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A Funny Old Game @sidlambert.bsky.social · 1h

This week in 1996:

“Right, everyone. Listen up. We’ve got new signing Benito Carbone arriving today. We want to give him a warm Wednesday welcome.”

“How about a bowl of plain spaghetti?”

“Good start. What else?”

“And then we dress Bob up as Pavarotti?”

“PERFECT.”

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A Funny Old Game @sidlambert.bsky.social · 1d

It’s Jorge Campos’ birthday today. You remember him.

Madcap Mexican keeper. Fancied himself as a half-decent striker too.

Came on as sub for Atlante in 1996 and casually scored this incredible volley.

Sensational stuff.

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A Funny Old Game @sidlambert.bsky.social · 2d

It’s Gabby Agbonlahor’s birthday today.

Never too busy to stop for a picture with the fans…

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A Funny Old Game @sidlambert.bsky.social · 2d

Happy Birthday to Champ Man 01/02.

A game that gave us heroes like Duffer, Kennedy, Taribo and Maxim.

We built empires upon their shoulders.

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A Funny Old Game @sidlambert.bsky.social · 3d

28 years ago today:

“One night in Rome, we were strong, we had grown.

And now I see Ince ready for war, Gazza good as before.

We could dance Nobby’s dance. We can dance it in France...”

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A Funny Old Game @sidlambert.bsky.social · 4d

It’s Ade Akinbiyi’s birthday today.

The original false ten.

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A Funny Old Game @sidlambert.bsky.social · 5d

It’s Lee Trundle’s birthday today. You remember him.

Unconventional.

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A Funny Old Game @sidlambert.bsky.social · 6d

PR in the 90s.

The glory years.

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A Funny Old Game @sidlambert.bsky.social · 7d

Gabriel Batistuta was unstoppable.

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A Funny Old Game @sidlambert.bsky.social · 7d

The beginning and the end.

The Baggio era.

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A Funny Old Game @sidlambert.bsky.social · 7d

25 years ago today:

England lose 1-0 to Germany in the last international at the old Wembley.

Didi Hamann scores the winner, Gareth Southgate plays centre mid, and Kevin Keegan resigns in the khazi.

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A Funny Old Game @sidlambert.bsky.social · 8d

Incredibly, it’s 30 years since Juninho arrived in English football.

The Little Fella was greeted at the Riverside by men wearing sombreros, samba music, before playing some keepy-uppy with gaffer Bryan Robson.

PR in the 90s. Next level.

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A Funny Old Game @sidlambert.bsky.social · 9d

24 years ago today:

Sven’s England are trailing in injury time, and World Cup qualification hangs in the balance.

A set piece offers one last hope.

Cue John Motson and a moment of destiny...

💬 “Beckham has virtually played Greece on his own!”

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A Funny Old Game @sidlambert.bsky.social · 9d

32 years ago today:

Romario rinses the entire Valladolid defence.

I honestly don’t think this guy is talked about enough. He was unreal.

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A Funny Old Game @sidlambert.bsky.social · 11d

PES Unlicensed. The glory years.

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A Funny Old Game @sidlambert.bsky.social · 12d

It’s 33 years since Dalian Atkinson did this at Selhurst Park.

So much to love here:

👏 the noise of the crowd as he glides forward
⚽️ the precision of the chip over the keeper
☂️ the umbrella, that glorious umbrella

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A Funny Old Game @sidlambert.bsky.social · 13d

It’s Sir Trevor Brooking’s birthday today. You remember him.

KING OF THE STANCHION.

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A Funny Old Game @sidlambert.bsky.social · 14d

It’s John Sheridan’s birthday today. You remember him.

Midfielder. Playmaker. And scorer of one of the sauciest set pieces you could ever wish to see.

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A Funny Old Game @sidlambert.bsky.social · 15d

A young Gianluca Vialli at Cremonese.

The Tom Hanks Years.

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A Funny Old Game @sidlambert.bsky.social · 15d

Roberto Baggio for Milan vs Perugia 29 years ago today.

The Divine Ponytail. Knew his way around a set piece.

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A Funny Old Game @sidlambert.bsky.social · 16d

“AND NOW WE GO BACK TO WALFORD, WHERE, INCREDIBLY, THERE’S BEEN A FIFTH GOAL…

… BUT WHICH WAY HAS IT GONE, CHRIS KAMARA?”

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A Funny Old Game @sidlambert.bsky.social · 16d

It’s 33 years since The Shamen performed live at Highbury on Monday Night Footbal.

The 90s. What glorious chaos.

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A Funny Old Game @sidlambert.bsky.social · 17d

On Francesco Totti’s birthday, a reminder of him being the Final Boss on the futsal court.

When you come at the King, you best not miss…

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A Funny Old Game @sidlambert.bsky.social · 19d

On Ricardo Quaresma’s birthday, a reminder of this tremendous trivela vs Belgium.

Filthier than a miner’s shovel.

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A Funny Old Game @sidlambert.bsky.social · 20d

Lars Bohinen at White Hart Lane from this week in 1994.

That finish. You’d be lucky to find filth like that on the top shelf at your local newsagent.

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