BBC Review of World Cup Italia '90
951,691
Published 2019-07-20
Without spoiling anything, look out for England, Scotland and the Republic of Ireland all being there and achieving various degrees of success; Cameroon and Roger Milla upsetting the apple cart and making the quarter-finals; the first sendings-off in a World Cup Final that was little short of a disgrace; Gazza's tears and Pearce and Waddle's penalty heartbreak; Salvatore "Toto" Schillaci stealing the show for the hosts; Rudi Völler getting sent off apparently for being spat on by Frank Rijkaard; Benjamin Massing's contender for Foul of the Century; and a washed-up Diego Maradona still being good enough to drag a poor side all the way to the final, practically single-handedly (pun partially intended). If you watched the tournament at the time, I guarantee that this will evoke plenty of memories, and some of the music will transport you instantly right back to that long hot summer. So enjoy!
This replaces a previous upload which gained nearly 650,000 views and over 1400 comments, but was blocked after five years online due to a 14-second clip of World in Motion - hence why I've had to blur it out. Boo-hiss to Warner Music Group. I'm also sorry to say there are some audio issues for the first five minutes or so, but they soon sort themselves out.
(Please remember that this is an off-air VHS recording, and this programme has never been available commercially anywhere in the world. Please also note that I don't monetise any of my uploads. Nevertheless, if you are a copyright holder and have an objection, please don't hesitate to contact me.)
All Comments (21)
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In case you're wondering what happened to the previous upload of this, it was blocked (after five years online) due to the 14-second clip of World in Motion - hence the blurring in this version. | FAQ | - The bass-driven tune you hear throughout is Killer by Adamski. - Stuart Pearce v the Netherlands was disallowed because it was an indirect free-kick. - If you can't work out whether the Schillaci free-kick v Ireland crossed the line or not, have a look at this: https://youtu.be/1Vc4tYlHmx4 - [Other dead link removed]
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It was my first World Cup and I was 10 years old I was living in Burundi watching this. As an Ethiopian I was of course rooting for Cameroon I remember watching the first match where a 9 man team beat Maradonna's Argentina with a goal from an amazing leaping header from Oman Biyik. I cried of course when Cameroon just barely lost to England. Interestingly enough, a year later my dad got posted to Cameroon and we moved there. I was so excited cause it was the land of Roger Milla, Makanaky and all those great Cameroonian players. So many great memories, when life was so much more vivid.
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I was a football potty 11 year old. It was a month i will never ever forget. Balmy nights drama, huge names, new names, new faces. To say it captured the imagination is an understatement i started to think the world and the people in it on a grander scale. Thank you Italy....
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I was a 9 year old Italian kid growing up in England. What amazing memories of that WC. Football was all i really cared about at that time. How beautiful was the world back then! 😉🇮🇹💙
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There seems to be a few of us that were around 10-11 years old when we watched this tournament. Good old days.
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Welcome to another episode of: “Where the quarantine has lead me today”
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I watched this to death when I was 10 years old, a glorious summer in 1990
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What memories. 10 years old, in Northern England. Watching EVERY game, then playing football all day during that glorious summer. Nessun Dorma still makes my hair stand on end. There is nothing like the World Cup to bring the true beauty of Football.
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The Italia 90 world cup will always be one of the most dramatic world cups of all time. So many iconic players in one tournament.
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That Pavarotti clip is amazing! "I hope you are going to win, and I am a liar!"
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Thanks for re-uploading this. I never tire of watching this review. Back then I was an 11 year old kid and rewatched this so many times, I still have the commentary quips from John Motson and Barry Davies memorised in my head. Still my favourite world cup ever. The drama, England getting to the Semis, the World in Motion song, the Italia 90 merchandise in the shops combined with the beautiful hot Summer in England at the time. I'll never forget the glow of the TV with Italia 90 on along with the beautiful red sunset out of the window. What a time it was.
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This world cup was magical, there was something about this world cup that i haven't felt since. Some fantastic talent on display by some all time greats.
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Great Memories, my first world cup i really witnessed being aware. Still remember Oman-Biyik's header shocking the world champion. I still remember Cannigas Backheading Goal, I still remember Maradonas Brilliant Moment against Brazil, i still remember Toto Schillachi who wasnt a Megastar at that time, scoring 6 goals for the italians. still remember Baggios solo run against chzechoslovakia, still remember Pat Bonner (Goal Keepr for Ireland) for no reason. I still see Costa Rica upsetting a whole Group. I still can hear Klinsmans hitting the post against the Netherlands. I still can see Roger Miller Dancing at the corner, is still can see Rene Huigita doing crazy things, still feeling Gary Lineker breaking the Heart of a whole Continent with 2 Penalties. Still remember nervwrecking penalty shootouts in semi finals, with Bodo Ilgner getting shot by Paul Pierce. It was a great world cup, with a a lot of Football Legends.
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It's stunning to watch this. Just the music and a helicopter shot of the ground does enough to build the tension.
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In my opinion the best world cup ever
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One of My best memory of my childhood days.
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Proper breaking my heart to hear Nessun Dorma now, in this terrible situation we all find ourselves in. But Italia and football will be back one day. Vinceremo.
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I remember schilacci gave his best performance in this world cup , I was a child . Admire to italia team ( baressi, zenga, baggio)
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Cameroon team of the tournament for me. They were great to watch!
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My baby son died in early 1990 so, when the world cup came around I couldn't make my mind up whether or not I wanted England to do well. Something deep inside me told me that we'd actually win the bloody thing so that everyone would remember 1990 "for all the wrong reasons". That's how shredded my head was, at the time 🤣 Of course, we progressed to the semifinals and, by that time, I was really torn lol When we lost the penalty shoot out, the tears flowed - I suspect that I was far from being the only one though. The thing is: I've avoided watching anything to do with Italia 90 ever since. But I've just been speaking to my other son on the phone and found myself reminiscing about football in the 1980s and early 90s. I realised that I've suddenly turned into a caricature of that old codger who I used to talk about when I was younger - the old fella for whom old skool football was always better. So, it's been 30 years. I did a YouTube search and came up with this video (thanks for uploading it). "30 years, so I shouldn't find it a problem" I thought. As soon as it started and Pavarotti started to sing 'Nessun Dorma' I blubbed like a girl, all over again 😂😂 The one thing that I did pick up on though, in all seriousness, is when Des Lynam said that the quality of the football wasn't up to much. That sent me into a good few minute's thought and, other than Euro 96 and maybe the World Cup which Beckham was sent off in, I truly can't remember a single international tournament which even aspired to reach this level of "poor quality". I'm off to watch Brazil, 1982 now. That was a great tournament and Brazil a great team - despite being knocked out. Cheers all 🙂
