promised land Posted 8 June 2015 Posted 8 June 2015 Amazing summer, just started going out on the town, Loughborough to be precise in an England top on match nights. Absolutely wasted as well on purple nasties and green deaths. The fleece, Casablanca, Bitter end, Green Man. Cracking World Cup song as well and scorching hot weather. Still rate Italia 90 above Euro 96, even though we were so close in both. Imagine if we'd actually won both so close. You talk to lads now at the ground, work etc who weren't around for either of these and I just think what they missed out on. Last year going out in the first round, pathetic really. . Still remember every word of World in Motion. Best ever England song. They don't do England songs anymore do they? Guess the players today are too 'big and important' for that type of thing these days.... Got it on my phone, pad, touch etc. can remember the video too.
1972 Fox Posted 8 June 2015 Posted 8 June 2015 . Still remember every word of World in Motion. Best ever England song. They don't do England songs anymore do they? Guess the players today are too 'big and important' for that type of thing these days.... Hard to believe but the original words written by New Order for the song were "We've got the world in motion" but the FA made them change that line to "Love's got the world in motion" as they thought "We've" was too confrontational and could incite trouble!
bovril Posted 8 June 2015 Posted 8 June 2015 I was just a bit too young to appreciate the football in 90 so the 96 team was the one for me. And just a month after City went up.
Izzy Posted 8 June 2015 Author Posted 8 June 2015 Amazing summer, just started going out on the town, Loughborough to be precise in an England top on match nights. Absolutely wasted as well on purple nasties and green deaths. The fleece, Casablanca, Bitter end, Green Man. Cracking World Cup song as well and scorching hot weather. Still rate Italia 90 above Euro 96, even though we were so close in both. Imagine if we'd actually won both so close. You talk to lads now at the ground, work etc who weren't around for either of these and I just think what they missed out on. Last year going out in the first round, pathetic really. Got it on my phone, pad, touch etc. can remember the video too. Mate I'm getting all emotional reading that. I feel lucky in a way to have been in my 'prime' during Italia 90.
HitchinFox Posted 8 June 2015 Posted 8 June 2015 The greatest World Cup of them all. It had everything. And we should've beaten the Germans in that semi. I don't think I've ever recovered from the disappointment. Although now, I haven't cared about the England team for years. Remember my smaller brother's team playing in a tournament soon after that World Cup and his team had these shirts they drew on the names of players they wanted to be - Gazza, Lineker, Schillaci, Milla, Mattheus, Zenga, Valderrama, Higuita, Hagi, N'Kono, Butagueno, Scifo...some great players that year.
Samilktray Posted 8 June 2015 Posted 8 June 2015 The only truly memorable moment for England in my lifetime was probably Beckhams free kick against Greece. Pretty sad that. Just bought the dvd posted aswell
Kitchandro Posted 8 June 2015 Posted 8 June 2015 It was before I was born but I can see why people speak of it so fondly. Around the world many consider it to be a crap world cup, the goals per game ratio was very low, a lot of red cards, etc and diving seemed to be, if not invented, introduced on a wider scale. And some of these things are facts and fair points.But I think focusing on those things would largely miss the point of what a world cup represents. For me, it's all about the moments, the iconic images that seem resonate 25 years later, even with people like myself who never saw it live. I think a lot of football fans tend to link their favourite world cup with their youth. This is not the case for me with Italia 90; but it's probably the most memorable world cups of all time in many ways. Gazza, Schillaci, Baggio, Milla, Maradona, Higuita, Valderrama. The spitting drama, the Cameron tackles v Argentina, Platt's volley. So many iconic characters and moments. I could watch clips of Italia 90 all day. And I defy anyone to listen to Nessun Dorma without it sending shivers down your spine. I think, above all, the reason the last 2 world cups were disappointing is, for me, because there was very little to specifically remember about them. Italia 90 is a classic example of why the world cup is so magic.
Stadt Posted 8 June 2015 Posted 8 June 2015 It's definitely to do with youth, everybody doesn't view South Africa and Brazil that fondly but these are the only world cups I can remember therefore they're brilliant to me, I became friends with my best mate because of 2010
deejdeej Posted 8 June 2015 Posted 8 June 2015 I was less than a year old but my old man reckons it was a great World Cup. France 98 was special for me, the array of attacking talent was ridiculous, so many world class strikers on display. I think your first proper world cup is the most memorable.
the zorro Posted 8 June 2015 Posted 8 June 2015 For anyone who is old enough to remember it, I defy this video to not make the hair on the back of your neck stand up.
Alf Bentley Posted 8 June 2015 Posted 8 June 2015 For Italia 90, I was a young bloke in his 20s (yep, it was that long ago) travelling in Australia. I was living in Cremorne Backpackers, Sydney, and doing market research interviewing to make enough cash to get home via an extended jaunt in Latin America. So, I watched most of the matches in the middle of the night, got about 3-4 hours sleep, then went to work. My Bristol City mate was wandering around Aus too, and my Villa mate and his then partner were also in Sydney doing interviewing - and staying in a house where I watched the England semi-final, finishing at about 5am, just as dawn broke....unbelievable tension and disappointment. I agree with Wookie that youth has a lot to do with rosy memories of particular World Cups. My best memories are of Argentina 1978, which took place while I was doing O-levels (GCSEs), though I think that is generally rated as having been a good World Cup. If England hadn't made that run to the semis (and Ireland to the quarters, remember), would so many people be rating Italia 90 so highly? England produced some pretty ropy performances, too (draws against Ireland and a poor Holland side, plus a scraped 1-0 v. Egypt in the group phase). There were moments of excellence, sure: Gazza's genius shining briefly, Platt's extraordinary late winner v. Belgium in the last 16, Lineker's finishing. But there was luck, too: the Belgium match almost went to penalties (and we know how that would have ended), we nearly lost to Cameroon in the Quarters. On the other hand, the Semi v. Germany was very even, so if Shilton hadn't been a bit past it, he might have saved their deflected goal and who knows.... Overall, though, I remember it as quite a poor World Cup with few really good teams: Italy probably should have won it & Belgium started well, as I recall. It wasn't a great German team that we lost to on penalties, and there have been a lot better Argentinean sides than the one that got to the final. A rubbish final, though the Argies had several players injured or suspended, I think. There were great moments: the Argentina v. Cameroon opener with Biyik's winner and Massing's tackle; Gazza, Platt & the England run; O'Leary's penalty to put Ireland into the Quarters; the emergence of Toto Schilacci; the bonkers Colombians Higuita & Valderrama; Costa Rica beating Scotland; Roger Milla.... But the reason, aside from luck & Gazza's erratic genius, why England might well have won that World Cup is that it was a poor World Cup in terms of quality. Yep, 1978 was better.....I know, because it was my turn to be young!
DB11 Posted 9 June 2015 Posted 9 June 2015 I don't remember any international tournament fondly at all. The first one I remember was 2002, but still pretty indifferent to them all. We're shit in all of them
Finnegan Posted 9 June 2015 Posted 9 June 2015 Every world cup and euros is ****ing brilliant. I love tournament football, summers without are shit.
Stadt Posted 9 June 2015 Posted 9 June 2015 Euro 2012 was a little bit shit, Andy Carroll's header was amazing though
foxoffderby Posted 9 June 2015 Posted 9 June 2015 I agree about the mystery of players. Roger Milla was a phenomena for example. Now the best players in the world are known about they already play for the best teams in the best Leagues in the world. Its progress. I was about 16 at the time and leaving school. It was a special time the romance of Italy, Nessun Dorma, our kid Gary, World in Motion the goals of toto, and of course the tears of Gazza. England didn't start off well, but then the late great Sir Bobby changed the formation to a 352. Pure inspiration Mark Wright came out of no where to become a world class sweeper (remember that role). I really thought we were going to do it, we had that piece of luck with the David Platt goal, Gazza was on fire and Lineker was at his peak Maradonna was struggling. But then we met the Germans....
the zorro Posted 9 June 2015 Posted 9 June 2015 Every world cup and euros is ****ing brilliant. I love tournament football, summers without are shit. South Africa 2010 was bloody horrendous.
Guest MattP Posted 9 June 2015 Posted 9 June 2015 How time flies, the first tournament I can really remember and certainly the World Cups in the 90's were the ones I enjoyed it my life, it was the Golden era for England in my lifetime I'm sure. Some great points here as well - The mystery of the players was huge, you literally saw these players first in a sticker album they on the pitch, you know certain players had scored so many in so many etc for Juve etc but still had no idea what sort of player they were, even less so for the African/American nations, that was a huge part of the enjoyment that has vanished for good now. People are right when they say it was a pretty shit World Cup as well, the quality wasn't outstanding but something about Italia 90' still has a special place in the heart, everything from Gazza's tears to Pavarotti made it something so so different from every other major tournament I have seen. Clearly the most likeable England team ever as well, not a name on the team sheet who you didn't think of as a top bloke at the time.
shen Posted 9 June 2015 Posted 9 June 2015 Being half (East-)German, I remember watching the final as a 6-year old and screaming so loud when Germany scored the winner in the final that my mother came running in thinking something terrible had happened to me. I loved the 1994 World Cup with the unknown and scarcely rated US team doing a fine impression, Hagi being brilliant, Stoitchkov and Bulgaria upsetting Germany and surprising everyone, Sweden winning bronze with a superb team, the post-WC Escobar murder drama, Salenko's 5 goals in a meaningless game making him finish as the top scorer , the unluckiest exist for Norway, who went out at the group stage with 4 points even though three out of four teams progressed(!), Nigeria with Emenike and Amokachi the darlings of the tournament, Al-Owairans unbelievable solo goal for Saudi Arabia against my country of residence Belgium (which frankly had me giggling a bit)... But the favourite for reasons to do with my nationality has to be 1998. The games between Denmark and Nigeria and eventually Brazil are unforgettable. Completely obliterating Nigeria with Michael Laudrup on fire. Going toe to toe with the best Brazil I have ever seen, and so nearly pinching it. But also the Bergkamp goal against Argentina, the magnificent Croatians, the rise of Zidane as a superstar, THAT Owen goal, the controversial red card for Beckham, Oliseh netting the winner against Spain (a shot struck so sweetly I spent nights dreaming I would one day score such a spectacular goal), the ultra defensive Paraguayans (what a tournament Celso Ayala had!!)...
Alf Bentley Posted 9 June 2015 Posted 9 June 2015 The mystery of the players was huge, you literally saw these players first in a sticker album they on the pitch, you know certain players had scored so many in so many etc for Juve etc but still had no idea what sort of player they were, even less so for the African/American nations, that was a huge part of the enjoyment that has vanished for good now. Excellent point. 20+ years ago, the most you'd have seen of continental players on TV would have been highlights of their performances against English teams in the European/UEFA/Cup Winners' Cup or in internationals against England. As for players from Africa, Asia, even South America, they'd be almost completely unknown to you - apart from the odd exception, like Maradona, Ardiles or Romario, who played for European clubs. About the only country that applies to now is North Korea, though unknown home-grown individuals still emerge from lesser known countries. Being half (East-)German, I remember watching the final as a 6-year old and screaming so loud when Germany scored the winner in the final that my mother came running in thinking something terrible had happened to me. I loved the 1994 World Cup with the unknown and scarcely rated US team doing a fine impression, Hagi being brilliant, Stoitchkov and Bulgaria upsetting Germany and surprising everyone, Sweden winning bronze with a superb team, the post-WC Escobar murder drama, Salenko's 5 goals in a meaningless game making him finish as the top scorer , the unluckiest exist for Norway, who went out at the group stage with 4 points even though three out of four teams progressed(!), Nigeria with Emenike and Amokachi the darlings of the tournament, Al-Owairans unbelievable solo goal for Saudi Arabia against my country of residence Belgium (which frankly had me giggling a bit)... But the favourite for reasons to do with my nationality has to be 1998. The games between Denmark and Nigeria and eventually Brazil are unforgettable. Completely obliterating Nigeria with Michael Laudrup on fire. Going toe to toe with the best Brazil I have ever seen, and so nearly pinching it. But also the Bergkamp goal against Argentina, the magnificent Croatians, the rise of Zidane as a superstar, THAT Owen goal, the controversial red card for Beckham, Oliseh netting the winner against Spain (a shot struck so sweetly I spent nights dreaming I would one day score such a spectacular goal), the ultra defensive Paraguayans (what a tournament Celso Ayala had!!)... Some great memories there, Shen. That 1994 Romanian team, with Hagi pulling the strings, was one of the most exciting that I've seen: lots of short passing (tika-taka long before Barcelona thought they'd invented it), then Hagi sending inch-perfect long balls down the channels for Romania's lightning-fast strikers to run onto. Like LCFC 2014-15 but better they were! As for Letchkov's quarter-final winner v. the Germans, I've rarely enjoyed a goal as much as that. Nigeria were a revelation, too, with their muscular but skilful football.....and Al-Owairan, where the hell did that suddenly come from?! The Danish 1986 team were a hell of an exciting team, too.....and, as for the USSR in 1982 (?), what a beautiful passing side: Alexandr Chivadze as sweeper remains one of my favourite players of all time.
bovril Posted 9 June 2015 Posted 9 June 2015 That Bulgarian team was great. Like the greatest pub team ever. There's a great shot of the squad knocking back beers by the pool the night before the 1/4 final while the Germans were rigorously training in 40 degree heat. I think 94 was one of the best in terms of football. That was a great few years for football, after the dark period of the 80s but still before the 'Fever Pitch' / Sky Super Sunday bullshit had completely taken over.
bovril Posted 9 June 2015 Posted 9 June 2015 The Danish 1986 team were a hell of an exciting team, too.....and, as for the USSR in 1982 (?), what a beautiful passing side: Alexandr Chivadze as sweeper remains one of my favourite players of all time. Good shout. Russians always said in the days of the old USSR that the Russians in the team gave you grit, Ukrainians speed and Georgians skill and intelligence. I remember too the excitement when a star from the WC signed for an English team. I couldn't wait to go down Filbo to see Klinsmann, Dumitrescu and Popescu in the Spurs team, even better as David Lowe and Julian Joachim ripped them apart!
Darkon84 Posted 9 June 2015 Posted 9 June 2015 Whilst on the subject of Italia 90, Gazza etc, did anyone else pop out last night to watch this? Just one showing last night, at various cinemas around the country, followed by a live Q&A. The documentary was tastefully done, and helped relive some great memories, but also highlighted some of the downfalls of a man who had to deal with so much, and carry so much on his shoulders from so young. Some brilliant stories in there too, including calling Gary Lineker a ladyboy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMjmApzOo0A
Guest MattP Posted 9 June 2015 Posted 9 June 2015 I went to see it last night, I was very impressed, it gave a very compassionate portrait of him and I learnt a lot about the guy that I didn't know before. Very rarely watched something where you wanted to laugh so much at times and then also cry so much. He spoke in depth at the Q&A about what the press have done to him, it's terrible, the first time he got sectioned telling his family his phone was being hacked was the straw that broke the camels back and what forced them to commit him and it turns out he was right, wouldn't pick up the phone and speak to his Mum and Dad for months either because he was convinced they were selling stuff to the press before he clicked. They really should be ashamed, they take a some of the responsibility for how he is now, fortunately he seems in a happy place again, I really hope it lasts.
Vacamion Posted 9 June 2015 Posted 9 June 2015 Every world cup and euros is ****ing brilliant. I love tournament football, summers without are shit. Not 2014 for the English.
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