Italia '90 ranks as arguably the most iconic World Cup of them all and the mascot from that tournament has been recreated in LEGO form.
Whether it’s Luciano Pavarotti belting out Nessun Dorma, Roger Milla celebrating by the corner flag or Paul Gascoigne bursting into tears, Italia 90 lives long in the memory of anyone old enough to have lived through it. As spotted by Brick Fanatics Magazine, LEGO builder Chris Smith has created the competition’s mascot Ciao out of blocks.
Italia '90 ranks as arguably the most iconic World Cup of them all and the mascot from that tournament has been recreated in LEGO form.
Whether it’s Luciano Pavarotti belting out Nessun Dorma, Roger Milla celebrating by the corner flag or Paul Gascoigne bursting into tears, Italia 90 lives long in the memory of anyone old enough to have lived through it. As spotted by Brick Fanatics Magazine, LEGO builder Chris Smith has created the competition’s mascot Ciao out of blocks.
Ciao, in the Italian tricolore and with a football for a head, was omnipresent through the World Cup, appearing in opening credits and post-tournament montages. To this day, merchandise with Ciao emblazoned upon it is a popular seller and it remains one of the most popular mascots in World Cup history.
On the pitch, Italia 90 saw West Germany victorious, beating Argentina through a penalty from Inter’s Andreas Brehme in the Final, making Franz Beckenbauer the first man to lift the trophy as both a player and a Coach.
Die Mannschaft beat England in the semi-final – the scene of Gazza’s tears and Chris Waddle and Stuart Pearce’s missed penalties – and saw off Czechoslovakia and the Netherlands earlier in the knockout rounds.
Italy clinched third place, having lost to Argentina in the last four, also on penalties. Claudio Caniggia's header in the 1-1 draw after 90 minutes had been the first goal the Azzurri conceded in the tournament. Roberto Donadoni and Aldo Serena missed from 12 yards, but the bronze medal was claimed via goals from Roberto Baggio and Toto Schillaci, making no mistake from the spot, either side of one from Serie A-bound David Platt.
The midfielder, then with Aston Villa, would join Bari a year later, one of a number of players from England to head to the peninsula full-time in the aftermath of Italia 90.
The mascot for Russia 2018 will be Zabivaka, a wolf whose names translates to the Goalscorer and was selected via a public vote of more than 1m people.