PLATT’S AMAZING
How a stunning volley and glorious Gazza sent Robson into a World Cup jig
FOR Paul Gascoigne, June 26, 1990 was a normal day – certainly as ‘normal’ as it got for the Geordie genius at a World Cup finals, anyway.
A game of tennis with an American couple who were staying at the same hotel, a sauna and swim helped pass the time and, crucially, kept him occupied enough that his mind wouldn’t start wandering towards England’s World Cup round-of-16 clash with Belgium in Bologna that night.
Sir Bobby Robson’s ’s men had arrived in the second phase of Italia
90 by finishing top of
Group F, a victory over
Egypt and draws with the e Republic of Ireland and HolHl land taking them through.
Guy Thys’ Belgium had finished runners-up in Group E, with wins against South Korea and Uruguay enough to secure their safe passage despite a defeat by group toppers Spain.
Neither England nor Belgium had set the tournament alight with their early performances.
But beneath the famous tower at the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara, they would produce a tense and thrilling battle that would be decided by a stunning late winner. Belgium started the brighter of the two sides, with Peter Shilton quickly called into action in the Three Lions’ goal.
Soon after making his first save, he was beaten by Jan Ceulemans, but the ball came back off the post and bar.
As the half wore on, England found their stride and ought to have taken the lead through John Barnes’ volley, but it was wrongly chalked off for offside.
Early in the second half, Enzo Scifo – Belgium’s main man – hit a 30-yard screamer but, once again, a post saved the Three Lions.
With 71 minutes on the clock, Robson ( left) made his first tactical change, sending on attackminded midfielder David Platt for the tough- tackling Steve McMahon, and three minutes later, Steve Bull replaced Barnes.
The end of normal time came and went, and in extra-time Bull had arguably the best chance, a lovely 20- yard shot requiring keeper Michel Preud’homme to tip the ball past a post.
As time wore by, both teams started to sit back and penalties began to look increasingly likely.
Despite his busy day, Gazza was still bursting with energy and, with two minutes to go, he picked up the ball in midfield and went on one last foray.
He thrust forward, leaving Lei Clijsters in his wake, before being brought down in the middle third of Belgium’s half.
Gazza dusted himself down before standing up a straight-ish free-kick that came down around eight yards out and right of centre of the Belgium goal.
Platt, having got away from marker Franky van der Elst, did not take his eye off the ball and as it came down over his left shoulder, he swivelled to fire a brilliant right-foot, shoulder high volley into Preud’homme’s goal. What a moment.
On the touchline, Robson danced a little jig and, when the final whistle sounded soon after, Chris Waddle and Terry Butcher led those England fans in the stadium a merry dance.
Recollecting the moment a couple of decades later, Platt said: “Everything was intuitive, the way I met and hit the ball, and then dropping to my knees.
“Instinct just took over. I’d never ever dropped to my knees after scoring before – I don’t know why I did. Don’t get me wrong, the goal wasn’t a fluke. I had an eye for getting on the end of that sort of bal l, and the technical ability to finish those chances off.
“I worked hard on overhead kicks and volleys in training at Aston Villa but, even so, if I had re- enacted that chance 10 times the next day, there’s a very good chance I wouldn’t have scored once.
“It was just one of life’s rare, perfect moments.”