July 1 – England Tame the Lions (Just)
ALTHOUGH Italia 90 is remembered by England fans for the progress to the last four and then penalty heartbreak (again), it was actually quite a low-scoring tournament in an era when organised, defensive football was coming into fashion.
One team in the competition eschewed these virtues like no other and on this day, Cameroon played out perhaps the best match of the finals with England.
Their World Cup story was already a fairy tale, with 38-year-old veteran Roger Milla at it’s heart. Having stunned the World Champions Argentina by beating them in their opening match, the Indomitable Lions also picked off Romania and Columbia (both 2-1) to earn their place in the last eight.
Meanwhile England had scraped through, helped by a late, late show by David Platt against Belgium in the previous match.
After an early chance for Francois Omam, the African team began to dominate but then in the 25th minute, against the run of play England opened the scoring – a bullet header from David Platt from a Stuart Pearce cross.
The match got to half time with no further goals and all the fans wondering when they would see goal-hero Milla. They didn’t have to wait long. He came on after the break and with an hour played he won a penalty. Emmanuel Kunde dispatched it. 1-1.
Now they had the momentum and were soon in front, Milla setting up Eugene Ekeke for 2-1. And how they deserved it.
But England were not done yet and with seven minutes left Gary Lineker came to the rescue again and scored a penalty to take the match into extra time.
In the 105th minute, joy for England and heartbreak for Cameroon when they conceded another penalty and Lineker made no mistake from the spot.
By now the Africans were spent and simply did not have the legs to have another go at England. The Three Lions were through to the semis, the Indomitable Lions had just enough energy in them at the final whistle to do a lap of the stadium as the crowd voiced their appreciation for the most exciting team of the tournament.
England boss Bobby Robson, who had apparently been told by his scouts before the match that Cameroon would pose no threat and that he basically had a bye into the semis, said: “Everybody had a bit of sympathy for Cameroon today – I know I did. We got in front with a good goal, a wonderful goal, but at the time they were the better team. And when they went ahead they were the better team. But we pulled it out of the fire.”
Goal scorer David Platt added: “It was a difficult game – they were strong and athletic, although tactically naïve at times. We weren’t surprised by them because they had done very well but we did expect to win.”
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