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But did anyone watch that documentary on ITV last night called 'Gazza's tears'?

I thought it was pretty good for an ITV documentary and as the 1990 world cup was my first footballing memory I enjoyed it.

As I lived in Scotland when Gazza was playing for Rangers, some of the footage from the World Cup showed just how good a player he was, no fear and an absolute talent. Oh for England to have a Gazza these days.

Interesting as well in 1990 that basically the players would go out on the lash almost every night, which was part of the norm. The bond they had in 1990 was so so strong. Such a shame we didn't get to the final, everytime I see Waddle's pen I am urging him to find the top corner.

i really enjoyed it, and it showed just how awful the current lot are.they were a team united behind their manager, and mates off the pitch.
alot of the current lot barely know each other.

proof that drinking  makes you ace at football

I dont think weve ever had a team more proud to be English and to be representing England.

And they still had to put up with loads of shite from the press, same as today. Difference today is the fans dont like the players either I guess?

Anyone else find the ending utterly depressing?

repeated at 8pm tonight on itv4

Was that the bit where Germany won the World Cup?

I saw this. Still couldn't watch the penalty shoot out!

1990 was the last time we could hold our heads up after a World Cup. Seems like yesterday, but there are probably regular posters on here who were still in nappies in 1990!

We did OK in Euro 96 too I suppose, though that was home soil.

One thing that struck me was the number of Union Jacks* on display during the games and in the pubs. Can't say i remember being too aware of it at the time. So why was that. Now it seems to be nealyy 100% flags bearing the crss of St George - which makes sense more than the Union flag.

* yes I called it that to annoy Dave :)

No. But yes that was pretty depressing as well. It was a pretty depressing final. Should have been England vs Italy!

The ending was how great the Premier League was. But isnt that completely missing the point in relation to the rest of the program? It hasnt been a springboard for our national team? It hasnt raised standards for English players. 1990 is still the best weve had in my lifetime by a long way. Seeing Bobby Robson on his deathbed finnished me off.

From what I could tell the players completely ignored the press and were completely unaware of what was going on back in England which meant they could concentrate on getting on with the job. Of course there was no internet or mobiles back in those days.

Now it is like a circus.

The Cross of St George was widely used for the first time during Euro '96.  Probably due the fact that it was 'our' tournament (and not Scotland's) and that we got drawn against Scotland.  It was also in the run up to Scottish and Welsh devolution, so the Union Jack didn't seem to do the job any more.

Agree Spence. It was entitled, July 4th 1990, the day Football changed. It did, but not for the better unfortunately.

I'd dispute that. I bet all of them have had ashley coles cock texted to them at least once, so they'll all know him pretty well.

Thanks.


But why did it (Union Jack) do the job in the first place? Was there really a feeling of home nation "togetherness" despite haveing separate football teams? I have no recallation of that being true but my memory is hazy really.

ahhh I liked this programme - and I too wondered about the union Jacks
God it just reminds you of the big mess that is Gazza now days though :(

I loved all the skimpy shorts and shellsuits though

I think the IRA held the Union together for years.

People back then were more proud to be United?

The IRA started to decommision about the same time as Euro 96, and its been St Georges ever since. Those 2 things.

Thats my theory.

Excellent doc...a few thoughts

 - oh to have a leader like TB nowadays, someone who bangs walls in the dressing room, points to the badge screams at people etc (I loved the bit inthe middle when they were talking about how they got motivated for that game, reminds me of Martin Johnson pre rugby world cup)
 - What unity they seemed to possess as a team...they seems to be having such a genuine crack.
 - Gazza did actually seem to have a mental age of about 15 back then
 - Oh to go back to an era of when players possessed the attitudes of linekar, beardsley, waddle etc.
 - those were the days when I supported England as much as STFC,
 - and now...dont have any time for any of them.
 

One of the biggest gripes that Scots have with us is that (they say) we equate English with British.  I'm not so sure it's true any more, but it probably used to be.  (Lloyd George, a Welshman, used to refer to Great Britain as 'England' all the time, as was the norm back then.  It also explains why, even today, the commonly used French term for Brits is 'les anglais'.)

The truth is that people probably didn't see much point in making the distinction.  It was only in the mid-1990s that we woke up and realised it didn't make sense.  You never know...we may even find an English anthem to sing before games in future, rather than using the British anthem that's currently sung.

Fair enough. Makes sense to me. just seems so strange now and we are 'only' talking 20 years ago!

You could tell in the players voices it bitterly hurts them still to this day that they didn't progress. The pride taken by our players back then was twice as much as what it means for them to wear the Three Lions these days.

No out and out superstars (except one being born) just a team who had a great spirit and desire to wear the shirt.

I think we lack that now, we're a team made up of individual talent, who don't quite have bond Gazza and co had. When you look at the likes of Germany, their side isn't great, but they all work their socks off for one another. I watched last night with pride, and cared far more about seeing us lose to Germany (despite knowing the result!) than I did last Sunday. I was only 1 during Italia 90, but through highlights etc I feel more attached to that team than I do to this.

Seeing the great Sir Bobby Robson being wheeled out to the pitch in the charity match choked me up big time. A true legend.

Thank you - Sky+ duly set.

I've asked my Dad in the past why all the Union Jack nonsense until fairly recently - the answer is that the St George cross became frowned-upon because of the National Fronts' association with it, hence the UJ taking over. I went to all the England games in Euro 96, and the sight of thousands & thousands of St George crosses being waved all around Wembley, for the first time in my life, was just one of many happy memories of that tournament. The UJ means absolutely nothing to me.

A group of us watched the games in the same pub each time, we all wore our England shirts then went on clubbing in them (we must have stunk  :)). I had the sky blue 3rd kit shirt  :no:

I was close to buying one of those shirts before this World Cup started. Being 'retro' and all.

I feel rather young compared to quite a few of you  ;)

Personally I think the team did us proud in France 98. First World Cup I can remember. Just let down by a moment of madness from Beckham against a class Argentinian outfit which ultimately cost us. That and letting David 'i've never taken a penalty before in my life so now's a good time to start' Batty have a spot kick.

You are young! The first World Cup I can really remember is Mexico '86 :( Must have seen a bit of Spain '82 though.

I had the sticker album for Argentina '78  :(

My first tourny was Euro 96, at the grand old age of 7.

Apparently that's the first time I swore in a sentence.

[url width=450 height=450]http://www.offthepost.info/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/england-away-1996.jpg[/url]

'What the fuck is that"...I said. I still think I had a valid point.

My memory was exactly this, and that the St George's Cross was therefore widely used by some of the real trouble makers at football matches (especially at certain SE and E London clubs), so there was a general attempt to reclaim it from the far right.

It was a real tear-jerker to see Bobby Robson in that state at the end. I never knew about the England v Germany re-match, I would have made the effort if I'd known.

I must be the exception that proves the rule.