49 Fun Facts About 90s Football

Which singer missed a staged penalty at the USA 94 opening ceremony, yet the goal still split on cue?

Diana Ross sent the ball wide from a few yards at Soldier Field in Chicago. The rigged goal broke apart as planned, opening a tournament that ended with another famous miss.

What did seagulls following the trawler expect, in Eric Cantona's cryptic 1995 press-conference riddle?

Sardines were the punchline of a line that baffled the press room: seagulls follow the trawler because they think sardines will be thrown into the sea. He said it after his court hearing for kicking a fan, then walked out.

Which Puccini aria, in Luciano Pavarotti's recording, became the BBC's theme for Italia 90 and a UK number two?

Nessun dorma: Pavarotti then sang it at the first Three Tenors concert, held on the eve of the final.

Footix, the France 98 mascot, was which animal, chosen because it is one of France's national symbols?

A cockerel was the choice, and after France won, 'footix' became French slang for a novice fan who backs a team only when it wins.

Lord Justice Taylor's 1990 report into the Hillsborough disaster called for top-division English grounds to become what?

All-seater grounds were the report's headline demand, and league rules gave the top two divisions until August 1994 to comply. The terraces went, and so did the perimeter fences that had penned fans in.

Which Brazilian forward marked a USA 94 quarter-final goal by rocking an imaginary baby, days after his son's birth?

Bebeto's cradle-rocking against the Netherlands celebrated the birth of his son Mattheus, and two teammates ran over to rock along.

Which band recorded 'Three Lions' with comedians David Baddiel and Frank Skinner for England's Euro 96 campaign?

Lightning Seeds' Ian Broudie wrote the tune, and after Germany knocked England out and won Euro 96, the German team sang it at their homecoming.

Paul Gascoigne's 'dentist's chair' celebration at Euro 96 followed his flick-and-volley goal against which team?

Scotland were beaten 2-0: Gascoigne flicked the ball over Colin Hendry and volleyed in, then lay back as teammates recreated a pre-tournament drinking game.

Which Mexico goalkeeper of the 1990s designed his own garish kits and sometimes played as a striker?

Jorge Campos first played as a striker at Pumas because Adolfo Ríos held the goalkeeper's shirt, and he scored 14 goals that season.

Which African nation lost most of its national squad when a military plane crashed off Gabon in April 1993?

Zambia's team was flying to a World Cup qualifier in Senegal when the Air Force Buffalo went into the Atlantic after leaving Libreville, killing all 30 aboard. A rebuilt side still reached the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations final.

Whose saved penalty in the Euro 96 semi-final shootout against Germany sent hosts England out at Wembley?

Gareth Southgate's kick was saved and Andreas Möller converted the next one to put Germany through. He later sent himself up in a Pizza Hut advert alongside Stuart Pearce and Chris Waddle, who had missed at Italia 90.

Which West Germany player scored the 85th-minute penalty that decided the 1990 World Cup final against Argentina?

Andreas Brehme stepped up because regular taker Lothar Matthäus did not feel right, and he struck it low with his right foot for a 1-0 win.

Which France defender scored the first golden goal in World Cup history, against Paraguay in the 1998 round of 16?

Laurent Blanc's extra-time winner in Lens ended a goalless tie, yet he missed the final after being sent off for slapping Slaven Bilić in the semi-final.

Which France player scored both goals in the 1998 World Cup semi-final against Croatia, his only two in 142 caps?

Lilian Thuram turned a 1-0 deficit into a 2-1 win and never scored for France again. His 142 caps stood as the national record until Hugo Lloris passed it in 2022.

Which Croatia player won the 1998 World Cup Golden Boot with six goals?

Davor Šuker's sixth goal was the winner against the Netherlands in the third-place match, sealing both the Golden Boot and Croatia's bronze.

Which nation's players handed white roses to their American opponents before a 2-1 win in Lyon at France 98?

Iran's first World Cup victory came with goals from Hamid Estili and Mehdi Mahdavikia, and the roses were a peace gesture between two estranged governments.

Which African nation beat Argentina 3-2 in the final to win men's football gold at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics?

Nigeria came from behind in the final, and in the semi-final Kanu's two late goals turned a 3-2 deficit against Brazil into a 4-3 golden-goal win.

Which nation replaced Kenya as hosts of the 1996 Nations Cup and went on to win it?

South Africa beat Tunisia 2-0 in the Johannesburg final, watched by President Nelson Mandela, to win the country's first continental title.

Which nation's stoppage-time equaliser in Doha in October 1993 cost Japan their first World Cup place?

Iraq's Jaffar Omran scored from a corner in stoppage time to make it 2-2, and South Korea went to USA 94 on goal difference instead. Japan finally reached a World Cup at France 98.

Which coach took a different nation to each of five consecutive World Cups from 1986 to 2002?

Bora Milutinović took charge of Costa Rica just before Italia 90 and still steered them into the second round.

Holders Germany were knocked out of USA 94 in the quarter-finals by which nation?

Bulgaria won 2-1 at Giants Stadium in a tournament where they had only just recorded their first ever World Cup finals victory. They went on to lose the semi-final to Italy.

Saeed Al-Owairan's solo goal against Belgium at USA 94 sent which nation into the knockout rounds for the first time?

Saudi Arabia's win at RFK Stadium in Washington put them into the last 16, and Al-Owairan's run from inside his own half was later voted sixth in FIFA's Goal of the Century poll.

Which Brazilian striker won the Golden Ball at USA 94 and was named FIFA World Player of the Year that year?

Romário had been left out by coach Carlos Alberto Parreira, then was recalled for the last qualifier against Uruguay and scored both goals in a 2-0 win.

Which Argentina defender became the first player sent off in a World Cup final, for a studs-up tackle in Rome in 1990?

Pedro Monzón had been on the pitch barely 20 minutes when he caught Jürgen Klinsmann, and Gustavo Dezotti followed him off late on. Argentina finished with nine men and lost 1-0.

Which domed venue staged the first World Cup matches played indoors, on grass grown specially for USA 94?

The Pontiac Silverdome normally used artificial turf, so real grass was laid over it for its four World Cup games.

Which fabric did Adidas imitate on the star-spangled away shirt the USA wore at the 1994 World Cup?

Denim-look polyester with scattered white stars gave the host nation a shirt that became a cult classic.

Which US player tore off her shirt after scoring the winning penalty in the 1999 Women's World Cup final?

Brandi Chastain's kick sealed a 5-4 shootout win over China before 90,185 fans at the Rose Bowl, and her celebration made the cover of Sports Illustrated.

Which Nordic nation beat Germany in the 1995 Women's World Cup final?

Norway's Hege Riise and Marianne Pettersen struck in Solna to win 2-0, four years after losing the first final to the USA. Striker Ann Kristin Aarønes was the tournament's top scorer with six goals.

Which Danish goalkeeper's shootout save against the Netherlands sent late entrants Denmark into the Euro 92 final?

Peter Schmeichel's save gave Denmark a 5-4 shootout win, and they then beat Germany 2-0 in Gothenburg, having been called up only after Yugoslavia's expulsion.

Which club won the final old First Division title in 1992, immediately before the Premier League replaced it?

Leeds United sold Eric Cantona to Manchester United that November, and he was the catalyst as United won the first Premier League title.

Which Newcastle manager's live 'love it if we beat them' rant at Alex Ferguson came in the 1996 title run-in?

Kevin Keegan exploded on Sky Sports after a late-April win, having watched a 12-point lead evaporate, and Manchester United took the title.

Which club's players turned up to the 1996 FA Cup final in cream Armani suits?

Liverpool's 'Spice Boys', managed by Roy Evans, lost the final 1-0 to Manchester United when Eric Cantona struck late on.

Which Chelsea substitute scored seconds after coming on to win the 1998 Cup Winners' Cup final against Stuttgart?

Gianfranco Zola struck in Stockholm within seconds of replacing Flo, giving player-manager Gianluca Vialli a European trophy in his first months in charge. It was Chelsea's first European prize since 1971.

Whose extra-time solo run past Arsenal's back four won the 1999 FA Cup semi-final replay, celebrated shirtless?

Ryan Giggs seized on a loose Patrick Vieira pass, beat Dixon, Keown and Adams and fired under David Seaman's bar at Villa Park. The win kept alive the treble United completed that May.

Which club's 1997 title completed nine championships in a row, equalling Celtic's record?

Rangers won every title from 1988-89 to 1996-97, with Graeme Souness starting the run and Walter Smith finishing it. Celtic denied them a tenth in 1998 after signing Henrik Larsson.

Jean-Marc Bosman was an out-of-contract player at which Belgian club when his case went to the European Court?

RFC Liège blocked Bosman's 1990 move to Dunkerque by demanding a fee, and on 15 December 1995 the court ruled that out-of-contract players could leave for free. It also ended UEFA's limits on EU players.

Which Canary Islands club under Jorge Valdano denied Real Madrid the title on the final day of 1992 and 1993?

Tenerife's results against Valdano's former club handed both titles to Johan Cruyff's Barcelona, and Real Madrid hired Valdano as coach in 1994 anyway. He won them the 1995 title.

Miroslav Đukić's last-minute penalty miss on the final day of 1993-94 cost which club a first La Liga title?

Deportivo needed to beat Valencia at the Riazor but drew 0-0, and the title went to Barcelona instead. Depor finally won La Liga in 2000.

Which club won its only Serie A title in 1991, with Gianluca Vialli as the league's top scorer?

Sampdoria finished five points clear of Milan under Vujadin Boškov, then reached the 1992 European Cup final at Wembley. Vialli and Roberto Mancini were the side's 'goal twins'.

Roberto Baggio's world-record 1990 transfer to Juventus sparked riots in which city?

Florence's fans hated losing their star to rivals Juventus, and Baggio later refused to take a penalty against Fiorentina and picked up a Viola scarf thrown from the stands. He won the Scudetto with Juventus in 1995.

Which Marseille striker won the 1991 Ballon d'Or, the first Frenchman to do so since Michel Platini?

Jean-Pierre Papin joined Milan in 1992, and a year later he came off Milan's bench in the Champions League final that his old club Marseille won.

Which Borussia Dortmund sweeper won the 1996 Ballon d'Or, the first defender to take it since Franz Beckenbauer?

Matthias Sammer was player of the tournament as Germany won Euro 96, but a knee problem soon cut his playing career short.

Which Dutch striker collected a third Ballon d'Or in 1992 but never played again after a 1993 ankle injury?

Marco van Basten played his last match at 28, in the 1993 Champions League final, and formally retired in August 1995 after two years of surgery and rehab. He later coached the Netherlands at the 2006 World Cup.

Which Marseille player headed the only goal of the 1993 Champions League final against Milan?

Basile Boli's header in Munich made Marseille the first French club to win the European Cup, a title they kept even when a bribery scandal stripped their league crown. Marcel Desailly won it again with Milan a year later.

Which 18-year-old Ajax substitute scored the late winner against Milan in the 1995 Champions League final in Vienna?

Patrick Kluivert's 85th-minute goal made him the youngest scorer in a Champions League final and gave Ajax a first European Cup in 22 years. Louis van Gaal's side then beat Grêmio for the Intercontinental Cup.

Which Dortmund substitute lobbed Juventus's keeper moments after coming on in the 1997 Champions League final?

Lars Ricken, a 20-year-old local boy, chipped Angelo Peruzzi with his first touch to seal a 3-1 win in Munich after Karl-Heinz Riedle's brace. Alessandro Del Piero's backheel had pulled one back for Juventus.

Who scored the only goal as Real Madrid beat Juventus in the 1998 Champions League final in Amsterdam?

Predrag Mijatović's 66th-minute finish in Amsterdam ended a 32-year wait for Real Madrid's seventh European Cup. Coach Jupp Heynckes was sacked days later regardless.

Which club beat Mallorca at Villa Park in 1999 to win the last ever Cup Winners' Cup?

Lazio's 2-1 win gave them a first European trophy and closed a competition UEFA folded into the UEFA Cup the next season. Sven-Göran Eriksson's side added the Scudetto in 2000.

Which club paid a world-record fee to take Ronaldo from Barcelona in 1997, after just one season in Spain?

Inter Milan paid the four-billion-peseta buy-out clause that released Ronaldo from his Barcelona contract.