It Was What It Was
Cameroon at Italia ‘90: England Showdown and Legacy - Part Two
Published: 4 April 2025 at 05:00 Europe/London
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Episode notes
Welcome back to It Was What It Was, and part two of our look at Cameroon’s extraordinary journey at the 1990 World Cup.
With their stunning opening victory against defending champions Argentina and making history as the first African team to reach the quarter-finals, Cameroon’s story is one of resilience, brilliance, and pure football magic.
Facing England in a gripping quarter-final showdown against stars like Paul Gascoigne and Gary Lineker, the Indomitable Lions captivated the world in one of the World Cup’s greatest underdog stories.
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00:00 Introduction and Initial Setup
00:19 Chaos and Preparation for the World Cup
01:25 Cameroon's Opening Game Against Argentina
02:45 Diego Maradona's Challenges
04:56 Cameroon's Tactical Adjustments
07:35 FIFA's New Rules and Refereeing Challenges
11:35 Cameroon's Historic Victory Over Argentina
15:04 Advancing Through the Group Stage
20:41 Facing Colombia in the Knockout Stage
23:39 Cliffhanger: Preparing to Face England
24:32 England's Quarter-Final Prospects
25:25 Scouting Cameroon: Underestimations and Realities
27:32 Tunnel Tensions and Early Game Dynamics
29:37 Cameroon's Tactical Surprises
33:46 England's Tactical Adjustments
40:54 Cameroon's Legacy and African Football Challenges
50:07 Concluding Thoughts on Cameroon 1990
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