England reach their first semi-final on foreign soil

England played in their second World Cup semi-final, and their first on foreign soil, on this day 25 years ago. 

West Germany, the eventual winners of the trophy at Italia '90, beat us 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in two drama-filled hours in Turin. 

Paul Gascoigne, Peter Shilton and the whole of the defence were outstanding for England on a night when Bobby Robson’s team reproduced the character and determination which had marked their recent matches. 

But they played some brilliant football too.

The defence, with Terry Butcher sweeper this time, operated so well as a unit that the effectiveness of the potentially lethal striking partnership of Voller and Klinsmann was severely reduced.

The former actually went off injured after a clash with Des Walker and the latter hardly got a kick in normal time. 

West Germany’s goal from Brehme’s free kick on 59 minutes was the result of a deflection off Paul Parker, which had the ball looping crazily into the air and over the back-pedalling Shilton.

The England team lines up before kick off

Bobby Robson sent Trevor Steven on for Butcher to try to go for a more adventurous look but England left it late to equalise, as they had done against Cameroon in the quarter-final.

Another overlap by Parker enabled the QPR right-back to send over a deep cross which caused all sorts of confusion in the German defence. And Gary Lineker whipped in a tremendous left-footer into the far corner to give Illgner no chance.

There were no further goals in an extra half-hour in which Waddle and Buchwald hit the woodwork and ‘Gazza’ was in tears after the Brazilian referee had booked him for a lunge at Berthold, knowing it would keep him out of the Final.

It was by far England’s best performance of the tournament but the Germans edged the shootout.

Lineker, Beardsley and Platt scored. Pearce’s firm shot hit Illgner’s legs and Waddle’s effort flew high over the bar.

England Team: 1 Peter Shilton, 12 Paul Parker, 3 Stuart Pearce, 14 Mark Wright, 5 Des Walker, 6 Terry Butcher (c) (Trevor Steven, 70), 17 David Platt, 8 Chris Waddle, 19 Paul Gascoigne, 10 Gary Lineker, 9 Peter Beardsley

Manager: Bobby Robson

Goal: Gary Lineker, 80

West Germany: 1 Bodo Illgner, 14 Thomas Berthold, 3 Andreas Brehme, 4 Jergen Kohler, 5 Klaus Augenthaler, 6 Guido Buchwald, 10 Lothar Matthaus (c),  8 Thomas Hassler (2 Stefan Reuter, 66), 9 Rudi Voller (13 Karl-Heinz Riedle, 38), 18 Jurgen Klinsmann, 20 Olaf Thon

Manager: Franz Beckenbauer

Goal: Andreas Brehme, 59

Referee: Jose Ramiz Wright (BRA)

Attendance: 62,628