Football Dynasty-Chapter 53: A Final in Disguise

The bet on England vs. West Germany at 1/1 odds was nowhere near as exciting compared to the chaos of "The Billion-Pound Bloodbath" event.

The match was set to be played at Juventus' home stadium in Turin.

HALF-TIME: England 0–0 West Germany.

To summarize—boring.

It's not an exaggeration to say that neither side went all out—they played very cautiously.

"After a few hairy minutes, England get the breather they need and deserve for a superb first-half performance: controlled, mature, and rousing."

Half-time chit-chat. The BBC pundits, Terry Venerables, Jimmi Hill, and William Moris are full of praise. Fans gather around, listening to their analysis.

"There weren't any clear-cut chances for either side, but it's been a very good game," Terry Venables says, also full of praise for Des Walker, describing him as 'unbeatable.'

Jimmy Hill, channeling William Morris, says, "It's a pleasure to see an England team give such a display in the arts and crafts of the game."

SECOND HALF

46 min: West Germany kick off from right to left.

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56 min: "This game is extremely open at the moment—too open—and Wright makes a really important block from Riedle on the edge of the box," says commentator John Motson.

58 min: A lucky escape for England. Matthäus goes on a trademark robotic charge down the left wing, skipping past Waddle, Gascoigne, and Walker, but just as he reaches the box, he slips at the crucial moment before delivering a cross.

"England are under siege now," warns John Motson.

59 min: "GOAAAAAALLLL! Oh, here's the replay—Pearce fouled Hässler. Then the free-kick. Brehme takes the shot—it deflects off Parker! The ball loops high in the air... agonizingly over the stranded Shilton, who can't backpedal quickly enough!"

A free-kick tapped to Andreas Brehme results in a shot that deflects off Paul Parker and into his own net.

England 0–1 West Germany

"YES! YES! YOU BLOODY BEAUTY!" Richard roars, grabbing Eric—the nearest person—nearly making him throw a punch. Thankfully, Hall remembers how much that would cost him just in time.

Around the room, punters groan—some bookies throw their betting slips in frustration, while others bang on tables.

"England just need to keep their nerve and make sure they don't go two down—because if they do, it's over," warns Motson.

63 min: "WHAT A CHANCE FOR ENGLAND! That was desperately close to an equalizer."

After being fouled on the left, Gascoigne swings in a superb free-kick. Pearce, getting in front of Riedle at the near post, flicks a backheader across goal—just wide of the far post with Illgner motionless.

69 min: "HOW IS THAT NOT A PENALTY?"

England are desperately unlucky. Waddle, just inside the box, draws the tackle from Augenthaler with a swing of the hips before shifting the ball to his left—just before Augenthaler takes him down.

That is a clear penalty, but the referee waves play on. In his defense, nobody appeals—Waddle just gets straight up with that hangdog expression. On first viewing, it was hard to be certain, but after watching the replays, there is no doubt whatsoever.

75 min: The game is meandering a bit. England are doing okay, but West Germany look reasonably comfortable.

79 min: Parker chases Brehme down the right to win a corner. It's taken deep by Beardsley—Wright's looping header is comfortably saved by Illgner. Bobby Robson is about to roll the dice for the last time—Steve Bull is preparing to come on, presumably for Beardsley.

81 MIN: "GOOOOOAAAAAAALLLL!" John Motson's voice explodes, rattling the speakers as they struggle to handle the sheer volume of his excitement.

ENGLAND 1–1 WEST GERMANY

Parker swings a long cross towards Lineker from near the halfway line. It hits Kohler's thigh, bouncing up—Lineker knees it past Augenthaler and Berthold before smashing a left-footed shot across goal into the far corner.

The camera shifts from the celebrations to the bench—Bobby Robson reclines in his seat, wearing the most beautiful smile: warm, benign, and extremely proud.

"GET IN THERE, MY SON!" Eric Hall, who had been sitting in utter misery, suddenly springs to life as if he's just seen the gates of heaven open before him.

His cigar, which had been hanging limply from his mouth, shoots out like a missile—hitting some poor bloke square in the forehead.

Around him, England fans erupt into pandemonium—pints fly through the air, strangers embrace like long-lost brothers, and one particularly enthusiastic punter tries to climb onto the bar, only to be immediately yanked down by security.

That's Lineker's tenth World Cup goal.

"He started this tournament slowly, but he's looked really sharp tonight—and he took that beautifully. That was a more difficult chance than it looked," says Motson.

84 min: Gascoigne nails a glorious 60-yard crossfield pass to Lineker, who is just about to put the ball back in the box when Platt is penalized for some off-the-ball tomfoolery.

89 min: England are passing the ball around at the back. Both sides look happy to take this to extra time. That's all well and good for them, but some of us planned to watch MASH* on BBC2 at nine.

FULL-TIME: England 1–1 West Germany

"How's your ticker? For the third game in a row, England are going to extra time—the first time that's ever happened in any World Cup. It's the least they deserve after a fine, sophisticated performance—their best of the tournament by a mile," says Motson, smiling as he waits for extra time.

The camera pans to England's side. Bobby Robson is wandering around, rallying the troops and giving tactical instructions to Parker. Waddle and Bull are having a laugh about something—England look pretty relaxed.

"We've got another half-hour and we might have penalties,' says Des Lynam. 'Are you ready for this?"

91 min: West Germany kick off from left to right. England haven't used their final substitution.

92 min: A bit of danger for England as West Germany break two on two. Klinsmann runs into the box but is superbly tackled by Walker. He really is imperious.

95 min: "GREAT SAVE FROM SHILTON!"

West Germany moved the ball slowly, all the way across the field from right to left, with Thon eventually shifting it down the line to Brehme.

He curled over a wonderful first-time cross and Klinsmann, towering above Walker on the six-yard line, thumped a downward header towards goal.

Shilton plunged to his right to make a superb reaction stop with both hands. It wasn't right in the corner, and someone as good in the air as Klinsmann might feel he should have done better, but it was a brilliant save.

96 min: "KLINSMANN MISSES ANOTHER CHANCE!"

Wright came deep with Klinsmann to try to win possession and, as he followed the ball, Klinsmann kept running into the space behind. The ball came to the sweeper Augenthaler, who flipped an inviting angled pass over the top. Klinsmann was free, 12 yards from goal and in line with the left-hand post, but he screwed his left-footed volley across goal and just wide.

"It was a harder chance than it looked because the pass was coming almost over his shoulder with no pace on the ball. But again, a player of his class should surely have done better," Motson says.

97 min: England are rocking. Beardsley gives the ball away cheaply on the halfway line and, seconds later, Walker just gets in front of Riedle at the near post to put Brehme's cross out for a corner.

99 min: "HOLD ON...THERE COULD BE TROUBLE HERE..."

Gascoigne overruns the ball in midfield and then lunges with typically naive enthusiasm at Berthold.

It's a clear foul but does not merit Berthold's reaction – 77 rollovers – or that of the rest of the German camp, who are all at the referee, both on the field and from the bench.

Gascoigne, realizing the implications, put both hands up in apology like a kid who has used that whoopee cushion on his teacher once too often and will never do it again I promise but please don't punish me this time.

He immediately goes to apologize to Berthold. It looks like he's got away with it, for ten seconds at least, but then, with Hitchcockian suddenness, out comes the card...

100 min:..."AND GAZZA MISSES THE FINAL!"

England have to get there first, of course, but if they do, Gascoigne will not feature against Argentina on Sunday.

Gascoigne is wobbling all over the place. Lineker says something to him, then pulls his grave face before speaking again.

That is just too cruel. It does rather seem that the West Germans got him booked, which is a desperate shame because this game has otherwise been played in an incredibly good spirit.

'Poor old Gazza.' Richard thought to himself.

He has been the star of England's tournament, and now his whole world has collapsed. It's not just Gazza, either—English football has just had its heart broken into a million tiny pieces.

"This is horrible. Too cruel," someone muttered while watching the screen.

"Yeah, how are we supposed to play without Gascoigne against Argentina?" another chimed in.

Richard was amused by this. It was as if they were already certain England would defeat West Germany.

103 min: After that initial wobble, Gascoigne has managed to refocus and is doing some diligent defensive work.

105 min: "WADDLE HITS THE POST!"

England come within an inch of going ahead with the last kick of the half. When Steven's cross from the left was partially cleared, the same man leapt above Berthold to head it back towards the area. It came to Waddle, 12 yards out on the left side of the box, and he smacked a brilliant first-time shot across Illgner and flush off the inside of the far post.

"Damn it!" Eric, who had already stood up, slammed his hand on the table. He wasn't the only one—everyone watching cursed this stroke of bad luck.

EXTRA TIME, HALF TIME: England 1–1 West Germany

106 min: England kick off the second period of extra time.

109 min: Riedle nutmegs Walker down the left and toe-bungs a dangerous cross towards Klinsmann. Gascoigne, running towards his own goal at the near post, just manages to divert the ball away from Klinsmann.

Richard could hear a collective exhale ripple through the crowd around him, like a sigh of relief shared by a single, anxious organism.

111 min: Waddle swung in a free-kick, and Platt flicked a smart header past Illgner, sending the ball into the net—but—

"That's offside!" Richard yelled, his voice cutting through the split-second of hope.

His heart had nearly leaped out of his chest, but thankfully, his sharp eyes caught the linesman already standing with his flag raised on the sideline.

"Ah, damn it!"

"Shit!"

Frustration rippled through the crowd, groans filling the room as people clutched their heads or slammed their fists on tables. Another cruel twist of fate.

114 min: "GOOD SAVE FROM SHILTON!"

Thon has far too much space to take possession on the edge of the D and shape a lovely right-footed curler towards the far post. Shilton springs a long way to his left to catch the ball – a slightly showy save but still a good one.

117 min: The corner comes to nothing, and Germany break dangerously.

Augenthaler drills a superb 40-yard pass to Klinsmann, who heads it beyond the last man, Walker, and for a moment looks like he has him beaten for pace.

Richard stood up instantly.

Don't be silly. Walker catches him up on the right of the box, stays on his feet, and makes a superb interception. He has been simply majestic.

He sat back down in disappointment, making people around him roll their eyes. Inside, though, their hearts thumped.

118 min: Germany were so close to winning the match there. Riedle broke forward from the halfway line and played the ball to the right of the box for Matthäus, who came inside and had his left-footed shot blocked by Pearce.

It broke to Buchwald – the bloody centre-back – who controlled it calmly 20 yards from goal and then, using Steven as a screen, placed a lovely curler to the left of Shilton that bounced up on to the outside of the post!

"NOW BUCHWALD HITS THE POST! Can you take any more of this?!!"

"F*CK!!!" Richard, who already had one foot on the chair, cursed loudly. If that had gone in, he would've been up there celebrating.

Finally, the referee blows five seconds early.

EXTRA TIME, FULL TIME: England 1–1 West Germany

Both sets of players embrace warmly. This has been a cracking game and there's a general recognition that neither side deserves to lose. The mutual respect is quite moving.