32 years ago today: world cup Italia. Whats your memories?

mark hateley

mark hateley

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My first world Cup that I remember and it brings back great memories.

The best:
Scotland beating Sweden.
Cameroon emerging as a suprise package.
Gazza on the big stage.
West Germany top and shell suit.
England having a good tournament.
Italy only loosing 1 goal and getting dumped in the semis.
First time watching Brazil
The 1990 balls.
The small Italia 90 mascot from Esso.

The worst:
Costa 'bloody' Rica broke my heart.
Jum Leighton against Brazil
Gazza being booked in the semi.
The final a dull game after such good games previously.
Ally McCoist not starting in first 2 games.
 
The Cameroon national teams full blown assault of Claudio caniggia.

Murdo mcleod blocking a free kick with his face. He won't remember that.

Mojo's miss against Brazil.

Lothar Matthaus being cunty.

The white top with yellow and blue stripes.

Rijkaard and voeller swapping spit.
 
Scotland's first game against Costa Rica in a Glasgow pub, 5pm kick off, Alan McInally starting upfront with McCoist on the bench. Utter shite as usual, followed by an excellent Stuart McCall inspired win over Sweden

One point required against a poor Brazil side, cruising to a scoreless draw then Leighton set up Brazils winner with some dreadful goalkeeping
 
Toto scilachi, receiver remember ruining about pretending to be him in the garden as a pup
 
Roger Milla.

Jack Charlton somehow taking a god awful Ireland side deep into the tournament.

I’m sure it may have been this tournament that lead to Uefa developing the 6 second rule, after Bonner having the ball in his hands for a total of 7 minutes or something.
 
The first World Cup where I could legally drink. Remember a few of us piling around to my mates to watch Scotland v Sweden. Mcleod getting knocked out by a Brazilian free kickB-Dand the England-Germany Semi Final. All in all it was a dull tournament but I have fond memories as I was half cut for most of the games.
 
Cameroon beating Argentina in the first game was brilliant. Set us for a great tournament.

Mexico 86 was a blur for me. Italia 90 was my first World Cup memories.

Pavarotti singing. Superb stuff
 
Orbis World Cup binder. Ladybird World Cup book.

My first WC too, absolutely hyper as an 8 year old.

The football was on the whole so bad it led to the pass back rule. There have been better world cups, but few that are so ‘iconic’.

There’s a good podcast called Vincera. Goes through the tournament day by day.
 
It’s often put up there as one of the worst tournaments, but I actually enjoyed it.

Scotland did what Scotland always do (or rather, did), England flattered to deceive in getting further than expected, Argentina and Maradona in particular were disappointing despite getting to the final, as were Brazil and Holland (who as the reigning European Champions were many peoples favourites for the trophy) and we all fell in love with the mad bastard that was Toto Schillachi while getting our first glimpse of a burgeoning football genius, nope, not Gazza, who I actually thought was overhyped, but the Divine Ponytail himself, Roberto Baggio.

The final was utterly dreadful though.
 
Only world cup that Ive actually attended, great times in a wee Italian resort called Alassio. When the majority of the Scotland support was still Rangers supporters. Drink bans the day of the games that were completely ignored . Bitter disappointment at the Costa Rica game, scenes at the Sweden game, more disappointment against Brazil. Rangers being the most represented team in the England squad. The Germans doing the German thing, being underwhelming all tournament and then winning it. When Italy played the Italians all seemed to dress like they were going to a wedding to go out and watch it in boozers.
 
Working in Basingstoke area watching England fans getting escorted out of the country. Girl that worked in the digs came into the room and announced excitedly ’thats my boyfriend on the tv’ he was an absolute prick as well.
Football wise Gazza and Schillaci
 
I loved it - I was probably a wee bit young for 86, and at this World Cup I knew more about countries and players and had been to a few of Scotland’s qualifying campaign matches.

It was a World Cup where I really paid attention to different styles between teams. The drama of England’s progression after a poor start to being so close to the final itself was captivating to a young kid who saw players that appeared for his club side involved in the team.

I know it’s generally looked down on for being sterile but I have fond memories of Italia 90.
 
As usual, before the first game, it was the hope and then, after the last game, dealing with the disappointment. In between there was that great Saturday night result against a good Sweden team. I gave a bottle of Stewart's Cream o' the Barley a tanking that nìght for good measure. The final game, against Brazil was torture. All we needed was a point to qualify but I remember watching it in my hotel room in Sheffield just waiting for the inevitable Brazilian goal to arrive and, sure as fate, it came.
 
cambie gers said:
The first World Cup where I could legally drink. Remember a few of us piling around to my mates to watch Scotland v Sweden. Mcleod getting knocked out by a Brazilian free kickB-Dand the England-Germany Semi Final. All in all it was a dull tournament but I have fond memories as I was half cut for most of the games.
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Same for me. I always remember a load of us in my mates house for that game and it was an actual monsoon outside.
 
On holiday in Yugoslavia, not too far from the Italian border, fantastic tournament, plenty of great games, Cameroon v England sticks in my mind.
 
Ally McCoist not getting a game was one of my earliest memories of the tournament and us getting beaten off Costa Rica. When I was a kid I had every Rangers and Scotland kit along with tracksuits etc. But I remember asking for the Germany home kit off the back of Italia 90 - loved watching the Germans that tournament.
 
Was it not an extremely poor World Cup that is nostalgic because of the England side of the time and continues the "years of hurt" stuff?
 
Amity75 said:
Same for me. I always remember a load of us in my mates house for that game and it was an actual monsoon outside.
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I can remember when Mo Johnston took the penalty I couldn't watch so went outside and waited for the reaction of my mates. Then typical Scotland going out after Leighton spilled a shot and the Brazilians bungling the ball over the line. If memory serves me right Johnston had a great chance to equalise.
 
Being 5 years old, going to the dentist and getting a sugar cube after it, then my parents bought me 3 italia 90 toy cars and a size 1 italia 90 ball.

No memory of the football though! Haha
 
cambie gers said:
I can remember when Mo Johnson took the penalty I couldn't watch so went outside and waited for the reaction of my mates. Then typical Scotland going out after Leighton spilled a shot and the Brazilians bungling the ball over the line. If memory serves me right Johnson had a great chance to equalise.
Click to expand...

Taffarel saved point blank from abour six yards out.

Johnston should've burst the net.
 
I remember Sophia Loren did the draw, few comments from the dads in the room when I was watching it about her skills handling the balls, wasn’t sure what to make of it as an innocent youngster
 
I remember my mate being the only Scot arrested in Bournemouth for English hooliganism after the Germany game! He tanned a shop window and nearly ripped a car door off when running away, unfortunately it was an unmarked police car and the door had been flung open to stop him, but he was at full pelt and bent the door over enough to stop it closing properly.
Apart from that, it was an amazing tournament, possibly my favourite due to being over 18 for the first time during a WC.
 
Remember having the bed covers.
Coca-Cola ran a soccer ball competition over a few weeks where you did some tricks and keepy uppies to win tee shirts, bags etc.
I won a gold soccer ball down Motherwell precinct. (Wasn't much competition)
Watched the quarters and semis at BB camp in Morecambe.
Can probably remember more about Italia 90 than any other word cup.
 
Going to Italy on holiday with the school during the knockout stages and seeing two middle aged woman going at it hammer and tongs in their bedroom across the way from our hotel!

Amazing how many 15 year old boys you can get on one balcony at a time. If only Norrie McWhirter was there.

Apart from that, Schillaci scoring the winner for Italy against Ireland and the whole town going mental for the night.
 
Was it not this world cup that brought in the pass back rule due to there being so few goals?
 
We stayed in Diano Marina.

Sweden game was incredible.

Sitting in the hotel hoping Uruguay would draw. They didn’t.

Meeting Souness in a hilltop bar on the way to Genoa.
 
First proper football tournament that I remember. I did watch parts of 1986 but 1990 sticks out. The Cameroon team is a highlight. Cyril Makanaky in my sticker book. Roger Milla dancing. Diego crying in the final. Gazza. Nessun Dorma. David Platt's goal against Belgium. Toto. Awesome kits - Cameroon, Germany are two highlights. Awesome tournament!
 
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