Des Lynam presents, and, to paraphrase his opening link, it was a tournament that was indeed far higher in drama than it was in quality football. In fact, with the benefit of hindsight, the majority of World Cups since then have had a better standard of football, but I don't think any has quite had that magical passionate atmosphere that only Italy could produce or as many matches that were still in the balance right up to the very last minute. It wasn't great if judged purely by the football itself; but, if you lived through it, you'll know that Italia '90 was *so* much more than that.