v Repulic of Ireland (Cagliari) 11.6.1990
v Holland (Cagliari) 16.6.1990
v Egypt (Cagliari) 21.6.1990
v Belgium (Bologna) 27.6.1990
v Cameroon (Naples) 1.7.1990
v West Germany (Turin) 4.7.1990
My first ever trip to watch England abroad was the World Cup finals in Italy in 1990. The first 2 weeks were spent in Sardinia for the 3 group matches.
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v Republic of Ireland
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This is me outside the ground in Sardinia at my first ever England match. It was a pretty dire 1-1 draw, the highlight of the game being a massive thunder storm.
......................................Just one of the Police dogs at the Ireland match
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v Holland
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Suddenly v Holland we look like a team that could get to the Final! Mark Wright plays as sweeper and we dominate the game but it finishes 0-0. We beat Egypt to make it into the knock out stages!
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v Egypt
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England were isolated for all 3 group games in Sardinia, our appartments were in the middle of ermmmmm, nothing!!
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v Belgium
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On to Bologna........So I flew home after the group stages but returned by coach for the rest of the tournament. The travel company basically extended our stay each time England won a game.
and we try and find somewhere to beat the 24 hour alcohol ban in place before every England game!
Before the game in Bologna I phoned to work to say that I would be back when England got knocked out. I had no holiday left so I was risking coming back to no job, but I couldnt come home and miss the rest of the World Cup. So once we beat Belgium with a 119 David Platt winner. Cue massive celebrations on and off the pitch. Then it was on to ....................
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v Cameroon
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one of two penalties awarded to England that night!
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The delights of Naples...............and Cameroon! A 3-2 win (again after extra time). After the game we find a pizza place open and between the 50 of us order one pizza (so they can serve us) and 50 beers followed by 50 more. We carry on drinking well into the night
Luckily we stay a few miles down the road from Rimini and the infamous Rose and Crown tear gas episodes. The British Government hire a plane for 246 passangers and 246 people arrested and deported...........
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Semi Final v West Germany
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Yes, England in a World Cup Semi Final!!!!!
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Our trusty coach that took us around mainland Italy for the knock out stages......
So as everyone knows a 1-1 draw with West Germany but defeat on penalties.
It was a long and painful coach drive back to England straight after the final whistle. The last picture shows us on teh ferry back home to Dover!! A fantastic trip and I was now hooked on following England around the World.
Mark R