ROME: Four for the title, all of whom already have tasted it England and West Germany joined Argentina and Italy in the World Cup semifinals with victories Sunday, The English ended the miracle run of the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon, getting two penalty kick goals from Gary Linker for a 302 win in extra time.
England had blown a 10 lead built on David Plat’s first half goal, but after Emmanuel Kunde and Eugene Ekeke put the 5001 long shots in front, Linekar tied it with his first goal, He again was awarded a penalty kick in the 15th minute of overtime and won it.
“Cameroon was very tough,” Linekar said, “They deserve all the credit in the world. They came in underestimated and have shown African football is very strong.”
Like the will of the English.
We showed character, resilience, spirit, effort and determination,” Coach Bobby Robson said. “We had to bang in there in desperation for many periods of the match.”
The Germans beat Czechoslovakia 10 ‘on a penalty kick by Lothar Matthaeus.
That leaves the host team, seeking an unprecedented fourth crown, defending champion Argentina, which also won in 1978 two timer winner West Germany (1954 and 1974) and England the 196 victor. :
All four teams were seeded at the top of their opening round groups, with only Argentina not winning its division.
For Cameroon, it was a bitter loss. The African champions, first team from their continent to make the quarterfinals, outplayed England for much of the game. They showed skillful passing but missed many close in shots.
‘And, with four starters suspended for the game, hurting them most on defense, they ‘were beaten twice near the net by Linker, forcing the penalties that decided the match.
“It was not that one team played better or one team played worse,” said Roger Milla, Cameroon’s super sub, who had a role in both goals. “It was experience that decided i”
The West Germany Czechoslovakia game also was decided on a penalty.
Matthacus got the only goal in the 24th minute, Teammate Juergen Klinsmann was fouled in the penalty area and Matthaues playing another superb game, drilled home the shot.
“The important thing is that we made the semifinals,” Coach Franz Beckenbauer said “Czechoslovakia was a very strong “opponent.”
The Germans who have looked overwhelming offensively throughout displayed the same creativity and added a staunch defense. They had little trouble shutting down Tomas Skuhravy, the leading scorer in the World Cup with five goals.
It was the ninth time the Germans had made the last four, a World Cup record.
For once, Argentina showed it can win without Diego Maradona’s help. Maradcna had a mediocre game and an even ‘worse penalty kick shootout, missing with a weak effort. Still Argentina advanced to the semifinals winning the shootout 32 over Yugoslavian after 120 minutes of scoreless soccer
“Argentina was all heart today,” Maradona said. “To beat Argentina they will have to rip the cup out of our hearts.”
‘On Tuesday at Naples, where Maradona is a hero for leading Napoli to the Italian League title, Argentina will play Italy.
‘Schillaci ended Ireland’s first World Cup with a goal in the 38th minute, It also snapped a 17 game, 19 month unbeaten string for the Irish.
The mayor of Turin has backed off be insistence that England must not play a semifinal in her city. Maria magnani Nova said she had no objection to the match, but she added, “Certainly would ask FIFA to switch the contestants in the semifinals so that the English would not play in Turin. She cited anti English sentiment lingering from the Heysel Stadium tragedy five years ago, when 39 fans mostly Italians, died in riots at the Brussels stadium before a European Cup of Champions game between Liverpool and Juventus of Turin.
Early Sunday morning a pair of caracci dents claimed five lives. A van carrying English soccer fans and a car of Italians collided head on, killing the three Italians and Brian Tiller, head of the Bourne mount Football Club in England, authorities said, The accident occurred outside Latina, 40 miles south of Rome as the English fans were returning from the World Cup game between Italy and Ireland in the Italian,
Article extracted from this publication >> July 6, 1990
