I remember crying watching these end credits as an 11-year-old boy in 1990, and now I'm watching them for the first time since and crying again as a 45-year-old man.
This is when I fell in love with football as a 12 year old. Running home from school to watch the matches. No music as ever matched the emotions of Football better than this. Perfection.
Totally agree. This one sticks in the memory more than the others. It had everything passion, drama, tears, ups and downs. I guess a different era, the wall had just come down, maradona and Gascoigne in their element. Glad I still have those memories 💪
this world cup was the hardest to win of all. unlike any other wc, no game was easy for anyone. hosted by a world power like Italy counts for something, so you know that there would be no fluke. germany hit their stride after being runners-up twice in a row, so everyone knew that they would be unstoppable this time around. italy flaunted a great defence, only conceding in the semifinal, so they also seemed set to win. the england team had also matured nicely, their greatest side since their 1966 win. jack the lad surprising the world with a neat Ireland that threatened everyone. it was a wc that felt like everyone deserved to win, even initial surprise packages such as costa rica, cameroon, czech republic etc. goals hard to come by, stressing out how it would be no walkover, including for the heavy-weights. beautiful scenary. that late sunny afternoon summer sky typical of italy. tv picture got noticeably better from the last wc in mexico, making for a more pleasurable experience (it also helped that games were hosted at 5 and 9pm as opposed to midday during mexican summer). all in all, a great combination of positive features that sadly can't ever be reproduced again. those fortunate enough to have lived it will always treasure those memories, and they should be entitled to do so.
@@FrangoTraidor Are you sure? Spain 82 looked a lot harder in terms of teams like France, West Germany, Italy, Brazil, Soviet Union in their prime, Poland in their prime, Argentina, a decent England side, a solid Belgium, Algeria were a topper of a team. I dunno, for me Spain 82 looked alot harder in senses. Hungary were excellent too.
I'm 39 now but this is the first ever world Cup I remember as a kid watching with my dad. So many memories attached to this world Cup. It's the first time I seen the great maradona as Argentina were the previous winners in 86. Germany had an outstanding team! Deserved winners in the end. Don't think I could name a bad player in that 11
My dad wasn't a football man but he watched the whole tournament with me and my brothers. I was 12 and that was the best summer of my life. I would go back in a heartbeat
I remember watching the Italy v Argentina semi-final as if it were yesterday. I was 16 & watching it with my friend who sadly passed away only 6 years later. What I wouldn’t give to enjoy that night once more
Emotional...so many in that clip no longer with us...Bobby Robson, Jack Charlton, Maradona...and of course Luciano Pavarotti's wonderful voice. Italia 90 was so memorable.
Far from the greatest World Cup ever. It holds a magical memory because of Nessun Dorma and Cameroon capturing the hearts of the world. The quality of football however was really dire. Lots of 0-0s and 1-0s, this tournament pushed the backpass rule to be abolished, England got to the semis by only winning once in 90 mins (1-0 against Egypt), Ireland didn't win a single game in 90 to get to the QF yet are lauded as the greatest Irish team ever, Maradona was anonymous throughout the tournament bar one good pass against Brazil, and the WC final was one of the worst ever. World Cups in 94, 98, 06, 18, and 22 were all far superior
@@jonathanisaac5395 ....don't agree. 1990 world cup was the greatest... England beating Cameroon in the quarter and that semi final against Germany was incredible...brought the nation to stand still. ..
Football wise it was terrible, but holds a special place for many not footballing reasons, gazza, the closes ness of the semi, laughing at maradona, etc
I can still remember the first game cameroon v Argentina...my first ever experience of watching football...the music the colour the awesome san siro maradona the crazy lethal cameroon tackling 😆...i was hooked instantly...i was 8.. then came England then came gazza then came the tears then came glorious defeat.. I'd do anything to go back in time 😔
Paul Smith Only because England fought tooth & nail to reach the semi-finals, the football was appalling throughout the tournament, the only relief was that the best team won the competition in the end.
Goosebumps. A snapshot in time. The football at this edition wasn't always the best but some of the best moments were there. It was undoubtedly poetry, no! OPERA
*Good 'ole Des!* Also, whoever at the BBC chose "Nessun Dorma" as their coverage anthem *should have* been knighted. One of the most *beautiful* football songs/anthems I have heard. Showing the viewer that football is not just ugly passion, but drama and love at *the same time!* No wonder this WC changed a lot of British/Irish views about football, especially just a year on from the Hillsborough Disaster and 5 years after Heysel. *A big watershed moment for the sport.*
Iconic to listen the last VINCERÒ exactly when Maradona celebrated the goal vs Italy, ending the unbreakable record without receiving goals by Walter Zenga. It really meant it. R.I.P. Pavarotti & Maradona from Perú
This reminds me of my school days of tuning in and watching the live matches with my mates. I can't believe this took place 32 years ago. When England lost on penalties, I remember how disappointed everyone felt. It was like a funeral.
Same here. Remember running home from school to watch the matches. The music the hot weather, the players, the emerging nations and some unreal football. Miss feeling so optimistic.
Pure poetry. This is what sports is about! I may have been born 6 years after this happened, but I can easily tell this is the greatest World Cup Theme to one of the greatest World Cups of all-time, magical.
sweou u missed it mate .. I was 12 in 1990 I watched it all. I have teenage kids I tell them everything.. this was the greatest world cup memory ever..
England's run to the semi finals after such a horrible decade for the game in England was the shot in the arm the game needed. Suddenly football was important again, and the momentum generated from this World Cup was the catalyst for the Premier League. Even now, 30 years later, we are still feeling the impact of Italia 90.
So evocative I actually welled up. In retrospect the football quality wasn't that great but the drama, my God, the drama was something else. In my 40s now and still the greatest WC of my lifetime.
Best wc in my memory. Im 47. Watching this on the edge of my bed, little colour tv blaring. Being more distraught in that sf than i ever had been in my 14 years. Gazza tears, Lineker communication with bobby and dear dear bobby, sitting there, resigned knowing it was over.....and the music was simply the best theme with magical Des Lynham. 😢
Italia 90. Made me a football and opera fan for life. Plus my 10 year old heart was broken when Italy lost. I always supported the Azzurri and 20 years later I saw them live in South Africa. Fond memories. I always though Donadoni was the Italian version of my dog's name which was Doney. :D
The tournament that made me fall in love with the game of football, it was my first World Cup and as they say your first one will always remain special. Italia 90 will always remain special for me till my last days on this planet. After that tournament i always looked for the same sensation in every World Cup but no tournament has ever replicated that special feeling and I don’t think it ever will so I have stopped seeking the same sensational emotional feeling italia 90 gave me. I remember watching every game and was wondering when will England play, I clearly remember it was a Monday night against Ireland when Linekar scored I celebrated a goal for the first time in my life. The game against Holland I remember celebrating like a mad child when Pearce scored from a indirect free kick it was disallowed and I felt despair. Against Egypt I was in my grans house it was a boring match but I still recorded it and watched the game over and over again for a few years. Now came second round against Belgium the game that made me realise how much I loved England, it was a tough game which went to extra time. It was getting late in the night I had school the next day. I remember gazza taking a free kick and platt scored in the last minute of extra time and so my love affair with the game of football truly started, what a iconic moment. Celebrated like we won the World Cup went to bed buzzing had great nights sleeping dreaming about winning the World Cup. Against Cameroon I really thought we lost it but we dug in and went through. Now comes the game that made me a 10 year old boy cry so much that iv never cried like this in my life. I remember going to school and I could not concentrate as I kept thinking about the game. Game started and I simply could not enjoy the game as I felt so scared we will lose. When Gazza cried the whole nation cried with him and i also cried with him for him. After the penalty shoot out the heartbreak and despair I felt I never like that ever again. It has been 29 years and 1 month and would you believe I still can’t bring myself to watch the shoot out as the same feeling of heartbreak and despair comes rushing back. Italia 90 made me fall in love with football, it made me fall in love with the England team, it gave me memories I will take to my grave.
The greatest world cup of all time for everything that came with it.nothing has come close since.it was magical.pavarotti singing nessun dorma as the soundtrack to it still brings back so many memories.italia 90 will be remembered like no other
The tournament that made me fall in love with football. Even though the penalty shoot out against Germany broke my 9 year old heart! Although I was young the end credits stick in my mind. Well done the BBC.
Thank you for sharing this brings back great memories from my youth. This is the world cup that changed football, it has the lowest goal ratio of all time and high number of fouls, football had become a game of seek and destroy, to stop at all cost the other team and dish out maximum brutality on any star player unlucky enough to be on the pitch. FIFA changed the offside rule to favour forwards, it made the ball lighter to allow more goals from distance, invested in systems to make pitches smother rather then hard pot hole land mines or mud pits, changed the rules so tackles from behind were banned and players weren't allowed to butcher oppositions attackers. As a tournament Italia90 carried more style and emotion then any other, the transition from sport to global popstar attraction was just beginning and Italian football was best in the world with biggest stadiums with there futuristic look stars filled teams and iconic fashions of Rome, Milan, Turin. The high drama of so many penalty shootouts with players who cared about losing with there tears and hearts on sleeves made this a unforgeable 4 weeks in the summer of 1990...The football was hard, nasty and even evil at times but it was pure drama. The footage of Maradona crying at the end is symbolic along with Gazza's tears, Maradona the biggest star in football and Gazza the star born from this world cup. After this football changed and so did the world.
Yes it was and I remember 1986, 1994 (we didn't qualify for), 1998 with France and... well that's about it. I can remember David Seaman letting in that Ronaldinho goal in 2002 but I can't remember the WC from 2006 or 2010. In 2014 I remember Germany and that 7-1 Vs Brazil but I don't remember 2018 either. Roll on 2022! I am convinced we're (England) good enough to win this one. It's been way too long!
wasn't a great world cup objectively, but it's seared into the mind of every englishman. waddle skied it, nessun dorma plays, i cried like a little girl. i think we lived the tragic-glory of this song. italia 90. what memories.
@@matthewdevereux1288 just found a 3 hour video covering entire thing pre and post match show BBC.. Quality is watchable since it was. Re Aired prior to 2006 World cup
44 year old , a very good summer and I can relate to lots of the lads on here about hot days playing with mates then coming home for the early game to jump in the bath to rush down for the 8 a clock one , better times abs a simpler world
I used to feel like that, but I lost interest in football around the start of the millenium, at the end of my teens (it was also after my idol, Roberto Baggio, no longer played for Italy). Certainly though in '94 and '98 I was very invested in them and longed for it to continue (in '90 I remember nothing of the tournament itself, but the sticker albums, admiration of footy kits that others would wear- I had just England's- and the collection of any posters and schedule charts was a source of prolonged enjoyment). Weeks before the excitement builds, you learn the confirmed lineups, collect the newspaper or magazine charts and posters. That month of checking and rechecking fold-out charts to be sure of the schedule, making sure you catch games when you can depending on school and your bedtime, the excitement of watching opening games, the first match of the home nation, your own country's first game, seeing how all these big names will actually perform- they all have their own draw, these little things. Then it is over...:(
Nine years old in the Summer of 90, before the tournament I merely liked football - by the end I’d fallen in love. When Chris Waddle put his penalty over the bar, I cried like I never had before and never have since.
I don't know what it was but there seemed something magical about this World Cup, Il always remember watching England beat Egypt with Mark Wrights header putting us into the Second round. Great, yet sad memories.
The best World Cup ever. The days when BBC Sport was BBC Sport….. Des, Barry, Tony, Motty, the montages, Pavarotti. World Cup production values will NEVER be bettered.
Mate you are ment. Worst ever was the next one, 1994. 1990 is the reason that football is the popular global sport it is today. It was when the World Cup made the leap from a small time tournament to a major commercial success. Plus it was in Italy which is probably the best Country to host anything. Plus there was Pavarotti and Gazza and Roger Miller and Scifo and Schillachi and Klinsmann and Lineker and Maradona.
William Bell Rubbish, 1994 was the one of the best in recent memory, loads of goals, fantastic entertainment, just because England were too shit to qualify for 1994 there's no need to be subjective. And if 1990 made football a commercial success, well the game of football has been ruined every since with high ticket prices, corporate run football clubs, lack of talent & no football on terrestrial TV, selling everything off to the highest bidder. You had the worst team to ever reach a World Cup final kicking lumps of shit out of the opposition & playing for draws & penalties throughout the competition, you had some really abysmal teams in the tournament in 1990 & you had hardly any goals, like I said the only thing that gives 1990 any credibility at all is that England were magnificent in terms of spirit in that tournament. Oh & Maradona was absolutely appalling in 1990 or do you not remember that load of shite & the way they played to reach the final?
+Lawrence Howard (COCKNEY BOSS) Sorry, but I have to agree that the 1994 WC was awful, nothing to do with England not qualifying. I was living in the USA at the time and my memories are of the commentators completely talking down to the viewers (they are much better in 2015!) and of hot, humid games. And then there was the final.. snoozefest. Even a lot of Brazilians and Italians I know agree that was not a well-played match at all.
I was 11 years old and this was the first WC I properly remember, to me it had everything - passion, drama, great goals and tears. A lot of tears. I was allowed to stay up for the penalties (England) and cried myself to sleep that night. I loved every minute of it though, great memories.
The last of the great world cup tournaments for me!!! I witnessed 3 in 82-86 and 90 after that it was all downhill!!! International football used to be the greatest then club football and money took over 🤦🏻♂️ shame really 😒
France 98 and Usa 94 were legendary, are you sure you don't mean post millenium because Italia 90, Euro 92, USA 94, Euro 96, France 98 and Euro 2000 was just a phenomenal power block of international football. Albeit the end, but proper legendary stuff.
90 was the last of the truly great world cups. The whole feeling around the tournament has never been matched. Football or FIFA sold its soul not long after.
I remembered like yesterday, but as I’ve grown older, it might sound weird but I believe when the fans are changing save our kind queen it’s a bad omen of football
I remember watching Italia 90 very well. I was still at college with my friends. Everything about the tournament held Great Britain in its trance. It’s hard to describe how Pavorroti theme encapsulates the raw emotions we as a nation witness during those summer evenings.
I recall coming home from the world cup semi with West Germany having watched it at a mate's house and thinking (i thought they had a great team pre tourney) England would never have a squad as strong as that one in my time and maybe it may not happen in my time ever now, now 50 and nothing much has changed my view!...a WC that produced few matches of great quality except England vs Cameroon and England vs Germany but the searing atmosphere and passion made up for that..great memories of a wonderful Summer for a 16 year old coming to adulthood..
The first word cup. I watch with my day who now passed away. The start of the love I had for England as a ten year old boy. I never forget what my dad said to me at the end of this great word cup. He said get used to it .England will always find away to Disappoint and let you down.
Bit harsh. England got to the semis and pushed germany all the way. You had a really good world cup but ultimately the best team won the cup. My lot scotland blow a golden chance to get out of a relatively easy group with the worst brazil team ive ever seen.
Just reading the guys in the studio we have lost since Italia 90, Pavarottis beautiful voice, Big Jack Charlton, Gazza, Scillachi, Bobby Robson, Klinsman, Maradonna, we are all still crying xxx
2 years before I was born but everyone talks about this world cup as "The world cup" I do have personal memories of Russia 2018 and Euro 2020 getting to the final and the painful end of it but a tournament I will never forget. I suppose people in 1990 had that same feeling from the semi final defeat to Germany but looking back its nothing but good memories. One day hopefully one day football will come home.
The nostalgia just kills me. I was a Soviet fan & the pundits had them down to do well but infighting, players left out and a change of kit (yes the CCCP had gone) had inflamed the spirit of the camp. I was totally devastated when they crashed out. It was a still young, and very talented side. But as someone said here, football is more than just what happens on the pitch. It is the experiences and those I had with my English friends at the time during what was, despite my disappointment, a beautiful summer.. And I do wonder whether for modern day English fans, this still remains their greatest memory, even surpassing the Euro 2020, despite getting to the final and Russia 2018. 1990 perhaps wasn't the greatest showcase for football but it was the greatest showcase for the memories it created and Pavarotti's Nessun Dorma just absolutely nails it. There will never be a better World Cup theme song.
we can say what we want about Maradona his antics....but lets not forget he always gave his heart and soul to his national team, at italia 90 he was a washed up injury savaged drug addict mental mess, yet he still did all he could for the team and cried like a fountine when they lost...if only our england players in the last 10 years had that kind of love for the natinal team instead call themselfs the golden generation and only cry when theyre offered 100k aweek and make excuse after excuse
Italia 90 started 34 years ago today. Unbelievable. While some didnt think it great (lack of goals), but for me it had drama from the first minute, until the last. Argentina v Cameroon was mental to start it all off. Never been invested in a tournament like I was here. Canigga getting Massing’d into orbit Omam-Biyik Higuta on walkabout Rijkaard spitting in Voeller Italy v Ireland Ireland v Romania penalties Maradona in tears Mattheus Roger Milla Cameroon v England Platt Gascoigne Baggio
It’s almost that time again but it’s 32 years later. I can’t watch and listen to this without getting tears in my eyes seeing Gazza, Stuart Pearce, Jack Charlton, Bobby Robson and that cheating bastard Maradonna. Magic, but there will never be one like it again.
That was the year I got my football hater friends into football.By "94" They were hooked. But sadly these days, the players seem to have lost the love for playing for their country.
Pure passion from the footballers the players now dont care you can say what you lilke about paul Gascoigne but he's English through and through kissing the badge
I remember crying watching these end credits as an 11-year-old boy in 1990, and now I'm watching them for the first time since and crying again as a 45-year-old man.
Exactly the same here...except I was ten. What memories.
This is when I fell in love with football as a 12 year old. Running home from school to watch the matches. No music as ever matched the emotions of Football better than this. Perfection.
Most emotional World Cup. 29 years gone. Haven't felt the same about any World Cup since.
why this one?
Totally agree. This one sticks in the memory more than the others. It had everything passion, drama, tears, ups and downs. I guess a different era, the wall had just come down, maradona and Gascoigne in their element. Glad I still have those memories 💪
this world cup was the hardest to win of all. unlike any other wc, no game was easy for anyone. hosted by a world power like Italy counts for something, so you know that there would be no fluke. germany hit their stride after being runners-up twice in a row, so everyone knew that they would be unstoppable this time around. italy flaunted a great defence, only conceding in the semifinal, so they also seemed set to win. the england team had also matured nicely, their greatest side since their 1966 win. jack the lad surprising the world with a neat Ireland that threatened everyone. it was a wc that felt like everyone deserved to win, even initial surprise packages such as costa rica, cameroon, czech republic etc.
goals hard to come by, stressing out how it would be no walkover, including for the heavy-weights. beautiful scenary. that late sunny afternoon summer sky typical of italy. tv picture got noticeably better from the last wc in mexico, making for a more pleasurable experience (it also helped that games were hosted at 5 and 9pm as opposed to midday during mexican summer). all in all, a great combination of positive features that sadly can't ever be reproduced again. those fortunate enough to have lived it will always treasure those memories, and they should be entitled to do so.
@@FrangoTraidor Are you sure? Spain 82 looked a lot harder in terms of teams like France, West Germany, Italy, Brazil, Soviet Union in their prime, Poland in their prime, Argentina, a decent England side, a solid Belgium, Algeria were a topper of a team. I dunno, for me Spain 82 looked alot harder in senses. Hungary were excellent too.
I'm 39 now but this is the first ever world Cup I remember as a kid watching with my dad. So many memories attached to this world Cup. It's the first time I seen the great maradona as Argentina were the previous winners in 86. Germany had an outstanding team! Deserved winners in the end. Don't think I could name a bad player in that 11
My dad wasn't a football man but he watched the whole tournament with me and my brothers. I was 12 and that was the best summer of my life. I would go back in a heartbeat
Same here I was 12 best World Cup
Nothing come close to it either
I was 14 and would give anything to go back
I remember watching the Italy v Argentina semi-final as if it were yesterday. I was 16 & watching it with my friend who sadly passed away only 6 years later. What I wouldn’t give to enjoy that night once more
I was 12 aswell ! I feel totally the same
I was 11 and the same was the best summer of my life and would definitely go back in a heart beat 💯 😊
Italia 90 was special. The atmosphere, the feeling, this song. Its never been matched.
I’m 38 now, I still remember this like it was yesterday. So emotional even now. Please always leave this right here.
Emotional...so many in that clip no longer with us...Bobby Robson, Jack Charlton, Maradona...and of course Luciano Pavarotti's wonderful voice. Italia 90 was so memorable.
This was easily the greatest world cup ever .that summer of 1990 was the greatest time of my life..
Far from the greatest World Cup ever. It holds a magical memory because of Nessun Dorma and Cameroon capturing the hearts of the world.
The quality of football however was really dire. Lots of 0-0s and 1-0s, this tournament pushed the backpass rule to be abolished, England got to the semis by only winning once in 90 mins (1-0 against Egypt), Ireland didn't win a single game in 90 to get to the QF yet are lauded as the greatest Irish team ever, Maradona was anonymous throughout the tournament bar one good pass against Brazil, and the WC final was one of the worst ever.
World Cups in 94, 98, 06, 18, and 22 were all far superior
@@jonathanisaac5395 ....don't agree. 1990 world cup was the greatest... England beating Cameroon in the quarter and that semi final against Germany was incredible...brought the nation to stand still. ..
Football wise it was terrible, but holds a special place for many not footballing reasons, gazza, the closes ness of the semi, laughing at maradona, etc
The worst world cup of all time by some distance. Take your rose tinted specs off.
@@alterbridgegod it was the greatest world cup not on English soil...
I can still remember the first game cameroon v Argentina...my first ever experience of watching football...the music the colour the awesome san siro maradona the crazy lethal cameroon tackling 😆...i was hooked instantly...i was 8.. then came England then came gazza then came the tears then came glorious defeat.. I'd do anything to go back in time 😔
Pavarotti you were a complete genius! A spine tingling voice which is more effective than any goal!
R.I.P. Pavarotti the great man! ⚽️⚽️🎤🎤🎤🎼🎼🎼⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️
Pararotti was the real champ - world cup was nothing in comparison
if you did not live through it, then you will never begin to understand Italia 90 - the best world cup finals in my life time
I agree. Nothings ever come close to it.
ROB GALLANT Italia 90 was my first World Cup, granted I was only 3, what it lacked in goals, it more than made up for in drama and atmosphere.
Paul Smith Only because England fought tooth & nail to reach the semi-finals, the football was appalling throughout the tournament, the only relief was that the best team won the competition in the end.
Italy were the best team sadly lost to Argentina 1st goal they conceded too
It was my 1st WC. Thankfully only watched the semi finals and final games. Read that much of the tournament prior to that was rubbish.
Goosebumps. A snapshot in time. The football at this edition wasn't always the best but some of the best moments were there. It was undoubtedly poetry, no! OPERA
*Good 'ole Des!* Also, whoever at the BBC chose "Nessun Dorma" as their coverage anthem *should have* been knighted. One of the most *beautiful* football songs/anthems I have heard. Showing the viewer that football is not just ugly passion, but drama and love at *the same time!* No wonder this WC changed a lot of British/Irish views about football, especially just a year on from the Hillsborough Disaster and 5 years after Heysel. *A big watershed moment for the sport.*
Great comment.
It was here at this point in my life when I fell in love with football.
Oo_ELECTRO_oO I am an old man now but I never got over it
Me too I fell in love with the mistress called the beautiful game and what a rollercoaster of a romance it is
Me too as a Englishman. I was 9 years old. My favourite world cup of all time. So much nostalgia now as a nearly 40 year old man.
@@Morph-on1vl same here I'm 40 and was 10 when italia 90 was on and I remember the small Coca Cola balls that had the ciao logo on them
Iconic to listen the last VINCERÒ exactly when Maradona celebrated the goal vs Italy, ending the unbreakable record without receiving goals by Walter Zenga. It really meant it. R.I.P. Pavarotti & Maradona from Perú
This reminds me of my school days of tuning in and watching the live matches with my mates. I can't believe this took place 32 years ago. When England lost on penalties, I remember how disappointed everyone felt. It was like a funeral.
It actually hurt more then losing 2 recent Euro finals
Probably not greatest on the eye but definitely the most iconic world cup for me. So many individual memories.
I was 11 going 12 at the time.
Same here. Remember running home from school to watch the matches. The music the hot weather, the players, the emerging nations and some unreal football.
Miss feeling so optimistic.
Please never delete this
Pure poetry. This is what sports is about! I may have been born 6 years after this happened, but I can easily tell this is the greatest World Cup Theme to one of the greatest World Cups of all-time, magical.
sweou u missed it mate ..
I was 12 in 1990 I watched it all.
I have teenage kids I tell them everything.. this was the greatest world cup memory ever..
Was 22 awesome WC n Pavarotti just brilliant 👏
The ultimate World Cup intro by any channel. Just iconic
England's run to the semi finals after such a horrible decade for the game in England was the shot in the arm the game needed.
Suddenly football was important again, and the momentum generated from this World Cup was the catalyst for the Premier League.
Even now, 30 years later, we are still feeling the impact of Italia 90.
A massive turning point, for English football.
So evocative I actually welled up. In retrospect the football quality wasn't that great but the drama, my God, the drama was something else. In my 40s now and still the greatest WC of my lifetime.
Des Lynam, still the best sports presenter the BBC have had IMO.
Although it was impossible to not notice the cushion sitting next to him.
EnforcerX71 Hahaha The housewife's choice with some pillow talk
Gary has more than come into his own with his own unique style. Could imagine Stelling presenting 90 world cup.......!
Just watching the Qatar credits today. Terrible. Instantly forgettable. Compared to this. Legendary. Memorable for a lifetime.
Best wc in my memory. Im 47. Watching this on the edge of my bed, little colour tv blaring. Being more distraught in that sf than i ever had been in my 14 years. Gazza tears, Lineker communication with bobby and dear dear bobby, sitting there, resigned knowing it was over.....and the music was simply the best theme with magical Des Lynham. 😢
Italia 90. Made me a football and opera fan for life. Plus my 10 year old heart was broken when Italy lost. I always supported the Azzurri and 20 years later I saw them live in South Africa. Fond memories. I always though Donadoni was the Italian version of my dog's name which was Doney. :D
I was 16 when Italia 90 took place. The greatest World Cup tournament ever. It will never be matched.
The tournament that made me fall in love with the game of football, it was my first World Cup and as they say your first one will always remain special. Italia 90 will always remain special for me till my last days on this planet. After that tournament i always looked for the same sensation in every World Cup but no tournament has ever replicated that special feeling and I don’t think it ever will so I have stopped seeking the same sensational emotional feeling italia 90 gave me. I remember watching every game and was wondering when will England play, I clearly remember it was a Monday night against Ireland when Linekar scored I celebrated a goal for the first time in my life. The game against Holland I remember celebrating like a mad child when Pearce scored from a indirect free kick it was disallowed and I felt despair. Against Egypt I was in my grans house it was a boring match but I still recorded it and watched the game over and over again for a few years. Now came second round against Belgium the game that made me realise how much I loved England, it was a tough game which went to extra time. It was getting late in the night I had school the next day. I remember gazza taking a free kick and platt scored in the last minute of extra time and so my love affair with the game of football truly started, what a iconic moment. Celebrated like we won the World Cup went to bed buzzing had great nights sleeping dreaming about winning the World Cup. Against Cameroon I really thought we lost it but we dug in and went through. Now comes the game that made me a 10 year old boy cry so much that iv never cried like this in my life. I remember going to school and I could not concentrate as I kept thinking about the game. Game started and I simply could not enjoy the game as I felt so scared we will lose. When Gazza cried the whole nation cried with him and i also cried with him for him. After the penalty shoot out the heartbreak and despair I felt I never like that ever again. It has been 29 years and 1 month and would you believe I still can’t bring myself to watch the shoot out as the same feeling of heartbreak and despair comes rushing back. Italia 90 made me fall in love with football, it made me fall in love with the England team, it gave me memories I will take to my grave.
it was great to read your comment, I'm emotional over it. grazie!
One of the best best comments I have ever read
Thank you for the excellent comment. I wish there were more passionate fans like you.
The greatest world cup of all time for everything that came with it.nothing has come close since.it was magical.pavarotti singing nessun dorma as the soundtrack to it still brings back so many memories.italia 90 will be remembered like no other
The tournament that made me fall in love with football. Even though the penalty shoot out against Germany broke my 9 year old heart!
Although I was young the end credits stick in my mind. Well done the BBC.
That was a great England side. Never had luck, piece of good fortune go their way.
Certainly would've beaten Argentina in the final.
The "unflappable" Des Lynam. Nobody before or since could tie his shoelaces. Absolute GOAT.
Thank you for sharing this brings back great memories from my youth. This is the world cup that changed football, it has the lowest goal ratio of all time and high number of fouls, football had become a game of seek and destroy, to stop at all cost the other team and dish out maximum brutality on any star player unlucky enough to be on the pitch. FIFA changed the offside rule to favour forwards, it made the ball lighter to allow more goals from distance, invested in systems to make pitches smother rather then hard pot hole land mines or mud pits, changed the rules so tackles from behind were banned and players weren't allowed to butcher oppositions attackers. As a tournament Italia90 carried more style and emotion then any other, the transition from sport to global popstar attraction was just beginning and Italian football was best in the world with biggest stadiums with there futuristic look stars filled teams and iconic fashions of Rome, Milan, Turin. The high drama of so many penalty shootouts with players who cared about losing with there tears and hearts on sleeves made this a unforgeable 4 weeks in the summer of 1990...The football was hard, nasty and even evil at times but it was pure drama. The footage of Maradona crying at the end is symbolic along with Gazza's tears, Maradona the biggest star in football and Gazza the star born from this world cup. After this football changed and so did the world.
Probably the best World Cup ever. Memories.
Yes it was and I remember 1986, 1994 (we didn't qualify for), 1998 with France and... well that's about it. I can remember David Seaman letting in that Ronaldinho goal in 2002 but I can't remember the WC from 2006 or 2010. In 2014 I remember Germany and that 7-1 Vs Brazil but I don't remember 2018 either. Roll on 2022! I am convinced we're (England) good enough to win this one. It's been way too long!
That's one hell of an impactful credits sequence
wasn't a great world cup objectively, but it's seared into the mind of every englishman. waddle skied it, nessun dorma plays, i cried like a little girl. i think we lived the tragic-glory of this song. italia 90. what memories.
Italia 90 was such a memorable World Cup! I remember playing football in the local parks and getting up to all sorts of mischief as a 16 year old.
Just watched the semi-final between West Germany and England on the BBC. Nearly brought tears to my eyes, the memories are amazing.
Where... Entire match.. Website or what can you post a link
@@sizzlingschumi9005 www.bbc.co.uk/sport/live/football/52213220
Not sure if it still works or was just posted live...
@@matthewdevereux1288 just found a 3 hour video covering entire thing pre and post match show BBC.. Quality is watchable since it was. Re Aired prior to 2006 World cup
@@sizzlingschumi9005 That's good Schumi
@@matthewdevereux1288 also I found out England Argentina 1986 full BBC coverage and 1998 clash is of ITV.. ..wish they could reupload in 720p
Fucking hell. As an Englishman, this brings me to tears.
Gazza. Bobby.
I’m calling from the year 2022. Wales have qualified for the World Cup and yet despite that Nessum Dorma is *still* the football anthem to beat
44 year old , a very good summer and I can relate to lots of the lads on here about hot days playing with mates then coming home for the early game to jump in the bath to rush down for the 8 a clock one , better times abs a simpler world
I always feel very sad when a football tournament ends
I used to feel like that, but I lost interest in football around the start of the millenium, at the end of my teens (it was also after my idol, Roberto Baggio, no longer played for Italy). Certainly though in '94 and '98 I was very invested in them and longed for it to continue (in '90 I remember nothing of the tournament itself, but the sticker albums, admiration of footy kits that others would wear- I had just England's- and the collection of any posters and schedule charts was a source of prolonged enjoyment). Weeks before the excitement builds, you learn the confirmed lineups, collect the newspaper or magazine charts and posters. That month of checking and rechecking fold-out charts to be sure of the schedule, making sure you catch games when you can depending on school and your bedtime, the excitement of watching opening games, the first match of the home nation, your own country's first game, seeing how all these big names will actually perform- they all have their own draw, these little things. Then it is over...:(
I was 9 and football was EVERYTHING. Probably my most beloved football memory even to this day. ❤
Was 12 years old and I lived and breathed this World Cup there will never be another like this EVER !!
The 1st WC i remember watching.
This is everything for me. No world cup has come close
Nine years old in the Summer of 90, before the tournament I merely liked football - by the end I’d fallen in love. When Chris Waddle put his penalty over the bar, I cried like I never had before and never have since.
I don't know what it was but there seemed something
magical about this World Cup,
Il always remember watching England beat Egypt
with Mark Wrights header putting us into the Second
round.
Great, yet sad memories.
Michael Everest It was magical. And it was a glorious time in England. Hot summer nights and England getting to the Semi Finals.
ShaiyaStudios sounds familiar
Rick Oneill Haha indeed.
ShaiyaStudios just like this year
in this world cup the teams did their darned hardest not to lose. there was no easy game for anyone, apart from some fixtures in the germany's group.
Nobody does a sports montage like the BBC.
The best World Cup ever. The days when BBC Sport was BBC Sport….. Des, Barry, Tony, Motty, the montages, Pavarotti. World Cup production values will NEVER be bettered.
This beautiful and emotional anthem coupled with a fantastic tournament filled with drama,tears and emotion - unbelievable.
Best world cup song ever
Say what you like about the BBC but no-one, I repeat NO-ONE does a sports montage like the BBC.
Also that heart-stoppingly pretty Brazilian lady.
What a World Cup. Wish I was alive to see it. Germany, Italy, England and Argentina all at their peak.
The year I fell in love with Football the greatest tournament ever for me personally. Nothing has compared since.
Some much passion in this world cup
No one comes close to Desmond Lynam as a sports anchor. NO ONE.
agreed, absolute legend
The best Desmond no one else
R.I.P Pavarotti. R.I.P Maradona.
My first and best world cup.
I was in whales at the time and watched it on BBC.
This brings back so many childhood memories 😢
This was the greatest world cup. Thanks for uploading. Amazing.
Oh yeah
William Bell Nah, worst ever, only consolation was the epic run that England had to the semi-finals & the best team won the tournament.
Mate you are ment. Worst ever was the next one, 1994. 1990 is the reason that football is the popular global sport it is today. It was when the World Cup made the leap from a small time tournament to a major commercial success. Plus it was in Italy which is probably the best Country to host anything. Plus there was Pavarotti and Gazza and Roger Miller and Scifo and Schillachi and Klinsmann and Lineker and Maradona.
William Bell Rubbish, 1994 was the one of the best in recent memory, loads of goals, fantastic entertainment, just because England were too shit to qualify for 1994 there's no need to be subjective. And if 1990 made football a commercial success, well the game of football has been ruined every since with high ticket prices, corporate run football clubs, lack of talent & no football on terrestrial TV, selling everything off to the highest bidder. You had the worst team to ever reach a World Cup final kicking lumps of shit out of the opposition & playing for draws & penalties throughout the competition, you had some really abysmal teams in the tournament in 1990 & you had hardly any goals, like I said the only thing that gives 1990 any credibility at all is that England were magnificent in terms of spirit in that tournament. Oh & Maradona was absolutely appalling in 1990 or do you not remember that load of shite & the way they played to reach the final?
+Lawrence Howard (COCKNEY BOSS) Sorry, but I have to agree that the 1994 WC was awful, nothing to do with England not qualifying. I was living in the USA at the time and my memories are of the commentators completely talking down to the viewers (they are much better in 2015!) and of hot, humid games. And then there was the final.. snoozefest. Even a lot of Brazilians and Italians I know agree that was not a well-played match at all.
I was 11 years old and this was the first WC I properly remember, to me it had everything - passion, drama, great goals and tears. A lot of tears. I was allowed to stay up for the penalties (England) and cried myself to sleep that night. I loved every minute of it though, great memories.
The last of the great world cup tournaments for me!!! I witnessed 3 in 82-86 and 90 after that it was all downhill!!! International football used to be the greatest then club football and money took over 🤦🏻♂️ shame really 😒
France 98 and Usa 94 were legendary, are you sure you don't mean post millenium because Italia 90, Euro 92, USA 94, Euro 96, France 98 and Euro 2000 was just a phenomenal power block of international football. Albeit the end, but proper legendary stuff.
You are correct, 1990 was the peak (although 1982 is close).
1994 was great, 1998 was very bad and after that all others are straight downhill .
2006 wasn't bad.
90 was the last of the truly great world cups. The whole feeling around the tournament has never been matched. Football or FIFA sold its soul not long after.
I remembered like yesterday, but as I’ve grown older, it might sound weird but I believe when the fans are changing save our kind queen it’s a bad omen of football
I cried at time, I know so sad, But the team was fantastic especially Gazza and Lineker, We are so close
Great world cup. So much passion replaced the lack of goals.
that semi-final against Germany still haunts me..
I was only 3 years old but remember this vividly it was the only time I seen my dad crying and my mum consoling HIM 😂
If only people new now. Bobby Robson so deserved to win world Cup genius manager and a gentlemen.
I remember watching Italia 90 very well. I was still at college with my friends. Everything about the tournament held Great Britain in its trance. It’s hard to describe how Pavorroti theme encapsulates the raw emotions we as a nation witness during those summer evenings.
Nailed it
England. Not great Britain
Yes. England :)
I recall coming home from the world cup semi with West Germany having watched it at a mate's house and thinking (i thought they had a great team pre tourney) England would never have a squad as strong as that one in my time and maybe it may not happen in my time ever now, now 50 and nothing much has changed my view!...a WC that produced few matches of great quality except England vs Cameroon and England vs Germany but the searing atmosphere and passion made up for that..great memories of a wonderful Summer for a 16 year old coming to adulthood..
Watching this brings back the memories and the tears
One of the best
the greatest world cup ive ever known for so many reasons
paul redshaw it was great for England
paul redshaw it was great if you were a England fan . But World Cup for quality was one of the poorest ever
Best World Cup ever was only 8 different times then,great times
The Greatest soundtrack to any World Cup
Best World cup ever!!
This world cup sticks with me forever as the one England should and could have won
And me, this is the one they should have won..
The first word cup. I watch with my day who now passed away. The start of the love I had for England as a ten year old boy. I never forget what my dad said to me at the end of this great word cup. He said get used to it .England will always find away to Disappoint and let you down.
Bit harsh. England got to the semis and pushed germany all the way. You had a really good world cup but ultimately the best team won the cup. My lot scotland blow a golden chance to get out of a relatively easy group with the worst brazil team ive ever seen.
Best world Cup in my lifetime im 40...
Just reading the guys in the studio we have lost since Italia 90, Pavarottis beautiful voice, Big Jack Charlton, Gazza, Scillachi, Bobby Robson, Klinsman, Maradonna, we are all still crying xxx
Gazza is still here, you twit.
I wish I can go back in time ..... so much happiness
First World Cup I can remember, will always be my favourite
Never gets old!
This song man the World Cup it made the players play better
Great touch to focus the last shot on maradona crying only to briefly cut to Germany lifting the cup..
2 years before I was born but everyone talks about this world cup as "The world cup" I do have personal memories of Russia 2018 and Euro 2020 getting to the final and the painful end of it but a tournament I will never forget. I suppose people in 1990 had that same feeling from the semi final defeat to Germany but looking back its nothing but good memories. One day hopefully one day football will come home.
I really believe the whole of Britain was watching and really enjoying every moment of pain and pleasure. Wonderful year and beautiful memories.
England
Why would there be pain in Scotland or Wales?
The nostalgia just kills me. I was a Soviet fan & the pundits had them down to do well but infighting, players left out and a change of kit (yes the CCCP had gone) had inflamed the spirit of the camp. I was totally devastated when they crashed out. It was a still young, and very talented side. But as someone said here, football is more than just what happens on the pitch. It is the experiences and those I had with my English friends at the time during what was, despite my disappointment, a beautiful summer.. And I do wonder whether for modern day English fans, this still remains their greatest memory, even surpassing the Euro 2020, despite getting to the final and Russia 2018. 1990 perhaps wasn't the greatest showcase for football but it was the greatest showcase for the memories it created and Pavarotti's Nessun Dorma just absolutely nails it. There will never be a better World Cup theme song.
What a montage, wish i was old enough to experience this world cup live
we can say what we want about Maradona his antics....but lets not forget he always gave his heart and soul to his national team, at italia 90 he was a washed up injury savaged drug addict mental mess, yet he still did all he could for the team and cried like a fountine when they lost...if only our england players in the last 10 years had that kind of love for the natinal team instead call themselfs the golden generation and only cry when theyre offered 100k aweek and make excuse after excuse
Italia 90 started 34 years ago today. Unbelievable. While some didnt think it great (lack of goals), but for me it had drama from the first minute, until the last. Argentina v Cameroon was mental to start it all off. Never been invested in a tournament like I was here.
Canigga getting Massing’d into orbit
Omam-Biyik
Higuta on walkabout
Rijkaard spitting in Voeller
Italy v Ireland
Ireland v Romania penalties
Maradona in tears
Mattheus
Roger Milla
Cameroon v England
Platt
Gascoigne
Baggio
The golden age of football.
I was 9 at the time and I stayed up when this coverage finished and I'm sure the film Gremlins was on BBC1 afterwards..can anyone else confirm this??
Brings tears, Sir Bobby deserved this title well done to the Germans for knocking the animals out in the final
Wow chills , the memories
It’s almost that time again but it’s 32 years later. I can’t watch and listen to this without getting tears in my eyes seeing Gazza, Stuart Pearce, Jack Charlton, Bobby Robson and that cheating bastard Maradonna. Magic, but there will never be one like it again.
That was the year I got my football hater friends into football.By "94" They were hooked. But sadly these days, the players seem to have lost the love for playing for their country.
The first World Cup I can remember (Born in 82) , had the panini Album stickers and England players heads you clipped onto windows
It was the best of times. It was the worst of times.
Pure passion from the footballers the players now dont care you can say what you lilke about paul Gascoigne but he's English through and through kissing the badge
BBC do it best (I know Mexico '86 was good for ITV). At least they don't cut off games for advertisements.
R.I.P Diego Maradona
My favourite tournament, not felt as emotional about the world cup since