In 1988, in an attempt to improve the popularity of the game in North America and to cash in on the lucrative American market, FIFA awarded the fifteenth World Cup finals to the U.S.A. Once again the format was unchanged, twenty-four teams qualifying with the top two in each group and four third place teams going into the second round.
In Group A, the U.S.A. were expected by many to be the first hosts to fall in the opening round, but a 2-1 win over Colombia took them through alongside Romania and Switzerland. The group had a tragic postscript as Colombian defender Andres Escobar, who had scored the own-goal that gave the Americans that victory, was murdered on his return home by a group who had lost money in bets on the tournament. Without a world title since 1970, Brazil were highly fancied to end that run and they won Group B convincingly with easy wins over Russia and Cameroon. Sweden held Brazil to a draw to clinch second place, and despite a 6-1 win over Cameroon the Russians could not go through in third place, although Oleg Salenko created history with the first ever five-goal performance in a World Cup finals match.
Champions Germany won Group C after holding off a determined fightback from South Korea in their final match. Spain, who had been held by the Koreans in their opening game, needed to beat Bolivia in their last match to be sure of second position and duly claimed the place in the knockout stages. In Group D Nigeria, Bulgaria and Argentina all won two of their three matches to go through, all three defeating a Greek side who were completely out of their depth on their World Cup debut. Argentina, however, were shocked by Diego Maradona's expulsion from the tournament for failing a drugs test.
Group E was the tightest group in World Cup history, all four teams finishing with a win, a draw and a defeat. Norway were the team to miss out, finishing bottom after scoring just one goal. Mexico, Ireland and Italy all went through, with the Mexicans topping the group having scored more goals. The Netherlands and Belgium were expected to ease through in Group F, but debutants Saudi Arabia proved to be the surprise package. They gave the Dutch a real fright in their opening game and then beat Morocco and Belgium to join the two European teams in the last sixteen.
Germany survived a late scare to beat Belgium 3-2 in the first match of the second round, before Spain comfortably saw off Switzerland with a 3-0 win. Saudi Arabia's surprise run came to an end at the hand of Sweden, and in perhaps the finest match of the tournament Romania beat Argentina 3-2 to set up a quarter-final against the Swedes. The Netherlands moved into the last eight with a 2-0 win over Ireland, and there they would meet Brazil who scored a late goal to end the host nation's involvement as they beat the U.S.A. 1-0. A late equaliser from Roberto Baggio took Italy and Nigeria into extra-time where Baggio's penalty took the Italians through, and in the last match of the round Bulgaria beat Mexico after a penalty shoot-out.
Italy beat Spain in the first quarter-final with to another late Baggio goal that gave them a 2-1 victory. After a dour first half, the match between Brazil and the Netherlands came to life in the second period. Brazil led 2-0 before the Dutch fought back to level, but a late free-kick from Branco sent the Brazilians through. Reigning champions Germany crashed out in a shock result in the third quarter-final, Bulgaria coming from behind to win 2-1, before Sweden equalised late in extra-time against Romania and went on to win on penalties.
Roberto Baggio's inspired run of form continued in the semi-final against Bulgaria, with two more goals to seal a 2-1 victory, but a hamstring injury left his place in the final in doubt. Brazil had to wait until ten minutes from time to make the breakthrough against Sweden but eventually won 1-0, finally getting the better of the side who had held them earlier in the tournament. The Swedes went on to gain some consolation by outclassing Bulgaria 4-0 for third place.
Burning heat in Los Angeles and the only half-fit Baggio left the final as a poor spectacle, with chances at a premium. Italy were lucky when goalkeeper Gianluca Pagliuca spilled a shot onto the post, and Romario missed a great chance for Brazil, while Baggio missed a chance in extra-time that if fit he would surely have scored. For the first time, the final went to penalties, and Italy missed three out of their five kicks to hand Brazil the title. It was Baggio who missed the decisive kick, a place in history that he did not deserve after such a magnificent tournament, but Brazil had sealed a historic fourth World Cup win.
Brazil
Italy
Sweden
Bulgaria
