CHRIS WADDLE was one of the stars of England’s 1990 World Cup team but it was his penalty miss in the semi-final shootout against West Germany which ended the nation’s dream.
The winger, now 59, reflects on that kick and England’s impact on the tournament in the second part of our serialisation of Italia 90 Revisited — the Players’ Stories by Harry Harris, available from Empire Publications.
Chris Waddle opens up on his heartbreaking penalty miss in the 1990 World Cup semi-finalCredit: Getty – Contributor
I’VE watched highlights of our semi-final and I’m nervous all over again when I watch it. I can only take so much and have to take a walk in the garden.
Each time I watch it I think “wow, how close we came to reaching the final”. How good would that have been?
So much goes through your mind, how we should have won that game.
There are so many ‘what ifs’ in life.
What if my shot that hit the post during the game had gone in and, I suppose, the biggest ‘what if’ is what if Gazza had taken the penalty instead of me?
That penalty. Well, there are moments in life, in football, and it’s those that stick in people’s heads. No one talks about the fact I hit the post in that game but they know about the penalty miss.
I was not one of the penalty takers. I had never taken a penalty in my life but Gazza was in no fit state to take one and Bobby Robson asked if anyone fancied it.
I looked around and no one put their hand up. I was feeling confident, I really enjoyed the game, I’d hit the post. My confidence was high.
I thought to myself ‘go on, then, yeah, I can do it’ so I put my hand up. Of course, looking back, I wish Gazza had taken it!
I was watching the keeper as I was the last up and he really didn’t dive, so I thought I would put it to my right, his left-hand corner.
Then, I thought, if I hit it with power he’ll never save it.
I couldn’t have hit it any better but it flew over and was a horrible way to lose the game.
Chris Waddle
I hit it sweet, too sweet perhaps. I couldn’t have hit it any better but it flew over and was a horrible way to lose the game.
It’s a lottery. I know people think it shouldn’t be, that top footballers should score from 12 yards.
But I’ve seen Maradona miss, you can miss them at all sorts of levels right to the very top, Lionel Messi, Ronaldo, they’ve all missed them.
As well as me, there has been Stuart Pearce, Gareth Southgate, David Batty, Paul Ince, the list is endless, Michel Platini, Baggio, even Harry Kane has missed them.
We played that semi-final the way England should and ended up a penalty away from beating West Germany. Was it really 30 years ago?
Waddle is consoled after missing the semi-final penaltyCredit: PA:Empics Sport
Waddle and Paul Gascoigne wave goodbye to fans after being knocked outCredit: Getty – Contributor
As the tournament progressed we got better but I always thought Germany was the big obstacle to winning it.
If we could beat them it would be ours, because finalists Argentina were not half the team that won it in Mexico in 1986.
It wasn’t until 2018 in Russia before England reached another World Cup semi-final but, let’s be honest, it wasn’t until they played Croatia that they came up against any team of note.
I didn’t think there was the same buzz about Gareth Southgate’s team in Russia as there was with ours at Italia 90.
How many of Gareth’s team would have got into our team? Not sure any, maybe Harry Kane depending on the system, but if they played 4-3-3 would you take Kane above Gary Lineker?
I dreaded playing for England in a 4-4-2. I didn’t play that way with Tottenham or Marseille, only when I joined up with England.
During the World Cup we started with the traditional 4-4-2 but I was very pleased Bobby Robson changed it.
Whether it was coach Don Howe, the England manager or the players who persuaded him, but we changed for the better. I made it perfectly clear I was sick of playing 4-4-2.
We were renowned around the world for how we played, kick and rush, up and down the field, win the ball, lose the ball, win it back, relying on set-pieces.
But we could play differently. There were many technically gifted players and it was a big plus for me that by changing the system we changed the mentality.
It had a profound effect on English football, certainly in the eyes of the rest of the world.
Waddle believed England had the quality to go all the way with the likes of GascoigneCredit: Getty Images – Getty
We proved we had technically adept players as good, possibly better, than anyone in the world.
For the fans, players and coaches, they could see how England could play.
It was a step in the right direction and showed how football could change for the better in our country.
Chris Waddle reflects on England’s impact on the tournamentCredit: Getty – Contributor
Chris Waddle relives rooming with Gazza at Italia ’90
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
