JURGEN KLINSMANN

JURGEN KLINSMANN

10. JURGEN KLINSMANN West Germany

Klinsmann came away from the tournament with a deserved reputation for diving, but he also proved himself an extraordinary striker.
His header against Yugoslavia showed what he could achieve when he put his leaps to a positive use, but the performance that defined him came against the Dutch in the second round.
Left to play as a lone front-man after Rudi Voller had been sent off, he led the line tirelessly, scoring the opener. Inevitably, it was a foul on him – suitably brought to the referee’s attention with an extravagant fall and shoulder spin – that led to Pedro Monzon’s red card in the final.

ANDREAS BREHME

ANDREAS BREHME

4. ANDREAS BREHME West Germany

He scored the winner from the penalty spot in the final, which was a fitting end to the tournament for a player who effectively defined the role of the wing-back.
Never less than solid defensively, Brehme had the engine to work up and down the left flank and was probably the best crosser in the side.
It was from his delivery that Jurgen Klinsmann headed West Germany’s second against Yugoslavia, he scored the second against the Dutch with a right-footed curler and, of course, struck – with his left foot this time - the free-kick that deflected off Paul Parker for West Germany’s goal in the semi-final.

LOTHAR MATTHAUS

LOTHAR MATTHAUS

2. LOTHAR MATTHAUS West Germany

West Germany in 1990 were an awesome side, a blend of power and class, and at their heart stood Matthaus, their captain but also their embodiment, a indefatigable driving force who could also think and pass – and, as Yugoslavia discovered, shoot.
It may be that the World Cup has never seen a more complete series of performances from any player than those Matthaus produced in 1990.
In terms of how they are remembered, West Germany are unfortunate that they produced their best first. Yugoslavia were an excellent team, but West Germany destroyed them their first group game, winning 4-1.
Matthaus not merely negated Dragan Stojkovic, but also scored twice, first with a sharp turn and low arcing left-foot shot into the corner from just outside the box, and then with his right foot from slightly further out having surged from inside his own half.
He added another long-rage effort against the UAE, and then got the winner from the penalty spot against Czechoslovakia in the quarter-final.
Needless to say, he made no mistake in the shoot-out against England in the semi and, suffering an ankle injury, had the good sense to leave the converting of the winning penalty in the final to Andreas Brehme.