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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
John Brewin

How England ‘pulled it out of the fire’ against Milla’s Cameroon at Italia 90

View from behind the net as Gary Lineker raises his hands in celebration having scored his second penalty for England against Cameroon.
Gary Lineker celebrates scoring his second penalty of the night and the eventual winner as England beat Cameroon 3-2 after extra time. Photograph: Popperfoto/Getty Images

Italia 90’s accepted place in football history is that of a poor tournament where the crosswinds of geopolitics coloured a World Cup with a deeper cultural impact than any other. The final appearances of West Germany and Yugoslavia, a post-Ceausescu Romania throwing off the shackles and the Republic of Ireland’s days of heaven under Jack Charlton represent a small sample of myriad narratives.

When England take on Senegal in Al Khor on Sunday, further memories of 32 years ago will be conjured, for that was the first – and last – time England faced African opposition in a World Cup knockout match. Cameroon in Naples on 1 July 1990 in the quarter-finals ended the Indomitable Lions’ thrilling run as a 3-2 win forged English hopes of going all the way.

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