Italia '90 - England 3-2 Cameroon - The Unforgettable Match

For football fans of a certain generation (mine), Italia '90 is the iconic World Cup that will be the formative memory of International Competition. And it is a match from this tournament, that I have chosen for my unforgettable match.

Before 1990, African football hadn't had any real iconic moments at the World Cup. This tournament changed that when Cameroon reached the Quarter Finals - the 1st African team ever to do so. The team's now iconic green, red and yellow providing some of the greatest World Cup moments in my life.

There was their opening game, beating reigning champions Argentina 1-0 - a result that was simply unthinkable before the tournament and a match that would see my all-time favourite tackle:

Source - djsk1pp YouTube Channel

The way Caniggia rides the 1st tackle with ease, gets slightly off balance with the 2nd and then Benjamin Massing comes along. Sorry Claudio, your run stops here. 🤣🤣🤣 It gets me every time.

Then there's the old man Roger Milla's memorable goal celebration:

Source - Legends of Sport - Great Sport Videos YouTube Channel

Everything about this brings me an incredible sense of nostalgia. How could you not love Cameroon and their achievement at this World Cup? And I've not even started on the match I want to talk about.

So for England to get them in the Quarter Finals, what an easy match - semi-finals here we come.

But it's never that simple.

I remember being on holiday in Tenerife at the time. I was 9 and the kids club disco was noisily happening. But I wasn't interested in that, I wanted to be stood with the grown-ups watching England in a smoke filled hall.

This is without doubt, my favourite England team ever. The ever present Peter Shilton in goal, hard men Stuart Pearce, Terry Butcher and Des Walker in defence, Platt, Barnes, Waddle and Gazza in midfield and goal-hanger Lineker up front. Just a few of the players who in just thinking about, sends a tingle down my spine. (It's unfair not to mention Paul Parker and Mark Wright but I'll never forgive Paul Parker for his own goal against West Germany in the semi-final, a game we should have won). The legend Sir Bobby Robson on the touchline, the shimmery shirt with blue collar, blue shorts and white socks against the tournament's dark horses.

Cameroon proved to be no walkover. We got a good early lead with a David Platt header which put us in 1-0 up at half time. Platt had scored a wonderful goal to put Belgium out in the last minute of extra time in the previous round and things were going just as expected, but it wasn't one-sided by any means. Then midway through the 2nd half, Milla came on and the game saw its 1st penalty - Kundé scoring for Cameroon after a foul on Milla.

Then the unthinkable happened, Ekéké slotted through by Milla far too easily and Cameroon led. Surely England couldn't lose to Cameroon but we were up against it, we had to dig deep. Chances came and went for both teams and nerves were certainly getting frayed. Finally, with less than 10 minutes to go, we got the chance we needed. Lineker winning a penalty, and he simply didn't miss penalties (often). And he didn't miss this one - the hall was jubilant, more from relief than anything else. And so to extra time.

With players clearly getting tired physically and mentally, Gazza played Lineker through, neatly rounding the keeper and going down again. Another penalty, another Lineker penalty. And another Lineker goal. More jubilation. England led again and it was enough to put us through. The relief at the final whistle was obvious. African football had arrived, and it had arrived in style and England had just enough to get the better of it.

It was a special game, played between 2 very special teams. If Cameroon had beaten us on that day, there could have been no complaints. It was a great match, and a great outcome for England setting up a semi-final against bitter rivals, West Germany. Not much happened in that game. Gazza cried, England lost on penalties and West Germany went on to lift the World Cup.

It's well worth watching the highlights here -

Source - Football Cult YouTube channel

So that's my unforgettable World Cup match. 9 years old, watching England in the World Cup Quarter Finals whilst on holiday in Tenerife, parents probably wondering where I'd sauntered off to. One of the greatest World Cup matches of all time in a tournament that would define a generation.