Was clearing out my room last night and found my old Italia 90 sticker album. Just brought back so many memories. I can remember that World Cup like it was yesterday. I'm not sure if it's the fact that I was so much younger then that makes it stand out more than recent World Cups have (and I do remember thinking it wasn't as good as Mexico '86 or Spain '82), but when you do think about everything that happened in that tournament, it really wasn't half bad was it? From the opening match onwards, there was drama, skill, excitement and unpredictability, although in Scotland's case I'll admit that the latter did not apply! Memories include:
- Those two Cameroon defenders being sent off for successive attempts to sever Argentina's Claudio Caniggia in half during their opening day 1-0 win over the World Champs - the second guy just about managed it!
- The spectacular goals of the previously (and subsequently!) unknown Italian striker 'Toto' Schillaci, who scored in every round of his side's involvement in the tournament
- The emergence of Paul Gascoigne, who (sadly) played the best football of his career in that tournament and was arguably the best player in it
- Jack Charlton's Republic of Ireland reaching the quarter-finals courtesy of David O'Leary's penalty shoot-out decider
- 38 year-old striker Roger Milla(er)'s goals for Cameroon and those dodgy celebrations afterwards
- Carlos Valderrama's hair
- Our first look at the young Italian Roberto Baggio, who scored the goal of the tournament when he ran half the length of the field, beat three men and scored against the Czechs
- That fantastic West German team, led by the awesome midfield presence of Lothar Matthaus
- Perhaps a slightly less celebrated moment, but a beautiful goal by Yugoslav Dragan Stojkovic against Spain, whose first touch prior to slotting the ball home from a high, far post cross was possibly the best I've ever seen
- Frank Rijkaard spitting at Rudi Voller, then pretending it was the other way around
- David Platt's last minute volley against Belgium
- Maradona having his penalty saved in the quarter-final shootout........then redeeming himself a few days later in a similar situation against the hosts to silence the home crowd in Naples.
- Cameroon giving England the fright of their lives
- That England-Germany semi-final epic, with Waddle hitting the bar from the half-way line, Lineker's great equaliser and Gazza's tears. Then of couse, Pearce and Waddle's infamous penalties.......
- Jurgen Klinsmann's outrageous dive in the final to get one of the Argentinians sent off
Some of these were definitely more memorable than others of course, and this will obviously depend a lot upon your nationality. But regardless of what happened on the field at Italia '90, it was unquestionably 'Nessun Dorma' that was the true star of the World Cup that year. A simply unforgettable piece performed by a man with an equally unforgettable voice.
Great times!
p.s. mods can you move this please into the general sport section?
