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

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