Flashback

Every now and then my brother and I will be flashing back to some memorable sporting events in the past. Here is our first one. 

June 24, 1990- The second round of the 1990 world cup saw one of the most intense rivalries in soccer renewed. That would be Holland against Germany (technically West Germany at the time). Holland and Germany have had an incredibly fierce rivalry in football since the end of World War II. Also, due to the amount of important matches these two nations have played, the rivalry grew to new heights. This match would turnout to be the most famous, or infamous between the two, depending on how you look at it. Tensions were already running high between the teams even before the match started. Holland had just beaten Germany in the 1988 Euro Semifinals in route to becoming European Champions. The tournament had been held in Germany, so the loss was that much the more bitter for them. The Germans wanted to get revenge against the Dutch badly. Rudi Voller said before the game that he dreamed of getting to play against Holland before the match. However, this match would be extremely unique for one particular reason. Three of Germany's best players were playing for Inter Milan at the time, Brehme, Klinsmann, and Matthaus.  While Holland had three of their best playing for AC Milan, Van Basted, Rijkaard, and Gullit. And wouldn't you know it, the match was played in the San Siro in Milan. Never has a world cup match played before two foreign sides, generated such local interest. Fans of both Inter and AC Milan flocked to the game to support their local club stars. The mixture of a second round World Cup match plus the feel Milan Derby, gave the match an incredible atmosphere. However, things began to turn ugly as the game started. The German fans repeatedly racially abused the black Dutch players. Monkey cheers could be heard throughout the stadium, every time one of them touched the ball. Then in the twenty second minute one of the most notorious moments in World Cup history happened. After Voller won a freekick after a pretty blatant dive, Rijkaard approached him. Rijkaard had been infuriated by the racist chants directed at him, as well as the other black players. Rijkaard went up and spit on to the back of Voller's head. The incident was not seen by the ref and went unpunished. The altercation would not stop there. On the ensuing play, Voller fouled the goal which started another skirmish. Voller took another blatant dive in the melee. Then, Rijkaard came over and spit on him again. Both players were sent off. It is still confusing as to why Voller was sent off, but Rijkaard's actions were incredibly disgraceful. Then, just for good measure Rijkaard spit on him one more time as they left the field. As the match went on, Germany had a number of good chances, but goalkeeper Hans Van Breukelen pulled off a number of great saves. The Germans would not be denied on 51 minutes, though. Jurgen Klinsmann cleverly diverted a near post cross to give them the lead. Holland had two golden chances to tie the game, but couldn't do i. The Germans would go two up after another Inter player scored on the 84th minute. Brehme took the ball on the left side of the penalty area and curled in an unstoppable shot. It was won of the goals of the tournament. Koeman would pull a goal back via the penalty spot after 89 minutes, but the Dutch would run out of time. The Germans would go on to win their third World Cup. The 2-1 win over the Dutch remains one of the sweetest of all time for the Germans. The match will be remembered by fans all over for bad reasons. The horrible racism that took place in the stadium on that night, and the spitting by Rijkaard is what makes it so memorable. Holland would get some revenge on the German's just two years after that by beating them in the Euros, but the loss in the 1990 World Cup will forever leave a bitter taste in the mouths of the Dutch.