group D [1]. West Germany followed as runner-up. Czechoslovakia advanced as one of 4 best third placed teams.
Table and matches of Group D
[1] I feel need to compensate Belgians for 'stealing' them 4th place in 1986.
Group D featured West Germany, finalists of two previous World Cups, as well as Czechoslovakia, Belgia and United Arab Emirates. West Germany won matches against Czechoslovakia and United Arab Emirates (the latter were source of points for all other teams in the group) but in the last match, despite taking lead first, were defeated by Belgium thanks to two goals scored by Degryse during last 5 minutes of the match. As result unexpectedly Belgium won Group D [1]. West Germany followed as runner-up. Czechoslovakia advanced as one of 4 best third placed teams.
Table and matches of Group D
[1] I feel need to compensate Belgians for 'stealing' them 4th place in 1986.
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So group stage is 2/3 complete. As you may guess third placed teams from groups C, D, E and F are going to advance, so you may start predictions for round of 16. And you know who'd ruin FIFA's plans for semi-finals...
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Group stage, part 4
Group E
Group E, featuring England, South Korea, Uruguay and Spain, played all matches outside Italian mainland, due to concerns about hooliganism. Spain won the group, defeating England in last group stage match and thus taking revenge for loss in quarter-final of previous tournament. England advanced as runner-up and Uruguay, thanks to injury time goal scored against South Korea, advanced as one of the best third placed teams.
Table and matches of Group E
Group F
All but one matches in that group ended with draws (with exception of France's 1-0 win against Egypt) and only in one match (France-Ireland 2-2 draw) team managed to score more than one goal. France won that group, followed by Ireland and Netherlands. Ireland and Netherlands had same number of points and goal difference, but Ireland had higher number of goals scored [1]
Table and results of Group F
[1] So no need for drawing lots.
Group E, featuring England, South Korea, Uruguay and Spain, played all matches outside Italian mainland, due to concerns about hooliganism. Spain won the group, defeating England in last group stage match and thus taking revenge for loss in quarter-final of previous tournament. England advanced as runner-up and Uruguay, thanks to injury time goal scored against South Korea, advanced as one of the best third placed teams.
Table and matches of Group E
Group F
All but one matches in that group ended with draws (with exception of France's 1-0 win against Egypt) and only in one match (France-Ireland 2-2 draw) team managed to score more than one goal. France won that group, followed by Ireland and Netherlands. Ireland and Netherlands had same number of points and goal difference, but Ireland had higher number of goals scored [1]
Table and results of Group F
[1] So no need for drawing lots.