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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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:...

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 GodfreyGUESTS: Nebojša...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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 GodfreyGUESTS: Pete Davies (All Played...

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 GodfreyGUESTS: Pat Nevin (former Scotland international, BBC),...

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 GodfreyGUESTS: Simon Hart (World in Motion – The Inside Story of Italia ‘90), Richard Hall (Football Italia, The Gentleman Ultra), Dr. Joe...

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 GodfreyGUESTS: Mike Gibbons (Nessun Dorma pod,...

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 GodfreyGUESTS: Ash Rose (KICK Magazine, Alive and...

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 GodfreyGUESTS: Simon Hart (World in Motion – The Inside...

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...

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...

It’s do or die for both Argentina and the USSR as they face off in Naples – home of Diego Maradona – as early elimination beckons for whoever loses after they both suffered shock defeats in their respective opening matches at Italia ‘90. The Argentine and Neapolitan hero is never far from controversy and today is no different as yet another ‘handy’ intervention helps his team overcome a sticky situation. And while we’re focusing on cheats; today’s topic for discussion is shithousery. The 1990...

Football and opera? Together? Whose bright idea was that? Yes, we’re talking about Nessun Dorma and the BBC’s inspired decision to use Luciano Pavarotti’s version for the title music of their Italia ’90 coverage from the man that thought it might just work. Also on the show we talk about the Low Countries as Belgium and Holland make their entrance into the tournament. Gullit, Rijkaard, Van Basten and European Champions everywhere you looked – what could possibly go wrong for the enigmatic...

Day 4 and we welcome the Home Nations and Ireland to Italia ’90; not that much was expected from either England or Scotland. Bobby Robson was under intense scrutiny from the English press who not only questioned his managerial ability, they had also begun digging around in his private life. Jack Charlton’s Ireland were their opponents for this opening crunch game in Group F. The heavens opened over Cagliari as the two nations served up a typically brutish ‘Derby’ encounter. The fans, too,...

More of the big guns enter the tournament with both Brazil and West Germany getting their Italia ’90 campaigns under way on this day. For the latter, successive defeats in the finals of the last two World Cups and a semi-final loss in the 1988 Euros which they hosted gave ample incentive for Franz Beckenbauer’s talented squad to get it right this time. Also appearing today were the USA, playing at their first World Cup for 40 years. Could this rag-tag bunch of part-timers and college kids...