1990 FIFA World Cup National Team Squads and Regulations
The 1990 FIFA World Cup, hosted by Italy from June 8 to July 8, remains a landmark event in football history. To compete in the final tournament, each participating nation was required to confirm a final squad of 22 players by May 29. These squads represented the pinnacle of international talent, organized into six competitive groups.
While the standard squad size was fixed, FIFA maintained the discretion to allow the replacement of injured players during the tournament. This rule was notably utilized by two nations, Argentina and England, both of whom replaced injured goalkeepers to maintain their competitive strength.
[ไม่มีภาพประกอบ]Key Facts
- Squad Size: Each national team consisted of 22 players.
- Deadline: Final squads had to be confirmed by May 29, 1990.
- Goalkeeper Standards: Most teams included three goalkeepers, though Colombia and the Republic of Ireland opted for only two.
- Injury Replacements: FIFA permitted specific replacements for injured players, specifically allowing Argentina and England to swap goalkeepers.
- Tournament Duration: The event ran from June 8 to July 8, 1990, in Italy.
Tournament Groupings and Leadership
The tournament was divided into six groups, each featuring a diverse array of coaching philosophies and national styles.
Group A
- Austria: Coached by Josef Hickersberger.
- Czechoslovakia: Coached by Jozef Vengloš.
- Italy: Coached by Azeglio Vicini. Italy employed a unique numbering system: goalkeepers took traditional numbers (1, 12, 22), while others were numbered alphabetically by position (Defenders 2-8, Midfielders 9-14, and Forwards 15-21).
- United States: Coached by Bob Gansler.
Group B
- Argentina: Coached by Carlos Bilardo. Following a tibia and fibula rupture suffered by goalkeeper Pumpido, FIFA authorized his replacement by Comizzo.
- Cameroon: Coached by Valery Nepomnyashchy.
- Romania: Coached by Emerich Jenei.
- Soviet Union: Coached by Valeriy Lobanovskyi.
Group C
- Brazil: Coached by Sebastião Lazaroni.
- Costa Rica: Coached by Bora Milutinović.
- Scotland: Coached by Andy Roxburgh. Scotland numbered their squad based on the number of caps (international appearances) each player had earned, with the exception of goalkeeper Jim Leighton, who wore number 1.
- Sweden: Coached by Olle Nordin.
Group D
- Colombia: Coached by Francisco Maturana.
- United Arab Emirates: Coached by Carlos Alberto Parreira.
- West Germany: Coached by Franz Beckenbauer.
- Yugoslavia: Coached by Ivica Osim.
Group E
- Belgium: Coached by Guy Thys.
- South Korea: Coached by Lee Hoe-taik.
- Spain: Coached by Luis Suárez.
- Uruguay: Coached by Óscar Tabárez.
Group F
- Egypt: Coached by Mahmoud Al-Gohari.
- England: Coached by Bobby Robson. After the first match, David Seaman was replaced by Dave Beasant due to a thumb injury.
- Netherlands: Coached by Leo Beenhakker.
- Republic of Ireland: Coached by Jack Charlton.
Coaching Nationalities and Representation
The 1990 tournament featured several instances of international coaching, where managers led teams from nations other than their own. For example, Brazil provided two coaches for the tournament: Sebastião Lazaroni for Brazil and Carlos Alberto Parreira for the United Arab Emirates.
| Number of Coaches | Country of Origin | Coaches |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Brazil | Sebastião Lazaroni, Carlos Alberto Parreira |
| 2 | England | Bobby Robson, Jack Charlton |
| 2 | Soviet Union | Valeriy Lobanovskyi, Valery Nepomnyashchy |
| 2 | Yugoslavia | Bora Milutinović, Ivica Osim |
| 1 | Argentina | Carlos Bilardo |
| 1 | West Germany | Franz Beckenbauer |
| 1 | Italy | Azeglio Vicini |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many players were allowed in each squad?
Each national team was required to submit a final squad of 22 players.
Which teams did not bring three goalkeepers?
Colombia and the Republic of Ireland were the only two teams that called up only two goalkeepers instead of the usual three.
How did Italy determine their player shirt numbers?
Except for the goalkeepers, Italy assigned numbers alphabetically based on the player's position: defenders were 2-8, midfielders 9-14, and forwards 15-21.
Who were the goalkeepers replaced due to injury during the tournament?
Argentina replaced Pumpido with Comizzo, and England replaced David Seaman with Dave Beasant.
How did Scotland decide their squad numbering?
Scotland numbered their players according to the number of caps they had won at the time, though goalkeeper Jim Leighton retained the traditional number 1.