I was 9 & bribed into learning my times tables to be allowed to watch Italia 90. Happy memories, which I share with my boy too & I'm having Nessun Dorma on my final journey behind the curtains
First World Cup I can remember. As an 8yr old watched it all with my now departed Grandad. Cried my eyes out when England lost on Penalties to Germany. Still the greatest World Cup I have witnessed. Thanks for this upload.
Never underestimate the power of television. This relatively short title sequence exposed uninitiated football fans to high culture, and the effect really did linger for quite some time.
High Culture of course immediately branded _"Nessun Dorma"_ as lowbrow and ceased to have any regard for it. Which tells you what a pompous snob High Culture is!
Even the titles were epic! Goodness, watching this after all this time still manages to make my heart swell scarily inside my chest and the tears spring up in my eyes. I truly loved this world cup.
Best World Cup ever. I’ve not watched the world in the same way since. I remember ‘94. I was looking forward to it but in the end it was just a let down.
Ahmed Demnati 1990 is widely regarded as being one of the worst World Cups of all time. A lot of dreadful matches with very low scoring. 94 was a better tournament.
As a Scotsman this tourney defined the phrase its the taking part that counts. Pavarroti Cocacola mini footballs Gazza Germany winning then being united after he Wall Great football strips and shellsuits lol. Great memory.
What a year that was....everything was great. Semi finals only but still the feel good factor, the music, the summer heat. I kissed goodbye to school aswell.....Will never forget it
Never saw 1966 and just too young to remember 1970 which was probably the last great World Cup till 1990. Amazing memories. Doubt they'll be another like that with all the changes in football and refereeing etc.
It's funny. This is regarded as a dire tournament. But to me it was magical. My first World Cup. The drama was unequalled. All the way through. I'll never forget Gazza,the penalties, Lineker's face when Platt scored against Belgium. And of course , Nessum Dorma. I wish I could relive it.
+81Chipper Same here, I was 10 and I was spellbound by the whole tournament. There's never been one like it since, not for me. Hearing Nessun Dorma still sends shivers down my spine to this day (Mission: Impossible Rogue Nation FTW).
I feel exactly like you. I was 11 when it was on. Also, it was unusually HOT during England at the time. Who can forget those hot summer evenings, the sky a beautiful purple-red as Nessum Dorma kicks off for another Italia 90 match. A magical time.
Pavarotti held that last 5th octave sequence for over 16 seconds, it's no wonder there are only a few professional singers in the world who are game to sing that aria! (Ok, Jackie Evancho does it well.) That add was heard (and loved by) by hundreds of millions of folk! It certainly boosted awareness of Classical music!
My Serbian uncle in law took me to Italy to support Yugoslavia and they could have won that tournament, I cried like a baby after losing the penalty shootout against Argentina. It's 2024 now and I'm still not over the injustice. I absolutely loved my time in Italy and went back to Bari a year later again with my uncle to watch Red Star beat Marseille in Bari, it was tears of joy that night. Nessan Dorma still gives me goosebumps.
I remember watching this as a 13 year old kid and crying when we lost in the semi finals, I was a football fan ever since! That was a beautiful summer.
The music still gives me goosebumps, whenever I hear it. I was so wanting England to meet Argentina in the final, so we could avenge the 'Hand of God' of the exceptionally talented, but flawed cheating genius that was Diego Armando Maradona!
I was the luckiest kid alive watching this tournament on a huge wide/rolled screen on a family holiday in cornwall (rare technology for 1990). They let the kids in the bar in the evening. I was 7. It was my first real memory of football and seeing all the emotions. We had surround sound in the bar and this huge screen, it was the next best thing to being there.
Not sure if anyone has noted this before on here...but the ballerina in the opening credits is a sister of a Hillsborough disaster survivor. Adrian Tempany mentions this in his book "And the sun shines now". In the space of 15 months football changed.....alot. I was 15 at the time and Italia 90 was amazing...but not for the football. As mentioned earlier it has been recorded as the least amount of goals scored etc etc...but the stadiums, kits, fans and even the weather made it outstanding. I think to a certain age of people this tournament will always be seen as THE best ever (perhaps I'm biased?) but it bought in the world of football.
I was 12 going on 13 when this World Cup happened and I have amazing memories of it. The music, the players & amazing characters, Italy as a great traditional football country hosting, and of course this music. When England lost in the semifinal that was one of the only times I’ve cried over football, but what a special time.
Italia 90 was a strange World Cup. The football wasn't the best on offer. Lots of 0-0s, the backpass rule slowed games down too much, England only won one game in 90 minutes in the whole tournament (against Egypt when Mo Salah wasnt even born then) and got to the semis, Ireland didn't win a game in 90 mins and got to the QF and lauded as the best Irish team ever, Maradona was anonymous, even the final was one of the worst finals ever. Yet there is so much magic and memories from this World Cup which comes down solely to Nessun Dorma, Italy as a host nation, and Roger Milla and the Cameroon team that captured our hearts.
10 years old and fell in love with the World Cup. The song takes me right back to sitting with my dad watching England in the living room and him letting me stay up late to watch Extra Time in the final. Absolutely glorious.
By far the most emotive World Cup tv intro I can recall. Was 17 at the time and can still remember the buzz and excitement of this tournament. It’s definitely not the same these days, in fact I rarely watch the team.
I was not prepared for this youtube watch! Ahh nostalga.... 8 years old i was, the biggest event in the sporting calendar. Pavarotti, Cameroon game, Gazza, absolute quality TV screen layout with the margin-esk layout (line down the side, line along the bottom) Amazing how you hear the first 3 seconds of a song and you are instantly taken back to "Italia 90, how old you were and where you watched it with baited breath"....... N.B Obviously not possible to watch unless your Ariel was out the window due to crap reception!
Interesting the power of music and its associations. I can guarantee that if it had not been Puccini's music, but rather some second rate jingle instead in these credits, the nostalgia would not be so great in many of the fans posting here!
+Nicholas Harris wasn't '90 one of the worst world cups on the field? Must have been a terrible bore to watch since the backpass rule was invented as a direct consequence.
@@tsangpogorge WC '90 was a case of Never Mind The Goals, Feel The Drama. And no stats can convey the level of drama, passion and shocks from the very opening game. Four heavyweights in the semi-finals and each could have won. People who claim it was a poor world cup are almost always judging in on the sole metric of goals scored.
Wonderful memories of that football summer and of a different better time all those years ago. Except of course for the horrible pain , it hurt , of being beaten by West Germany in the semi final. (Yes 'West' Germany....who even remembers that now....) That music is timeless and beautiful. Even the T.V credits were kind of classy.
It's funny, this is the first world cup I remember, being 8 years old and well into football. Three main memories, Roger Muller's celebrations for Cameroon, Gaza's tears, and above all this awesome piece of music tying it all together!
The feel good factor that year was brilliant. Cold beers outside the pub in the early evening awaiting kickoff.....England actually competing.....Happy days.
Of the World Cups I have cogniscent memory of, definitely the best World Cup ever. Of all the films I have seen? The 1970 World Cup - I was 2 at the time - has to be the best ever. Thanks for posting, Lord!
I just about remembered Mexico 86 and the lasting memory of the hand of god. Roll on 1990, skyving off school to watch games. Fantastic England,fantastic Waddle Mullet, Gazzzzzzza, Barnes (and his rap), Beardsly, team of heros. A Fantastic World Cup in Italy!
31 years later, I still get goosebumps. Most magical World Cup for a little lad of just 9 in 1990. This theme song played no small in that. Happy days.
I'm 40 years old and this was the first World Cup I remember watching and this as well as many things just bring back so many memories.....it's just scary how long ago it actually was
Buth1983 I’m 41 and you’re kind of correct. 1986 was better football by far and realised that even then. But 1990 was more emotional and enjoyable especially from an England point of view. In the end, I guess the best way of illustrating this is that I love maradonas second goal against England now, but at the time I was a kid and was still fuming at the injustice of the hand of god. Could only appreciate it in retrospect.
@@neilcole9698 I'm 50 and for sheer drama and emotion throughout nothing compares to Italy '90. When Lineker scored the equaliser against the Germans I really thought we were going to do it.
That brings back so many great memories from long ago.. It feels like a dream. I am 30 years old now. Well, here we go today - In less than 12 hours the greatest sporting comptition in the world will begin. History in the making.
Italia'90 was the first "World Cup" I watched from start to finish. I remember the Semi-final (England V West Germany) and feeling happy & sad at the same time because one of my 2 favourite players at that time (Gascoigne or Matthaus) was going to play in the final and the other one not playing in the final. Ever since that World Cup (31 years ago) I've always cheered for "England & Germany" in the World Cup.
that completly reminds me of being 7 again, first world cup I remember and I was totally hooked. Can remember Van Basten Maradona and Tardelli from that montage like it was yesterday I was watching WC Grandstand, amazing.
I don't think any other piece of music captures both the majesty and the pain of football as well as this.
Greatest memories of my entire life I'm 41 years old I tell my kids about this
The World Cup which got me into football at the tender age of 8, so I’m not far in age to you :)
I was 11 and the only time I cried when England got knocked out!
I was 9 & bribed into learning my times tables to be allowed to watch Italia 90. Happy memories, which I share with my boy too & I'm having Nessun Dorma on my final journey behind the curtains
My favourite World Cup, and the BBC's coverage was a massive part of that. Feels like a moment that will and indeed can never be repeated. Glorious.
@@krobbo81 do you make it as a pro ?
Today’s kids will never know the real passion of football. That era from the 80s-90s was just something else….
00s was really great as well
@@renex_g3915 no it was not deluded😂😂😂
@@roastedicons1234 you literally know nothing about football if you said that shit
qatar world cup was a bit ok
A haunting tune that brings back memories of
a time never to return....
Michael Everest dxcchn $'"0
Magical
I miss it so much. The world was so much better.
😢😥
That's fucking brilliant. Having Pele, Cruyff and then Maradona and finishing with Tardelli's famous celebration. Quality stuff.
First World Cup I can remember. As an 8yr old watched it all with my now departed Grandad. Cried my eyes out when England lost on Penalties to Germany. Still the greatest World Cup I have witnessed. Thanks for this upload.
Never underestimate the power of television. This relatively short title sequence exposed uninitiated football fans to high culture, and the effect really did linger for quite some time.
High Culture of course immediately branded _"Nessun Dorma"_ as lowbrow and ceased to have any regard for it. Which tells you what a pompous snob High Culture is!
@Balraj Takhar Don't get all hysterical now missus, calm yourself down. Idiot.
Gotta give credit to the BBC for turning Nessun Dorma into a sporting anthem.
Actually crying listing to this
Still brings a tear to my eye, what a tournament.
Take the world cup back to Italy :) so classic and beautiful, where beautiful football and passion should be played :)
Euro 2032 👍
Even the titles were epic! Goodness, watching this after all this time still manages to make my heart swell scarily inside my chest and the tears spring up in my eyes. I truly loved this world cup.
Best World Cup ever. I’ve not watched the world in the same way since. I remember ‘94. I was looking forward to it but in the end it was just a let down.
Ahmed Demnati 1990 is widely regarded as being one of the worst World Cups of all time. A lot of dreadful matches with very low scoring. 94 was a better tournament.
@@UsyksmashedFurytopieces wise up!
@@UsyksmashedFurytopiecesthe 90 world cup is second only to 82 in my book.
Tardelli's celebration will forever live in world cup memory
R.I.P Diego Maradona
As a Scotsman this tourney defined the phrase its the taking part that counts. Pavarroti Cocacola mini footballs Gazza Germany winning then being united after he Wall Great football strips and shellsuits lol. Great memory.
I was 5 when this was held, one of my earliest memories was sitting around the old box tv in the sitting room of my childhood home and this intro
Goodness, watching this still makes my heart swell scarily inside my chest and the tears spring up in my eyes. I truly loved this world cup.
I was 8 and it touched my soul, never forget it, there was something in the air back then only really equalled by the mad summer of 96.
I was 7 and it still feels like yesterday
For better or worse, this is was the birth of modern football. Unforgettable title sequence.
It was definitely for the better.
What a year that was....everything was great. Semi finals only but still the feel good factor, the music, the summer heat. I kissed goodbye to school aswell.....Will never forget it
Breathtaking
Every 4 years I revisit this ,,,,what memories
What an intro. Can't beat the classic Cruyff turn followed by a cheeky Maradona run
Never saw 1966 and just too young to remember 1970 which was probably the last great World Cup till 1990. Amazing memories. Doubt they'll be another like that with all the changes in football and refereeing etc.
It's funny. This is regarded as a dire tournament. But to me it was magical. My first World Cup. The drama was unequalled. All the way through. I'll never forget Gazza,the penalties, Lineker's face when Platt scored against Belgium. And of course , Nessum Dorma. I wish I could relive it.
+81Chipper
Same here, I was 10 and I was spellbound by the whole tournament. There's never been one like it since, not for me. Hearing Nessun Dorma still sends shivers down my spine to this day (Mission: Impossible Rogue Nation FTW).
I feel exactly like you. I was 11 when it was on. Also, it was unusually HOT during England at the time. Who can forget those hot summer evenings, the sky a beautiful purple-red as Nessum Dorma kicks off for another Italia 90 match. A magical time.
81Chipper Amen to you on this, it was my first World Cup and my favourite still!
Totally agree. I was 8, and Italia 90 is my first footballing memory. It's almost mythical.
Hear hear, same for me.
I was 19 and it was the very first world cup as a young man, I watched all.... Greatest ever, Forza Italia!!!!
Pavarotti held that last 5th octave sequence for over 16 seconds, it's no wonder there are only a few professional singers in the world who are game to sing that aria! (Ok, Jackie Evancho does it well.) That add was heard (and loved by) by hundreds of millions of folk! It certainly boosted awareness of Classical music!
Even the BBC Sport ident at the beginning gives me goosebumps.
My Serbian uncle in law took me to Italy to support Yugoslavia and they could have won that tournament, I cried like a baby after losing the penalty shootout against Argentina. It's 2024 now and I'm still not over the injustice. I absolutely loved my time in Italy and went back to Bari a year later again with my uncle to watch Red Star beat Marseille in Bari, it was tears of joy that night. Nessan Dorma still gives me goosebumps.
28 years later and still brings back so many memory's if you did not live it you will never understand
I remember watching this as a 13 year old kid and crying when we lost in the semi finals, I was a football fan ever since! That was a beautiful summer.
The music still gives me goosebumps, whenever I hear it. I was so wanting England to meet Argentina in the final, so we could avenge the 'Hand of God' of the exceptionally talented, but flawed cheating genius that was Diego Armando Maradona!
No theme song could capture a football tournament like Nessun Dorma did for Italia 90
I was the luckiest kid alive watching this tournament on a huge wide/rolled screen on a family holiday in cornwall (rare technology for 1990). They let the kids in the bar in the evening. I was 7. It was my first real memory of football and seeing all the emotions. We had surround sound in the bar and this huge screen, it was the next best thing to being there.
That summer was incredible..
Was twenty years old and watched the whole tournament with my mates whist studying for second year exams at University. Best summer ever. ❤️
Not sure if anyone has noted this before on here...but the ballerina in the opening credits is a sister of a Hillsborough disaster survivor. Adrian Tempany mentions this in his book "And the sun shines now". In the space of 15 months football changed.....alot. I was 15 at the time and Italia 90 was amazing...but not for the football. As mentioned earlier it has been recorded as the least amount of goals scored etc etc...but the stadiums, kits, fans and even the weather made it outstanding. I think to a certain age of people this tournament will always be seen as THE best ever (perhaps I'm biased?) but it bought in the world of football.
I am malaysian,i was studying in england in 1990 & fully supported the english team esp gazza... will remember that team forever
I was 12 going on 13 when this World Cup happened and I have amazing memories of it. The music, the players & amazing characters, Italy as a great traditional football country hosting, and of course this music.
When England lost in the semifinal that was one of the only times I’ve cried over football, but what a special time.
RIP Diego Armando Maradona 🙏🏻
Italia 90 was a strange World Cup.
The football wasn't the best on offer. Lots of 0-0s, the backpass rule slowed games down too much, England only won one game in 90 minutes in the whole tournament (against Egypt when Mo Salah wasnt even born then) and got to the semis, Ireland didn't win a game in 90 mins and got to the QF and lauded as the best Irish team ever, Maradona was anonymous, even the final was one of the worst finals ever.
Yet there is so much magic and memories from this World Cup which comes down solely to Nessun Dorma, Italy as a host nation, and Roger Milla and the Cameroon team that captured our hearts.
This felt like a pivotal point in English Football, its upwards ever since this moment.
10 years old and fell in love with the World Cup. The song takes me right back to sitting with my dad watching England in the living room and him letting me stay up late to watch Extra Time in the final.
Absolutely glorious.
By far the most emotive World Cup tv intro I can recall. Was 17 at the time and can still remember the buzz and excitement of this tournament.
It’s definitely not the same these days, in fact I rarely watch the team.
I still get goosebumps watching or listening to anything about this world cup for England it was magical best world cup by a mile
Looked this up after last night. I was 20 years old then. Seeing it again gives me goosebumps and I get misty eyed.
I was not prepared for this youtube watch! Ahh nostalga.... 8 years old i was, the biggest event in the sporting calendar. Pavarotti, Cameroon game, Gazza, absolute quality TV screen layout with the margin-esk layout (line down the side, line along the bottom)
Amazing how you hear the first 3 seconds of a song and you are instantly taken back to "Italia 90, how old you were and where you watched it with baited breath".......
N.B Obviously not possible to watch unless your Ariel was out the window due to crap reception!
Such an emotional song and the tournament that fixed football.
15 at the time. Still gives me goosebumps 34 years later. Watched every game. Used to run home from school for the early KO.
ITALIA 90 even the name sounds heroic!
Interesting the power of music and its associations. I can guarantee that if it had not been Puccini's music, but rather some second rate jingle instead in these credits, the nostalgia would not be so great in many of the fans posting here!
+Nicholas Harris wasn't '90 one of the worst world cups on the field? Must have been a terrible bore to watch since the backpass rule was invented as a direct consequence.
@@tsangpogorge WC '90 was a case of Never Mind The Goals, Feel The Drama. And no stats can convey the level of drama, passion and shocks from the very opening game. Four heavyweights in the semi-finals and each could have won. People who claim it was a poor world cup are almost always judging in on the sole metric of goals scored.
The lyrics I will win, I will win, I will win are so apt
Absolutely true. The song was perfect for the occasion. It had everything the football had. Heart, soul, passion. It was so good!
Wonderful memories of that football summer and of a different better time all those years ago.
Except of course for the horrible pain , it hurt , of being beaten by West Germany in the semi final. (Yes 'West' Germany....who even remembers that now....)
That music is timeless and beautiful.
Even the T.V credits were kind of classy.
Some of my earliest football memories, incredible tournament
Absolutely brilliant, captures the magic and passion of the game and why we love it so much
It's funny, this is the first world cup I remember, being 8 years old and well into football. Three main memories, Roger Muller's celebrations for Cameroon, Gaza's tears, and above all this awesome piece of music tying it all together!
The feel good factor that year was brilliant. Cold beers outside the pub in the early evening awaiting kickoff.....England actually competing.....Happy days.
Of the World Cups I have cogniscent memory of, definitely the best World Cup ever. Of all the films I have seen? The 1970 World Cup - I was 2 at the time - has to be the best ever. Thanks for posting, Lord!
turn the volume up in your car and play Nessun Dorma!
Fantastic, yet bitter sweet memories.
I was 10 years old and watched this world cup from start to finish and this song holds great memories
Dear god this brings back memories….I was 6 and loved football ever since
Such evocative memories
All rise for the Italia 90 Anthem!! 🫡🫡🫡
I just about remembered Mexico 86 and the lasting memory of the hand of god. Roll on 1990, skyving off school to watch games. Fantastic England,fantastic Waddle Mullet, Gazzzzzzza, Barnes (and his rap), Beardsly, team of heros. A Fantastic World Cup in Italy!
Makes me cry
brings a tear to my eyes! happy days
I was 17 watching in pubs.memories il never forget
Yeah I was 10 as well mate, remember Mexico 86 a bit but Italia '90 was the bollocks.
still sends shivers through me. beautiful tune
I was 7 then, but this is still one of my great world cup memories. Classic sequence to a classic world cup.
Glorious..without a doubt, the best ever World Cup
The greatest intro ever and memories of a time just before money and sattelite tv ruined the game.
1 minute in.. Marco Van Basten.. what a player!
31 years later, I still get goosebumps. Most magical World Cup for a little lad of just 9 in 1990. This theme song played no small in that. Happy days.
I'm 40 years old and this was the first World Cup I remember watching and this as well as many things just bring back so many memories.....it's just scary how long ago it actually was
Every boy between 33 and 37s favourite World Cup. Under 33 - too young to remember, over 37 - old enough for Mexico 86.
I was born in 1983 and my favourite world cup is USA 94. England weren't in it but there were some great games.
I'm 40, I do remember Mexico 86 but Italia 90 was my favourite by far. I was 12 at the time.
Buth1983 I’m 41 and you’re kind of correct. 1986 was better football by far and realised that even then. But 1990 was more emotional and enjoyable especially from an England point of view.
In the end, I guess the best way of illustrating this is that I love maradonas second goal against England now, but at the time I was a kid and was still fuming at the injustice of the hand of god. Could only appreciate it in retrospect.
Rubbish - I'm 55 and this was my favourite World Cup. The first WC you watch isn't necessarily your favourite one!
@@neilcole9698 I'm 50 and for sheer drama and emotion throughout nothing compares to Italy '90. When Lineker scored the equaliser against the Germans I really thought we were going to do it.
So many great memories come rushing back..
That brings back so many great memories from long ago.. It feels like a dream. I am 30 years old now. Well, here we go today - In less than 12 hours the greatest sporting comptition in the world will begin. History in the making.
The most iconic World Cup of modern times for me.
Best world cup intro ever.. incredible!
Best World Cup intro of all time, cried like a baby on the last playing at the final!
Wow brings back so much memories what a great World Cup
I was over in Italy for this tournament.
It was fantastic, long before the days of face painting, etc.
Shame we went out in the semis. :-(
Best ever sequence in a world cup ever for me. First world cup I remember
Still get goosebumps just hearing this
This BBC sport intro is nostalgia right up there with the sound of a PlayStation booting lol
bbc nailed it
Great music for a great sport. How can you go wrong?
Italia'90 was the first "World Cup" I watched from start to finish.
I remember the Semi-final (England V West Germany) and feeling happy & sad at the same time because one of my 2 favourite players
at that time (Gascoigne or Matthaus) was going to play in the final and the other one not playing in the final.
Ever since that World Cup (31 years ago) I've always cheered for "England & Germany" in the World Cup.
When the game was beautiful, and it meant everything. These were the best times to be a football fan.
best world cup ever,im now 33 and the whole thing still makes my hairs stand ,even more so with david platt
The world cup and soundtrack that made me fall in love with football
This was the intro that made the intros
May have not been the best World Cup on the pitch but my God it had the atmosphere and the stars
My first memories of the beautiful game were Italia 90' .......beautiful!
what a world cup and what a song i was 8 and still remember it
that completly reminds me of being 7 again, first world cup I remember and I was totally hooked.
Can remember Van Basten Maradona and Tardelli from that montage like it was yesterday I was watching WC Grandstand, amazing.
Never really noticed before but im sure some of those players celebrations we actually from the Euros. Ronnie Whelan was one of them.
love this what an awsome composer Pavaroti was.
Goosebumps and watery eyes
I was there, in Rome. My home