| Italy 18:22 - May 29 with 1115 views | Joey_Joe_Joe_Junior |
I watched a CBS documentary yesterday about one of their football reporters from Brooklyn, he had Italian heritage, his dad arrived as an immigrant 50 years or so ago. The network sent him to Italy for a month touring the country, going to Serie A and national games (including the loss to N Macedonia).
I’ve been a few times myself, including a trip to Sicily but not seen anywhere near enough of the place. What an absolutely stunning country with so much to offer. Culture, beaches, food, sports, climate, scenery and just the lifestyle. Unfortunately, historically corruption seems to be at the heart of it all. I can only assume that’s why there is literally no new stadiums in the country which stops them hosting a major tournament? They haven’t had a sniff since 1990 if memory serves?
I was in Rome for England v Ukraine last summer and what a city to go for a football match (especially as it was only ex pats and not 50k England fans in town). But the stadium and facilities are so so dated. I guess they’re not holding a tournament anytime soon. Shame as what a summer that could be. Anyone on here make it to 1990? I know they put us on Sardinia for the entire group stage. [Post edited 29 May 2022 18:25]
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| Italy on 11:14 - May 30 with 860 views | Blueastheycome |
Italy alongside a Greek Island are two of my favourite destinations for a whole host of reasons. |  | | |
| Italy on 11:29 - May 30 with 841 views | bluelagos |
I missed the England v Ireland match +(had an exam) and then followed England all the way to Turin.
Stadiums exceptional. Plenty of books on how it panned out for ordinary fans. Max of 3-4k even at the semi final.
YouTube doc by Martin Allen tells it how it was. I make a brief appearance in the vid. |  |
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| Italy on 14:03 - May 30 with 766 views | Joey_Joe_Joe_Junior |
| Italy on 11:29 - May 30 by bluelagos |
I missed the England v Ireland match +(had an exam) and then followed England all the way to Turin.
Stadiums exceptional. Plenty of books on how it panned out for ordinary fans. Max of 3-4k even at the semi final.
YouTube doc by Martin Allen tells it how it was. I make a brief appearance in the vid. |
On the road with Bobby’s army? That’s a brilliant watch. | | | |
| Italy on 14:11 - May 30 with 751 views | bluelagos |
| Italy on 14:03 - May 30 by Joey_Joe_Joe_Junior |
On the road with Bobby’s army? That’s a brilliant watch. |
Kevin Allen's World Cup video diary Italia 90 | |
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| Italy on 14:11 - May 30 with 752 views | clive_baker |
There's a lot about Italy that I don't love especially in terms of work culture which is way behind the UK in many respects, but if dealing with Italy socially or for pleasure it's beautiful. Diverse, great weather and food, amaziong countryside and historic cities. I think Tuscany takes some real beating as a destination, especially if you like beer, wine, pasta and pizza which is pretty close to my idea of heaven. |  |
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| Italy on 14:13 - May 30 with 748 views | MattinLondon |
| Italy on 11:29 - May 30 by bluelagos |
I missed the England v Ireland match +(had an exam) and then followed England all the way to Turin.
Stadiums exceptional. Plenty of books on how it panned out for ordinary fans. Max of 3-4k even at the semi final.
YouTube doc by Martin Allen tells it how it was. I make a brief appearance in the vid. |
The stadiums were probably exceptional by the standards of the day. They spent a lot of money on refurbishing the stadia (or is it stadiums?) and has Italian League was the richest at the time the facilities were probably a lot better than what was on offer in England.
Now, Italy has been overtaken by a host of European countries - they need a massive infrastructure facelift which will cost billions. |  | | |
| Italy on 14:34 - May 30 with 732 views | Joey_Joe_Joe_Junior |
| Italy on 14:13 - May 30 by MattinLondon |
The stadiums were probably exceptional by the standards of the day. They spent a lot of money on refurbishing the stadia (or is it stadiums?) and has Italian League was the richest at the time the facilities were probably a lot better than what was on offer in England.
Now, Italy has been overtaken by a host of European countries - they need a massive infrastructure facelift which will cost billions. |
Yeah and they clearly can’t afford it. Stadia Olimpico in Rome was very tired from a facilities standpoint. I guess that’s why I can’t remember any major European finals being played in Italy recently either. [Post edited 30 May 2022 14:37]
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| Italy on 14:41 - May 30 with 718 views | Joey_Joe_Joe_Junior |
| Italy on 14:11 - May 30 by bluelagos |
Kevin Allen's World Cup video diary Italia 90 |
That’s the one. I think that’s Lily Allen’s uncle lol.
There was an old Sardinian camp site owner that kept trying to help the young English lads out then they all done a running without paying. That’s gratitude for you. | | | |
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| Italy on 14:47 - May 30 with 712 views | Joey_Joe_Joe_Junior |
| Italy on 14:11 - May 30 by clive_baker |
There's a lot about Italy that I don't love especially in terms of work culture which is way behind the UK in many respects, but if dealing with Italy socially or for pleasure it's beautiful. Diverse, great weather and food, amaziong countryside and historic cities. I think Tuscany takes some real beating as a destination, especially if you like beer, wine, pasta and pizza which is pretty close to my idea of heaven. |
Doesn’t strike me as particularly well run in many respects but I imagine their is a good lifestyle balance. | | | |
| Italy on 14:47 - May 30 with 711 views | bluelagos |
| Italy on 14:41 - May 30 by Joey_Joe_Joe_Junior |
That’s the one. I think that’s Lily Allen’s uncle lol.
There was an old Sardinian camp site owner that kept trying to help the young English lads out then they all done a running without paying. That’s gratitude for you. |
His name was Gino. He had lived in Wimbledon and had aa real soft spot for England.
When a load of dickheads did a runner without paying he was very upset. We had a whipround for him but I know he was upset at how some people had repaid his kindness. He also worked to calm down the caribinierri a couple of times.
Lovely bloke. | |
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| Italy on 14:48 - May 30 with 709 views | Radlett_blue |
| Italy on 14:13 - May 30 by MattinLondon |
The stadiums were probably exceptional by the standards of the day. They spent a lot of money on refurbishing the stadia (or is it stadiums?) and has Italian League was the richest at the time the facilities were probably a lot better than what was on offer in England.
Now, Italy has been overtaken by a host of European countries - they need a massive infrastructure facelift which will cost billions. |
Most Italian football grounds are owned by the local municipality rather than the clubs. 2 completely new grounds were built for Italia 90 in Turin & Bari. The other 10 venues underwent major refurbs, which forced the club tenants to relocate to temporary grounds. total costs were £550m (over £1.3 billion now) & I guess this one of the many reasons Italy's public finances are awful. |  |
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| Italy on 14:53 - May 30 with 696 views | bluelagos |
| Italy on 14:48 - May 30 by Radlett_blue |
Most Italian football grounds are owned by the local municipality rather than the clubs. 2 completely new grounds were built for Italia 90 in Turin & Bari. The other 10 venues underwent major refurbs, which forced the club tenants to relocate to temporary grounds. total costs were £550m (over £1.3 billion now) & I guess this one of the many reasons Italy's public finances are awful. |
Napoli had defo just had a facelift. Bologna and Cagliari were relatively small but certainly upto date for the time.
For me the real unfortunate story is the Turin, Stadio d'alpe was it called? Juve left it as some point which seems sad. Someone said it was the fans that didnt like it. | |
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| Italy on 14:56 - May 30 with 689 views | Joey_Joe_Joe_Junior |
| Italy on 14:47 - May 30 by bluelagos |
His name was Gino. He had lived in Wimbledon and had aa real soft spot for England.
When a load of dickheads did a runner without paying he was very upset. We had a whipround for him but I know he was upset at how some people had repaid his kindness. He also worked to calm down the caribinierri a couple of times.
Lovely bloke. |
I guess it was before the days of low cost air fare so most people gathered what cash they could scramble together and drove across. Would have been a hell of a tournament for the era, at the right age. Although I’m sure but the English reputation in Europe already went before them.
I think the worst trouble was in Rimini wasn’t it before the Belgium game. Interestingly on that doc there’s a few scouse accents following England around.
My old man always said Bobby should have took Shilton off before the shootout as he just looked so small in that goal and we had Beasant on the bench. Who’d have though my 30 odd years later we are getting ready for a winter tournament in Qatar. [Post edited 30 May 2022 15:00]
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| Italy on 15:08 - May 30 with 663 views | Radlett_blue |
| Italy on 14:56 - May 30 by Joey_Joe_Joe_Junior |
I guess it was before the days of low cost air fare so most people gathered what cash they could scramble together and drove across. Would have been a hell of a tournament for the era, at the right age. Although I’m sure but the English reputation in Europe already went before them.
I think the worst trouble was in Rimini wasn’t it before the Belgium game. Interestingly on that doc there’s a few scouse accents following England around.
My old man always said Bobby should have took Shilton off before the shootout as he just looked so small in that goal and we had Beasant on the bench. Who’d have though my 30 odd years later we are getting ready for a winter tournament in Qatar. [Post edited 30 May 2022 15:00]
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Yes, it's a modern misconception that Robson should have subbed renowned penalty stopper Beasant on for Shilton just before ET ended. The only problem is that Beasant wasn't on the bench, but Chris Woods was. | |
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| Italy on 15:17 - May 30 with 651 views | Radlett_blue |
| Italy on 14:53 - May 30 by bluelagos |
Napoli had defo just had a facelift. Bologna and Cagliari were relatively small but certainly upto date for the time.
For me the real unfortunate story is the Turin, Stadio d'alpe was it called? Juve left it as some point which seems sad. Someone said it was the fans that didnt like it. |
Stadio delle Alpi was built by Turin council to house Juventus & Torino plus also act as an athletics stadium (there's one clue why it was a poor football stadium). Because it didn't contain an athletics warm up track, it never staged a major athletics event!
The old Stadio Communale was crumbling at the time so I guess it made sense. However, as well as providing poor viewing, the new stadium as too far from the city. Juventus's home crowds fell to as low as 25,000 by 2006. Juventus built their own new stadium on the site of the Stadio delle Alpi over 10 years ago. Torino play in the Stadio Olimpico. | |
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| Italy on 15:18 - May 30 with 649 views | Darth_Koont |
Great country – although happy not to live there again, I always enjoy a visit.
Re: corruption, the US and the UK are very comparable with Italy overall. Just that in Italy it’s brazen and seen more as an “up and at ‘em/can-do” quality – rather than the US/UK’s legal corruption and “that’s the way the world” works vibe.
After all, London is the global capital for dirty money. And, more widely, money in the UK tends to funnel its way into the hands and pockets of the few with shocking ease – and a phone call or two. |  |
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| Italy on 15:19 - May 30 with 648 views | bluelagos |
| Italy on 14:56 - May 30 by Joey_Joe_Joe_Junior |
I guess it was before the days of low cost air fare so most people gathered what cash they could scramble together and drove across. Would have been a hell of a tournament for the era, at the right age. Although I’m sure but the English reputation in Europe already went before them.
I think the worst trouble was in Rimini wasn’t it before the Belgium game. Interestingly on that doc there’s a few scouse accents following England around.
My old man always said Bobby should have took Shilton off before the shootout as he just looked so small in that goal and we had Beasant on the bench. Who’d have though my 30 odd years later we are getting ready for a winter tournament in Qatar. [Post edited 30 May 2022 15:00]
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So the trouble in Rimini was indeed around the time of the Belgium match. I was staying in Venice as by then I'd had my fill of England fans, so missed what happened.
Rimini was where the police chartered a plane with like 250 seats and then made exactly 250 arrests - deported everyone with no legal process. Thatcher's minature for sport, Colin Moynahan, then thanked the authorities for their actions.
The thing that showed the Italians were maybe not quite as honest as they claimed was that they also deported an American tourist and I think I heard a South African one.
Fans were from all over - much like today. I do remember one scouse (Evertonian) and a Man City faqn who held up the ferry bar (with a knife) and stole the contents (Overnight ferry to Sardinia from Genoa)
The police put all England fans in a room on arrival and asked who had held up the bar. No one would grass so they said they'd hold us til kick off (Holland match)
They were quickly identified and we got to the match. Saw them both again back on the mainland so they got back easy enough.
Nearly all fans were on Inter-rails or private cars. | |
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