BLOOD SOAKED WARRIORS
Italy were guilty of dirty tricks, time-wasting, rabbit punches and diving — but it was the night England beat them at their own game. They became . . .
ABLOODIED and bandaged Paul Ince is the enduring image of the most unforgettable encounter between England and Italy in Rome.
Needing a point to qualify for the World Cup in 1998, England’s fighting spirit was characterised by their captain, who battled through the pain despite receiving five stitches to his cut head.
England’s 11 warriors survived brutal challenges, dirty tricks and late drama to earn the 0-0 draw that saw them pip the Italians to the top of their group.
It was a night which Paul Gascoigne said made him ‘very proud to be an Englishman’.
Speaking in the immediate aftermath of that evening in October 1997, the key protagonists tell the story of this epic encounter ahead of the latest England v Italy clash tomorrow evening.
CALM BEFORE THE STORM
ENGLAND arrive at the Stadio Olimpico one point ahead of Italy in Group 2. Glenn Hoddle’s side have not conceded on their travels but lost 1-0 to Italy at Wembley in February 1997.
They have not won in Rome since 1961 but, knowing a draw will be enough to qualify for their first World Cup since 1990, the gravity of the situation is not lost on the players.
‘I spoke to David Seaman before the start and he said he felt like being sick,’ says Ince after the game. ‘ That’s how I felt too, because I was so nervous.’
12min: INCE TAKES A BLOW TO THE HEAD . . .
INCE is struck above his right eye by Demetrio Albertini’s elbow in an aerial challenge. Clutching a towel to his head, the Liverpool midfielder runs up the tunnel.
‘The dressing rooms were locked and I was stood there with blood spurting out everywhere,’ he says.
‘I had one of our coaches, Glenn Roeder, with me and he was going nuts. The two medics couldn’t speak any English and our physio Gary Lewin had to race back to the dugout for the key.’
Ince has his hair shaved near the wound before two stitches are inserted. After a 10-minute delay, he returns. ‘I was so relieved it was still 0-0 when I got back,’ Ince adds. ‘I don’t know how I’d have felt if things had gone wrong while I was off. I had two years playing in Italy (for Inter Milan), and I didn’t want to lose in front of them.’
29min: . . . THEN ALMOST FIRES ENGLAND AHEAD
DAVID BECKHAM floats a beautiful ball to Manchester United team-mate Teddy Sheringham, lurking on the left-hand side of the Italy box. The striker cushions a header down to Ince, who runs on to the ball at speed and hits a rasping drive which stings the palms of keeper Angelo Peruzzi.
Undeterred by his injury, Ince is bossing the midfield alongside David Batty and Paul Gascoigne.
Two minutes later, Italy are dealt a blow when captain Paolo Maldini limps off after a tackle on Ince.
‘ It was really physical,’ says striker Ian Wright. ‘But we played them at their own game and did an Italian job on them.’
England wing back Graeme Le Saux adds: ‘I was rabbitpunched by Alessandro Costacurta and had to stop myself and count to 10.’
37min: ENGLAND FANS CLASH WITH THE POLICE
ITALIAN police baton-charge a section of 10,000 England supporters in ugly scenes which saw a policeman and a fan hospitalised. Patrick Collins, reporting for the
Mail on Sunday, wrote: ‘Supporters had been engaged in some of the most brutal violence that international football has seen for years; swapping kicks and punches with the police, exchanging missile barrages with the Italian fans.’
45min: BECKHAM BLASTS OVER
BECKHAM and Sheringham link up again as England spurn another chance. Following a clever one-two on the edge of the box, Beckham
sees his side-footed shot whistle over the bar.
Italy coach Cesare Maldini is impressed by England and the Manchester United duo.
‘They’ve become a great side,’ he says. ‘They have a great physical presence in midfield, technically accomplished players like David Beckham and Teddy Sheringham and their defence is made up of towers.’
After a rock- solid first half, England are in control. Goalkeeper Seaman says: ‘ Our defence was brilliant. To restrict a side like Italy to just a couple of long-range shots for 90 minutes was a tremendous effort.’
Sol Campbell adds: ‘ Playing alongside Tony Adams gives you extra confidence in your own game — he’s like a man mountain.’
69min: MORE STITCHES FOR ENGLAND’S CAPTAIN
INCE needs three more stitches and a bandage after his wound re-opens. ‘Perhaps I should have had it bandaged the first time, but I thought I’d look silly,’ admits Ince. ‘People are calling me a black Terry Butcher.’ Gascoigne says: ‘He looked like a pint of Guinness running around in the second half.’ Ince’s wife Claire, watching the game with other wives and girlfriends in Rome, says: ‘I knew he would be all right. He doesn’t often get hurt in the head. I’ve never been more proud of him.’
22min:i DEL PIERO’S DIVE D
ITALY resort to dirty tricks.
Alessandro Del Piero, on as a substitute for Gianfranco Zola, darts into the penalty area and feigns contact from Adams. Referee Mario van der Ende sees through the dive and books Del Piero.
Gascoigne says: ‘They were good at being dirty, cheating, wasting time. But we controlled the game. We let them chase us and it was great to see them so desperate.
‘We really had to concentrate. The Italians were shirt-pulling, looking to dive whenever you touched them and we had to watch that as well as what they did when they had the ball.
‘We beat them at their own game. It was great to see them on the receiving end for once.’
Batty adds: ‘The British player has been too honest for too long. So we tried what they tried on us and got our share of free-kicks, too. In the end it just really frustrated them.’
6min: ITALY REDUCED TO 10 MEN
ANGELO DI LIVIO is shown a second yellow for a late tackle on Campbell. England coach Hoddle praises Dutch referee Van der Ende. ‘I thought he was absolutely magnificent,’ says Hoddle. ‘I told the team before the game my main concern was that it would be a test of their temperament and they had to keep their self-control.
‘ It was a very professional performance. I wanted a strong referee and got one.’
90min: ENGLAND NEARLY BLOW IT IN FRENETIC FINALE
DESPITE a numerical advantage, England’s nerves are jangling.
‘I kept asking the referee how long there was to go,’ says Batty. ‘It was always longer than we thought and I think the ref must have been getting fed up with me — I swear at one point he went up from three minutes left to four.’
In the fourth minute of stoppage time, England are presented with a golden chance. Seaman punts upfield to Wright, but despite shrugging off Costacurta and rounding Peruzzi, the Arsenal striker can only hit the post.
Then, it’s England’s turn to panic. Italy quickly clear their lines and Del Piero crosses for Christian Vieri. Hearts are in mouths as the striker’s header sails just wide.
‘The moment he headed the ball I knew it was going wide,’ says Seaman. But Hoddle was not as relaxed. ‘It looked too close for comfort to me,’ he says. ‘I thought it was in.’
JUBILATION FOR ENGLAND
THE final whistle sounds. England have done it.
A relieved Wright is overcome by emotion, ripping off his shirt and yelling: ‘I’m going to the World Cup, I’m going to the World Cup!’
Ince says: ‘Ian Wright was crying with joy and he made me want to cry too. I’ve played in cup finals and in big European matches, but this was right up there with anything I’ve achieved — possibly the greatest moment of my career.’
Le Saux adds: ‘ We had to practically strap Wrighty down. He was jumping around everywhere, but Tony (Adams) was the exact opposite, as calm as ever.’
For Gareth Southgate, who missed the decisive penalty in the Euro 96 semi- final shootout against Germany, the result represented some kind of redemption.
‘It was the low point in my England career, but that makes me appreciate the good times even more,’ he says. ‘And they don’t come much better than this.’
And Gascoigne, eventually left out of Hoddle’s squad for France, made an ironic remark after what proved his last competitive England game. ‘I’ll kill Glenn Hoddle if he doesn’t pick me,’ he grins. ‘But who knows? There are so many good young players around who will be even better next year challenging for my place.
‘When I left Italy in 1990 after the World Cup defeat by Germany I was in tears, now I’m full of smiles and I’m going to enjoy myself. Right now I’m walking around with my chest out. I’ve known the bad times. These are the good times.’