Vincerà! The story of Italia '90

We lost the great Jack Charlton in July this year, just 2 days after our original series ended. In this episode we chat to Gabriel Clarke, director of the new documentary film Finding Jack Charlton which looks back at the former Ireland manager's life and career through archive footage, interviews with those who knew him best and rare glimpses into Jack's home life as he struggled with dementia during his final months. It's a fascinating and poignant movie that deals with his contradictory image, incredible achievements at Italia 90 and beyond, and the frosty relationship with brother Bobby.

Finding Jack Charlton is out on DVD & Digital Download from Monday 23 November and can be bought HERE

 

HOST: Mark Godfrey

GUEST: Gabriel Clarke (Director - Finding Jack Charlton, ITV)

MUSIC: UV Protection

Welcome back to Vincerà! The story of Italia '90, you probably didn't expect to hear from us again after we concluded the original series. But, here we are with the first of possibly a number of occasional bonus episodes to satisfy your Italia 90 thirst. In this one, host Mark is joined by England's press officer during the competition, David Bloomfield, who not only handled the ravenous English media and their demands on Bobby Robson and his players, but is also the brainchild behind New Order and England's iconic World Cup anthem World in Motion. David puts the record straight on the whole process and drops in a few exclusives that perhaps we didn't know. This episode is inspired by and shared with the excellent Football and Music website which can be found at https://footballandmusic.co.uk

 

HOST: Mark Godfrey

GUESTS: David Bloomfield (former Press Officer at the F.A.)

MUSIC: UV Protection

We’ve reached the grand finale of both Vincerà! and the Italia ’90 story. The night before the World Cup final, Rome witnessed the operatic splendour of the first Three Tenors concert. On 8 July 1990, the city hosted a far less sophisticated spectacle as holders Argentina fought tooth and nail to retain their crown against the relentless West Germany. We look back at the match – which is remembered for all the wrong reasons – paying particular attention to the Argentine psychodrama and the dethroning of Diego Maradona as the world’s greatest footballer. And as we re-evaluate the tournament, we ask the questions: what are the legacies of Italia ’90 and why, 30 years on, does it still retain such fascination in spite of its well-documented flaws?

HOST: Mark Godfrey

GUESTS: Pete Davies (All Played Out/One Night in Turin), Simon Hart (World in Motion – The Inside Story of Italia ’90), Mike Gibbons (Nessun Dorma pod, The Guardian, When Football Came Home – England, the English and Euro 96)

MUSIC: UV Protection

There were medals all round for the nearly men of Italia ’90 as Italy and England faced off for the dubious honour of third place at the World Cup. This could so easily have been the final had it not been for their respective penalty shootout downfalls in the semis. The curtain came down on the international careers of England coach Bobby Robson – off for a quiet life in Holland – and veteran keeper Peter Shilton, although he probably won’t want to be reminded of his clanger in Bari. Inter and Italy midfielder Nicola Berti drops in for a chat and we also review the tournament action to pick a few of our own bests and worsts from the previous month at the 1990 World Cup.

HOST: Mark Godfrey

GUESTS: Simon Hart (World in Motion – The Inside Story of Italia ’90), Mike Gibbons (Nessun Dorma pod, The Guardian, When Football Came Home – England, the English and Euro 96), Matthew Crist (Alive and Kicking podcast), Nicola Berti (Inter and Italy midfielder), Patrick Kendrick (Italian football TV commentator)

MUSIC: UV Protection

On a warm summer’s evening in Turin, not only did two proud football nations go head-to-head hoping to earn a place in the 1990 World Cup final, but one also took some of its tentative first steps towards rebirth and redemption after years of decay. What took place that night in the Stadio delle Alpi was two hours of tension and high drama as old rivals England and West Germany thrilled the watching world in the most gripping match of the tournament. We look back at the before, during, and after of this epic semi-final from the perspectives of the press box and the pitch.

HOST: Mark Godfrey

GUESTS: Pete Davies (All Played Out/One Night in Turin), Simon Hart (World in Motion – The Inside Story of Italia ’90), Patrick Barclay (The Independent, The Times, The Guardian, The Telegraph), Paul Parker (England), Thomas Berthold (World Cup winner, West Germany)

MUSIC: UV Protection

According to Diego Maradona, the people of Naples were considered foreigners in their own land for 364 days of 1990. On the 365th they were expected to throw their unwavering support behind Italy for the first semi-final of Italia ’90. Never mind the mistrust of the south; never mind the prejudice they suffered from the north. Diego – Napoli’s force of nature and out-of-control deity – pleaded with the people of his city to forsake their country for his as holders Argentina attempted to oust hosts Italy from their own party. We look back at the game that saw the Azzurri gripped with nerves faced with Carlos Bilardo’s streetwise battlers; we analyse Italia ’90 from the Argentine perspective and whether they relished the role as pantomime villains; and we dive into the mayhem of Maradona’s time in the Mezzogiorno. 

HOST: Mark Godfrey

GUESTS: Richard Hall (The Gentleman Ultra, Football Italia), John Ludden (Once Upon A Time in Naples), Diego Zandrino (FIFA.com)

MUSIC: UV Protection

Today, it’s all about the penalties; but not the dreaded shootouts. West Germany eased past Czechoslovakia courtesy of one and we’re joined by a World Cup winner to discuss that match; but it’s England who have the greater reliance on the spot kick as they take on the lively Cameroon in Naples. Having taken a battering during the game, Bobby Robson’s side had the one thing that the African heroes desperately needed on the night – a cool head in front of goal. Step forward Gary Lineker…

HOST: Mark Godfrey

GUESTS: Pete Davies (All Played Out/One Night in Turin), Simon Hart (World in Motion – The Inside Story of Italia ’90), Pierre Littbarski (World Cup winner, West Germany)

MUSIC: UV Protection

Yugoslavia produced one of the great international sides of the 90s yet were denied the opportunity to reach their full potential due to the civil war which tore the country apart. We remember their efforts at this World Cup before turning our attention to the man who made Italia '90 his own, scoring six goals, the player of the tournament award, and almost carrying the hosts to ultimate glory; the leading man of the ‘Notte Magiche’, Salvatore Schillaci.

HOST: Mark Godfrey

GUESTS: Nebojša Marković (Mondo Sport), Richard Hall (The Gentleman Ultra, Football Italia)

MUSIC: UV Protection

The round of 16 concludes with a pair of nip and tuck encounters that, in fairness, could have gone either way. Two very pretty but often frustrating sides from Yugoslavia faced Spain off in Verona before England made their mainland bow at Italia ‘90 against the handy Belgians in Bologna. Their fans had faced a battle on the streets the previous evening; and their team would need to display plenty of fight themselves if they wanted to quieten the rabid English press back home. There’s also time for a bit of stadium chat and a look at how hosting the tournament impacted Italy financially for years to come.

HOST: Mark Godfrey

GUESTS: Patrick Barclay (The Independent, The Times, The Guardian, The Telegraph) Mike Gibbons (Nessun Dorma pod, The Guardian), Emanuele Giulianelli (Calcio Mercato, Corriere della Sera, various), James Evans (Embrace The Margin)

MUSIC: UV Protection

Today’s episode concentrates on Ireland and their Italia ’90 story as they take on Romania in the first knockout round. Manager Jack Charlton exploited the eligibility criteria of foreign born players to the max and developed a very combative style of play in order to turn his team into an outfit that no one relished facing. After numerous failed attempts, here Ireland finally were at the World Cup where undoubtedly their fans were a big hit, even if their side’s approach on the pitch was not. We’ll also speak to a photographer who took many of Italia 90’s most iconic images.

HOST: Mark Godfrey

GUESTS: Paul Doyle (The Guardian), Jonathan O’Brien (The Business Post, Ireland), Juha Tamminen (photographer)

MUSIC: UV Protection