If you ask most English fans what the memorable moments of the Italia ’90 World Cup tournament were, then you’d probably be told Gazza’s tears, Stuart Pearce and Chris Waddle missing from the spot, Platt’s late winner and Gary Lineker crapping on the pitch against the Irish.
But actually, it was a certain 38-year-old super sub Cameroonian Roger Milla that lit up the Mundial that year, with his samba dance goals celebration.
The image of the veteran shaking his hips in the direction of the corner flag remains one of the most vivid in the history of the World Cup, as Africa made its mark on the international game at Italia 1990.
Ten-man Cameroon’s shock opening World Cup 1-0 win against Argentina had Milla entered as a sub in the 81st minute – no goals, but a famous win.
Milla entered the field of play earlier in their next match against Romania, coming on for Emmanuel Maboang in the 59th minute, with the game goalless.
Then 18 minutes later, this happened: Milla followed a long ball, bounced off the Romanian defender and slotted home with his left foot.
It was time to dance. Ten minutes later, the veteran grabbed another goal for the 2-0 win. Again, dance time.
The goals made Milla the oldest ever scorer at a World Cup – but he was not finished there.
Cameroon had qualified for the next round after just two matches and, understandably, didn’t stick out their necks against USSR in their inconsequential final group clash.
Milla was again a sub, but called into action in the first half as Cameroon trailed 2-0. The game finished 4-0 and all Milla was a yellow card.
Next was the Round of 16 clash with Colombia that moved Milla into legendary status. It was 0-0 at full time, the game went into extras. Milla, as ever, was off the bench – 54 minutes this time.
One minute into the second half of extra time and he picked up the ball on the half-turn from Oman Biyik. At this point, there was still a bit to do.
He accelerated towards the area, skipped over a tackle and speared the ball past Rene Higuita, in goal for the South Americans, into the roof with his left foot.
Milla then took the ball from the eccentric Higuita, who was trying to dribble him near the halfway line before dancing his way to goal.
It was dance time again at the corner flag.
Redín pulled one back for Colombia after 115 minutes but it wasn’t enough, Cameroon won 2–1, thus becoming the first African team to win a World Cup knockout match as well as the first African nation to reach the quarter-finals of the World Cup.
