Argentina 1990
Argentina arrived at the Italia 1990 final as defending champions, but they were a shadow of the 1986 side. Maradona, injured and far from his best, was dragging the team forward through sheer will alone. Argentina had eliminated Brazil, Yugoslavia, and Italy the hosts on penalties, the last of those in one of the tensest semi-finals in history, played in Naples. In the final at Rome's Olimpico, without Caniggia (suspended) and with four sanctioned players, Argentina shut up shop. The match was poor, cynical, with two Argentine players sent off. Andreas Brehme scored from the penalty spot in the 85th minute for the 1-0 winner. Maradona wept at the medal ceremony tears that marked the end of an era. Argentina fell as runners-up in the ugliest final in World Cup history.