Italia 90: The World Cup that changed football

In 1990, England had a fair to middling team, but was overshadowed in the run up with threats of vandalism and the aftermath of the Hillsbrough tragedy the year before.
I wasn't really into my football, and got my fix of bad haircuts from Dutch prog rock.


but there were so many to choose from in 1990...
Chris Waddle


Rudi Voller (with Ruud Gullit in background)


Frank Rijkaard (left) a second before spitting at Rudi Völler. The two had been arguing throughout the game and things got out of control when Völler went in on Dutch keeper van Breukelen with his studs raised. Rijkaard received marching orders for brawling and Völler received his second yellow card and was sent off as well.

David Platt turned England's campaign round with a beautiful swivel and shot in the 119th minute of a 2nd round bore draw with Belgium. In fact, Belgium had looked the most likely to score with the coolly named Enzo Schifo dictating the game.



So after four matches England had chalked up only 3 goals, yet were in the quarter finals, playing Cameroon. This match was considered a stroll to the semi-finals, but with only 8 minutes to go, Cameroon were 2-1 up.
England were awarded a penalty which Gary Linekar finished off, before despatching an extra time kick in similar fashion.
By the skin of their teeth, Bobby Robson's boys were through, and found themselves playing West Germany for a place in the final.

It had been widely acknowledged that England were crap despite having some pretty good players.

Of the final four,
Argentina had Maradona, Cannigia, Buruchaga
Italy had Vialli, Maldini and Schilacci
Germany had Matthaus, Voller and Klinsmann
England had Linekar, Beadsley and Shilton

In addition to these three, England had an improving Paul Gazza Gascoigne. He played a pivotal role in that he was young, talented and up for it.
In 1990, there was the second summer of love.


'Baggy' was the sound, 'e' was the drug, and England had taken the progressive step of using New Order to record the anthem. Rather than have the old fashioned choir singing in unison, John Barnes did a rap, and the single hit number 1. In a second, football was fashionable again.
And the use of Nessun Dorma as the theme music, with new editing tricks of having past glories shown through fine Italian wines, every generation was hooked.

Then, that match. England - Germany.

posted by Andy Lepki @ 6:21 AM