Jim Rosenthal takes us on a pre-World Cup nostalgia trip

If you’re going to hire someone to showcase the history of the World Cup, Jim Rosenthal was always a pretty safe and assured bet.

“I was a 19-year-old standing behind the goal when Geoff Hurst stuck that one in the top corner,” he recalled, referring of course to only one year – and only one goal.

“Now the thing about 1966 was that people think back and believe it engaged the whole country, a lot like it would today if England won it on home soil.

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“But the truth is much different. For example, I was able to buy ten tickets in the same area. Not every England game was a sell out, either.

“I remember the next day after we beat West Germany I picked up a copy of the Times. There was a tiny front page paragraph with the headline ‘England win the World Cup’ then ‘see back page for full report’ at the bottom. Imagine the fanfare now!

“But it was still so wonderful being there. Back then it wasn’t as huge as it would be now.Back then it wasn’t as huge as it would be now. If I knew then what I know now that I would walk out of Wembley Stadium that day with England never winning it again – probably – in my lifetime, then maybe I would have taken it in a lot more.

“I’ve now resigned myself to that being the case, but you still get sucked in by the power of the World Cup. That’s its beauty.”

The 70-year-old veteran broadcaster has covered eight tournaments, from 1978 through to 2010, save for 1994 in America.

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Now he is putting his encyclopedic knowledge to good use, fronting a special 14-day mega television event for the History Channel which will run from May 28 through to June 10.

It will be a daily dose of World Cup nostalgia, no better way to warm up to the main event in Russia on June 14.

“The great thing about the World Cup for me is the period you get before where you are taken back and remember those special moments,” he said.

“That’s why the History of Football has been some inspiring to be involved with. You will be surprised at how much you forget, and it’s like you have been transported back in time.

“The footage is fantastic and it covers so many stories from so many years. It leaves you wondering what’s in store this time around.”

So what is Rosenthal’s number one memory of the World Cup?

“Most people would think 1966, behind behind the goal and cheering on the team to such a proud moment, but I think it has to be a tournament I was working on, Italia 90,” he told us.

“Football was different back then. If you were lucky enough to be covering the competition you were embedded in with the team. You stayed in the same hotel and got to build-up a real relationship with the players and the staff.

“Now, it’s all about social media. They used to rely on you to capture the moment with footage but now it’s YouTube, facebook and instagram – it’s a shame that football has moved away from that.

“As you’ll see in the show, Italia 90 was wonderful. You were lucky enough to see the class and dignity of Bobby Robson, and we got to to present Paul Gascoigne with a birthday cake. We got his age wrong, but he still covered his face in it!”

The HISTORY OF FOOTBALL is a 14-day, 24/7, mega television event, running from May 28 to June 10, 2018, set to be broadcast on HISTORY®. The event will capture the anticipation and excitement of the 2018 World Cup. Jim Rosenthal will feature in hero show: Return to Turin: Italia 90 on Monday 28th May at 9pm and will also be a key spokesperson for the event