Battle of Milan: When Matthäus Sunk the Czechs Milan, 1 July 1990. Franz Beckenbauer’s ruthless West Germany machine ground out a brutal 1-0 victory against a stubborn Czechoslovakia to march into the Italia '90 semi-finals. Played in front of a packed San Siro, this quarter-final was far from a beautiful game. It was defined by intense physical duels, tactical friction, and a flurry of bookings. The decisive moment arrived early. In the 24th minute, Jürgen Klinsmann burst into the box and was brought down for a clear penalty. Up stepped captain Lothar Matthäus, who ice-coldly smashed the ball past Jan Stejskal into the back of the net. Czechoslovakia fought with immense grit, organized tightly by Jozef Venglos. However, their mounting frustration boiled over in the 70th minute when Lubomir Moravcik was shown a red card, destroying any hopes of a late comeback. Beckenbauer's side proved exactly why their efficiency would take them all the way to the trophy. ⚽ Timeline of the Match ...