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10 parts of Italia 90 that managed to live on in pop culture

Oh, how we loathed Toto Schillaci.

WORLD CUPS, AND particularly Italia 90, is a time that football is taken away from the die-hards and presented gift-wrapped to the wider public.

As a result, the language of the fans gets plucked into the mainstream too. In-jokes become laughing stocks, widely held opinions become cliche and the celebrations of two wins (including a shoot-out) can be stretched out over not just an entire summer, but a lifetime.

As Ireland rejoiced, it also turned on one man bringing down the mood of a nation, Eamon Dunphy

As the years passed, many have come to agree with Dunphy, but more can understand why ‘a little bollocks’ would be locked up and silenced in Dermot Morgan’s satirical song.

TByrno / YouTube

It was the whole backdrop for Roddy Doyle’s magnifent tale of Bromance in Barrytown

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And The Van became a film six years later, when we needed a little reminder of the good times.

jazzforall / YouTube

 England’s lost penalty shoot-out bottle

England losing on penalties is much more than just a lack of football clutch, it’s a social affliction. It’s the one thing everybody with or without a passing interest in football in Britain knows. That’s why the world gufffawed and bravoed at the wit of Gary Lineker when he said: ”Football is a simple game – you play for 120 minutes and then the Germans win on penalties.”

Soccer - World Cup Semi Final - England v West Germany EMPICS Sport EMPICS Sport

Every English tournament failure can be traced back to the hope, pomp and circumstance that was crushed in 1990.

The painful memories have faded, but only slightly over time

toto

Without the World Cup, Nessun Dorma would be just another song in Puccini’s opera Turandot

Mexico Opera AP / Press Association Images AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

Nobody can hear this song without picturing people clothed in many shades of green and white celebrating wildly in the street

BillMJennWVEVO / YouTube

However, nothing keeps the spirit of Italia 90 alive quite like advertising

From sheer wistfulness in 2012

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To 1995′s English snack food of choice poking fun at their emotional exit

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Too soon?

walkers ad

 To an Irish beer, showing that we can turn any feeling in to grudging respect in the confines of a pub

Conor Ryan / YouTube

– First published 07.00

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