Vincerà! The story of Italia '90

What a day of tournament football to be talking about! June 24th at Italia 90 was the proverbial Super Sunday with not one but two epic clashes between neighbours and arch rivals. Brazil and Argentina kicked it all off amidst a sea of colour and noise in Turin before West Germany and the Netherlands whipped up a tempest – and no little controversy – in Milan. At half time we are joined by the man who commentated on the first of the day’s encounters and is quite simply a sports broadcasting legend – Barry Davies.

HOST: Mark Godfrey

GUESTS: Barry Davies (BBC TV commentator), Pete Davies (All Played Out/One Night in Turin), Rob Smyth (The Guardian, Nessun Dorma podcast), Jörg Jakob (Kicker magazine), John Swelsen (author Not Every Road Leads to Rome: Why Holland didn't win the World Cup 1990)

MUSIC: UV Protection

We kick off the knockout phase of Italia ’90 with all the C’s: Cameroon, Colombia, Czechoslovakia and Costa Rica. The exuberant Africans carried with them the hopes of both a nation and continent as the Roger Milla fairy story gathered pace. Only one man could stop the veteran forward from inspiring the Indomitable Lions to another famous win – eccentric keeper Rene Higuita. What could possibly go wrong? As for Los Ticos, surely the classy Czechoslovakians and their in-form target man Tomas Skuhravy would prove to be a bridge too far, especially shorn of their influential shot-stopper.

HOST: Mark Godfrey

GUESTS: Simon Hart (World in Motion – The Inside Story of Italia 90), Martin Etonge (Cameroon Football Federation), Ondrej Zlamal (UEFA.com)

MUSIC: UV Protection

We bid a fond farewell to the group stages as 8 of the 24 teams bow out of Italia 90; but not before one final twist as Sepp Blatter decides the knockout line up with some help from his little balls. We reflect on the tournament so far and the games to come. There’s also time to reminisce through the medium of film as we talk to director Kevin Allen about his video diary; shot following the embattled England fans on their Italian adventure.

HOST: Mark Godfrey

GUESTS: Pete Davies (All Played Out/One Night in Turin), Matthew Crist (The Sportsman, Alive and Kicking podcast), Kevin Allen (director Twin Town, On The March With Bobby’s Army)

MUSIC: UV Protection

Today, we feel compelled to examine the World Cup conundrum that is Scotland from the perspective of a former international and pundit, the student who spontaneously ventured out to Italia ‘90 to follow them at the tournament, and the sixth-former who like the majority of his compatriots, suffered the inevitable agony of watching them from afar, when despair descended just as glory beckoned on a stormy night in Turin.

HOST: Mark Godfrey

GUESTS: Pat Nevin (former Scotland international, BBC), Amy Lawrence (The Athletic), Alan Pattullo (The Scotsman)

MUSIC: UV Protection

Groups A and D come to a conclusion but not before we bid a fond farewell to the USA whose Italia ‘90 journey is remembered for us by their assistant manager. And we can’t let Italy’s third successive win in Rome pass without discussing one of the most iconic goals of the tournament and the green-eyed genius who bewitched a nation…and Madonna!

HOST: Mark Godfrey

GUESTS: Simon Hart (World in Motion – The Inside Story of Italia ‘90), Richard Hall (Football Italia, The Gentleman Ultra), Dr. Joe Machnik (USA assistant coach 1990, Fox Sports)

MUSIC: UV Protection

We’re rounding off an eventful Group B by looking back at the demise of the Soviet Union and world champions Argentina scraping through to the knockout stages by the skin of their teeth in front of Diego Maradona’s adoring Neapolitan disciples. We also examine more closely the big news stories of what was a pretty momentous time to be alive, as well as considering how news coverage of football and the World Cup has changed since 1990.

HOST: Mark Godfrey

GUESTS: Mike Gibbons (Nessun Dorma pod, The Guardian), Rob Smyth (Nessun Dorma pod, The Guardian), Alastair Stewart (ex-ITN/ITV News)

MUSIC: UV Protection

Today it’s the turn of refereeing at Italia ‘90 to come under the spotlight as we are joined by former top official Keith Hackett. Also under discussion is the ‘forgotten’ group E, where Belgium and Spain were beginning to look dangerous with their respective playmakers Scifo and Michel coming to the fore; and in group F, Ireland were being scrutinised by the media at home after another dour display against the resolute Egyptians.

HOST: Mark Godfrey

GUESTS: Ash Rose (KICK Magazine, Alive and Kicking podcast), Matthew Crist (The Sportsman, Alive and Kicking podcast), Keith Hackett (former FIFA referee and head of the PGMOL, You Are The Ref)

MUSIC: UV Protection

It’s a packed show this one with the panel not only reminiscing about the football, but also some of the best – and worst – of the Italia 90 songs from around the world. For every ‘World in Motion’ there’s a ‘Say it with Pride’! Back on the pitch Brazil progress with ease, Scotland give themselves hope, and the under fire England boss Bobby Robson takes an uncharacteristic gamble for one of the biggest games of his career.

HOST: Mark Godfrey

GUESTS: Simon Hart (World in Motion – The Inside Story of Italia ‘90), David Hartrick (Ockley Books, In Bed With Maradona), Webbie (Football and Music)

MUSIC: UV Protection

The United Arab Emirates were one of the many curiosities of Italia ’90 but had more than earned their spot at the tournament after a gruelling qualification campaign. We discuss their journey to the finals, today’s match with the imperious Germans, and the overall experience when they got to Italy including the famous tale of the Rolls Royce gifts. In addition, we talk about Czechoslovakia who advanced through the group phase at the expense of neighbours Austria, and we debate whether Italia ’90 could be described as being the first ‘modern’ World Cup.

HOST: Mark Godfrey

GUESTS: Ali Khaled (director, The Lights of Rome), Pete Davies (All Played Out/One Night in Turin), David Goldblatt (The Ball is Round, The Game of Our Lives)

MUSIC: UV Protection

June 14th: Italy are back in action today, and after a spluttering start against Austria, surely they could rack up double figures against the American no-hopers in Rome? It should have been a ‘Lions and Christians’ scenario but something wasn’t quite right with the hosts. Elsewhere, the fancied Yugoslavs had to come back from their evisceration at the hands of West Germany if they were going to live up to their ‘dark horse’ tag; and Cameroon were back, still riding high after their shock win over reigning champions Argentina in the opening match of Italia ’90. And they had another surprise up their sleeve; an unlikely hero who would go on to become a World Cup legend. Also on the show – the best kits of the 1990 World Cup. Which was your favourite?

HOST: Mark Godfrey

GUESTS: Doug Bierton (co-founder Classic Football Shirts), Richard Hall (The Gentleman Ultra, Football Italia), Adam Hurrey (Football Cliches, The Athletic)

MUSIC: UV Protection