1990 FIFA World Cup knockout stage 1990 FIFA World Cup knockout stage The knockout stage of the 1990 FIFA World Cup was the second and final stage of the final tournament, following the group stage. It began on 23 June with the round of 16 matches, and ended on 8 July with the final match of the tournament held in Rome, in which West Germany beat the defending champions Argentina 1–0 to claim their third World Cup. Sixteen teams advanced to the knockout stage to compete in a single-elimination style tournament: The top two teams from each group plus the four best third-placed teams. In the
Brazil v Germany (2014 FIFA World Cup) in an international match. Ultimately, the match was described as a national humiliation. The game has subsequently been dubbed the Mineirazo (Mineiraço , "Agony of Mineirão"), evoking a previous "spirit of national shame" known as the "Maracanazo" ("Maracanaço") in which Brazil unexpectedly lost the 1950 FIFA World Cup on home soil to Uruguay. Brazil subsequently lost the third place playoff to the Netherlands, and Germany went on to win the World Cup for the fourth time after defeating Argentina in the 2014 FIFA World Cup Final. Brazil was hosting the FIFA World Cup for the second time (after 1950), and