Gazza's Tears Italia 1990 World Cup
Everyone has a World Cup they associate as being "theirs" - this was mine.
I was 19, following the Villa everywhere and extremely patriotic. For Italia '90 we would meet at the Riverside in Tewkesbury to watch the England games - it became such a popular place that lads from Worcester and Birmingham were heading there!
I remember the terrible stick the press gave Bobby Robson and the team in general and the programme that was on the other night brought back all the memories of that June twenty years ago. Hearing "Nessun Dorma" again just brought it all back.
After the opening two draws we still felt we would qualify easily and had played pretty well against Holland. The Riverside was buzzing for the Egypt match and I remember having "World In Motion" blaring for the boys on the journey over to Tewkesbury.
What followed against Belgium was amazing. We'd met some Nottingham Forest lads who were a good crack but were pretty scathing about Platty coming on as a sub making out he wasnt good enough - when the mental celebrations of his goal had finished we all reminded them of their comments! Afterwards Terry Butcher & Chris Waddle were doing the "lets all have a disco" dance. The feel-good factor was amazing.
Cameroon was hell - Platty scored again and started to get a repuatation - some witch doctor had predicted a 2-1 win for them and when they went ahead we all looked at each other and said "he's gonna be fucking right"!! Luckily Gary Lineker saved the day and we prepared for the German game. People who had just watched the game at home said it was boring - anyone who was watching the games where we were could tell a different story.
A couple of us had even looked into going over for the Germany game but £400 for a day trip was a bit much back then! The Riverside was rammed solid and the game was torturous, everyone knows the rest. We could barely watch as Platty stepped up for his penalty but when he scored the Forest lads were hugging us again - we hoped to return the favour because Stuart Pearce was a sure shot with penalties - but not this time. A few minutes later it was all over, the Forest lads were inconsolable, as were all of us.
A few BMW's were hurt that night.
Paul Gascoigne was a true football genius and down to earth with it. That's why it's so sad to see him as he is now. Bobby Robson stuffed it to the press and ended up a hero - England should have been in the Final and there was a cheating Argentinian who was due 4 years of payback.
Italia 90. Nessun Dorma, Toto Schillachi, Roger Milla, Paul Gascoinge, The Italian Riot Police, Sardinia, Germans, penalties and The Riverside.
When Paul Gascoinge said he never wanted it to end I know how he felt because I didn't either.
