Italia 90: the World Cup when England rediscovered football | Matthew Engel


Wednesday’s semi-final brings to mind when the nation came to a standstill watching Bobby Robson’s team in the knockout stages 28 years ago

The dustbins! I went outside with the dustbin, and that was the moment I realised that my country had changed. For ever, as it turned out.

It was Sunday 1 July 1990, England’s quarter-final against Cameroon in Naples. I watched at home and at half-time remembered that Monday was dustbin day. I lugged mine on to my north London rat-run street. And there was silence.

Related: Why Italia 90 was not beautiful to everyone, but will always be special | Amy Lawrence

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