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Despite being one of the most successful teams in tournament history, Italy have been notably
absent from the last two decades of World Cup action. After winning in 2006 the Azzurri failed to
get out of the groups in the next two, and then didn’t even qualify for the following three,
including this year’s. Two full decades of misery. Almost like being an England fan in the 00s.
Go back a few years however, and the Italians gave the world some truly unforgettable
tournament moments, and arguably the greatest World Cup of all time, Italia 90. Here’s our
favourite moments from that iconic summer.
Ciao
Football mascots before Ciao were goofy, cartoonish muppets. Characters that would’ve looked
more at home on Saturday morning kids TV than a football tournament. That was until
self-taught graphic designer Lucio Boscardin came up with the idea for a cubist stick man in the
colours of the Italian flag while waiting at traffic lights. Ciao looked like he was straight off an
Italo-house record label, as cutting-edge as anything on late night TV at the time, personifying a
tournament oozing sprezzatura. No mascot has even come close since.
Gazza’s Tears
It’s difficult to convey just how good Gazza was in 1990. We’re used to seeing flair players
performing on perfectly manicured pitches today, safe from the slightest bit of contact from the
opposition. The game has been shaped around them. Football in 1990 was very different. It
could be physical and unforgiving to the likes of wonderkid Paul Gascoigne, who effortlessly
danced around hardman defenders on dodgy pitches with pace and guile like a Gateshead
Maradona. He played with his heart on his sleeve, and when a reckless challenge got him
booked in the semi, which would’ve ruled him out for the final, Gazza became overwhelmed with
emotion, prompting captain Gary Lineker to step in and mouth “have a word” to Bobby Robson
on the touchline as the country watched on, heartbroken.
Nessun Dorma
Most would agree there were actually two World Cup anthems that year. One, a moving operatic
ode to passion, sung in its original Italian by the most spellbinding tenor of his generation. The
other had a rap from John Barnes. Both had their merits.
Cameroon v Argentina
African football was still a long, long way away from being taken seriously on the world stage in
1990, but clearly nobody had told 500/1 rank outsiders Cameroon, a team full of journeyman
and part-timers, who headed into the tournament opening match against reigning champions
Argentina like a team ready to go the distance. The tricky Argentinians, fresh from cheating their
way to World Cup glory in 86 through Maradona’s deliberate handball against England, simply
got bodied out of the game by the Cameroonians, who kicked them to bits and headed one past
them in the 67th minute, winning 1-0. Say less.
The Clothes
Italia 90 happened at a unique flashpoint in the history of UK terrace style. Loose fits and bright
colours ruled the day, with the influence of Italian designers Massimo Osti and Giorgio Armani
changing how lads across the country dressed. The result was a brigade of travelling fans who
looked like they’d walked straight out of a shoot from The Face. For a snapshot, check out the
now famous photos of unruly England fans seated and handcuffed in the street by police, a sea
of bucket hats, baggy t-shirts and the now iconic Umbro tournament shirt. NO ALLA VIOLENZA.