Skip to main content

The Nearly Men

Author:
Video Rating:
TV-14
Video Duration:
1:31

English Hooliganism had placed a black cloud over the 1990 World Cup in Italy. Find out how the team’s inspiring journey, and heartbreaking loss to West Germany in the semi-finals, helped turn perceptions around.

FACT CHECK: We strive for accuracy and fairness. But if you see something that doesn't look right, click here to contact us! HISTORY reviews and updates its content regularly to ensure it is complete and accurate.

RELATED CONTENT

The 1978 World Cup was hosted by Argentina, which was under a brutal military dictatorship at the time. Discover what really motivated the Argentine players to win the tournament, and some of the controversies they dealt with on their journey to victory.

The Dictators

As the hosts of the 2014 World Cup, Brazil was one of the favorites to win the whole tournament. Discover how that dream turned into a nightmare for the South American nation, when it was handed its biggest defeat in World Cup history at the hands of Germany.

The Rout

Discover more about Mark Leech, one of the most famous soccer photographers in the world. He’s widely credited with having captured some of the sport’s most memorable moments. Watch as he displays the World Cup’s forgotten images.

The Photographer

The 1998 World Cup in France featured several high-profile players making memorable mistakes. Discover how David Beckham, Ronaldo and Zinedine Zidane “melted down” in France.

The Meltdown

Discover how colored caps and knickerbockers gave way to today’s more traditional numbered jerseys and shorts, in this brief history of soccer uniforms.

The Kit

Although arenas have been around since ancient Greece and Rome, soccer stadiums were were not yet a thing when the sport became popular in the 1880s. Learn about how the sport eventually evolved its multi-billion dollar arenas, in this brief history of soccer stadiums.

The Stadium