If - World Cup 98

[grimTales1]

I'm sure I have a recording of this somewhere on VHS still!

[comedyneil1]

If you can reach a header when all about you are missing theirs and blaming you

If you can shoot yourself instead of passing but make allowances for the rebound too

If you can run when you are tired of running

Or being talked about but don't talk about others

Or being taunted but don't give way to taunting

and yet don't look too smart or talk too much

If you can dream of glory and not make glory your master

[joetavish]

Zidane, Djorkaeff.....yes!!

[if5tatement]

This is a good reading by Des Lynam. But what it's doing juxtaposed with footballers I have no idea.

[trixwiz7]

It's funny how so many troops, navy personnel and particularly airmen from the Second World War seemed to have obeyed Kipling's instructions to the letter. Today's SAS trooopers do too. Maybe that's why they can do what they do...

[if5tatement]

@trixwiz7 what? few men obey these words. The military has no more of them men than any other organisation.

[trixwiz7]

@if5tatement Don't get me wrong, the military does plenty wrong. My own country, Australia, has been guilty of military atrocities in the past. As has Britain, where my family comes from, particularly in Ireland and India. And we need WikiLeaks and the likes of John Lennon to publicise such injustices. And sure teachers, doctors, priests, lawyers, everyday folk do just as brave, moral things as any soldiers do.

But I'm convinced large numbers of troops in WW2 obeyed Kipling to the letter

[TheJimmybradshaw]

The last truly great World Cup finals

[davoisakoollord]

Fills me with stupid passion, I loves it!

[MrSponges]

ive watched this about 20 times, im using it as ESB practice

[blacklabel75]

Didn't this originally use the song Pavane by Fauré (sung by The Wimbledon Choral Society) with Des Lynam reading IF over the top all the way through?

[StFidjnr]

@ 2:58 the BBC's coverage of the 1998 world cup started it with the Wimbledon choral choir what only be fitting to finish it with the Wimbledon choral choir.

[grimTales1]

This was just beautiful, man. The poem, images and music go so well together - very moving.

USA '94 was actually my first world cup that I remember but I have more memories of France '98.

[2oman]

what is the song pleaaaasseee

[MrSponges]

@2oman its a poem, If by Rudyard Kipling

[sixfouimpala]

Beautiful ! and Fuck you if u think other wise....

[Maxyman6299626]

This nearly made me cry!

England for life LAD

[DaveySch]

funny how no one mentions how completely perfect the poem is

[Prups]

@DaveySch why is that funny ??

[hannahforest]

Sends a shiver down my spine does this

[tony060572]

Beautiful, just beautiful. Nowadays they'd interrupt it for a preview of the next programme.....

[Bak3dB3an]

oh yeh baby 1:35 the best player newcastle ever had... and they know it.

hatrick vs barcelona...

asprilla fo life yeh ye-iiiiii !!

[nscsc]

@Bak3dB3an when he jumped like 5 foot in the air man thats was fucking class even though i was 5 we have a tape of it haha TOON ARMY!!

[MrSat76]

Owen goal was 98, not 02.

[zarco1977]

The Owen´s goal was in 2002 World Cup, not in 1998!!!

[KarnaWest]

For Kerri Anne West, I love you so much - just say 'I do' xXx

[timtimtimtim83]

Brilliant. This is my favourite World Cup. The World Cup where my obsession was consolidated.

Many many fond memories here. Roll on South Africa 2010!

[teamrookie]

This is not as good as the Federer/Nadal version.

[whereszorro]

Im pretty sure the world cup is the only reason i bother living the other 47/48ths of my life

[timtimtimtim83]

hahaha...best Youtube comment ever.

[onnajiuba]

I LOVE THE WORLD CUP!!!

[lucasleiva5491]

WHATS THE SONG AT THE END CALLED

[fluffynoses]

pavane by gabrie faure

just some FYI, the end of this vid plays what i feel is the best part of that song. the rest of the song is not that memorable

[romanuis14]

I didn't see this world cup, but i hear that it was rigged so France would win.

[Lyceschoelcher972]

Where does this come from???

Rigged because Bresil losed???

LOOOL

[mr9chris]

Ronaldo the phenomenon is the best ever!

[RealRockNRollStar]

ah nostalga!!!

[merlin17784]

do you mean behind him?

[ygefyg]

@merlin17784

ti the re file twra na plakwthoume eipame einai mprosta tou..

[ygefyg]

Last but not least Owen's best goal against Argentina that ''filled the unforgiving minute with sixty seconds worth of distance run''.That goal showed that the best footballing years are ahead of him.

[ygefyg]

Shearer scored a penalty against Argentina and kept Engand in the game with his will-- Ronaldo had a bad final against France but was named Best Player of the tournament--Brazil were considered favourites but ''lost the common touch'' and underestimated France--Johansson with his ''friend and foe'' Jacquet.Despite Denmark's loss against France they advanced to the next round--Holland's players holding together with the exclusion of Ronald de Boer who missed the final penalty against Brazil--tbc

[ygefyg]

Asprilla had to ''start again at his beginnings'' and wait for the next World Cup as he was excluded from the squad,after playing only one match, because he complained about his manager's decision to substitute him(never breathe a word about your loss)--Hendry was named captain of Scotland for the first time but failed to qualify and after the tournament he retired from international football--Berti scored the first penalty against England and motivated his teammates--to be continued

[ygefyg]

Iran beat USA but was disqualified--Bilic faked an injury and as a result Blanc saw the red card and missed the final--Chilavert was voted best goalkeeper of the tournament keeping entirely on his own a worn-out Paraguay--Argentina's coach and assistants under stress during the penalty shoutout against England risking everything they achieved so far on ''one turn of pitch-and-toss''--Zubizarreta angry after the loss from Nigeria.Spain never got through the first round--to be continued

[ygefyg]

Dunga had a fight with Bebeto---Hoddle was under heavy critisism from England's fans and journalists--Owen was in top condition but waited in the bench for two games--Saudi Arabia's penalty was an obvious lie--Beckham received a red card for kicking Simeone and was hated because eventually England lost--Scotland's dream of qualifying never came true--Suker was the top scorer of the tournament--Batty lost the last penalty(disaster) and England failed to qualify to quarter-finals--to be continued

[romanuis14]

Best poem along with quoth the raven.

How did he come up with such beatiful words.

[plymdale]

@romanuis14 I really enjoyed this but if you think this (or "The Raven") is the best poem, then you need to read more poetry. A lot more.

[thecelestialtoymaker]

I remember watching this actually. The best poem in the whole world, that educates us even to this day. Beautiful. Sheer poetry.

[facebookfabregas]

What is the name of the music at the end ??? Please I would like to know

[RealRockNRollStar]

That's what I want to know???

P.S Fabregas is a legend!

[naidu17]

oi joe turner!

your a fucking twat!

what a shit tattoo

hahahahaha

cunt

[ceddd59]

viva France 98 !

[jackstypewriter]

You might remember Owen diving too. The problem with penalties is that England act as if its a lottery rather than learn how to take them properly and inevitably always lose.

[IrisOfFire]

I can remember watching this in tears back in 1998.

[kamtona]

I'm watching it with tears now. Even when bloody mike bassett does it, it fucks me up.

[leangutierrez]

RONALDO IS THE BEST......

[Monsunamii]

fking david batty!

[OJones88]

Quite possibly the most beautiful thing ever.

[jimb92]

@OJones88 You've not seen a lot of tits have you?

[fluffynoses]

the world cup final that year should have been france and the netherlands. that would have been epic to watch

[adijarca]

true, but it still was the best final in the last 3 editions.

[fluffynoses]

the fact that that is true is very depressing to know

[turnersterror88]

lol how over the top!

[R9forever]

ronaldo.......

[tevez101]

Damn this takes me back. Does anyone know the name of the song while the poem is being read? (not the end song)

[changinho10]

poem " IF" by rudyard kipling

[tevez101]

No - the title of the classical music playing as "IF" is being read. Anyone know?

[thomasdgreen]

God I miss Des. Can you imagine that jug-eared boring twat Lineker trying this? No class. The BBC's footy coverage has been going downhill ever since Lynam left.

[lucasleiva5491]

DOES ANYONE KNOW THE SONG AT THE END

[thomasdgreen]

Pavane by Faure - special version recorded for the Beeb's WC98 coverage.

[dadsarmy0070]

This is the best version of this des is god

[ayekhan99]

Does anyone have the Wimbledon one played on ESPN yesterday? Not the one ready by Nadal and Federer - it was a montage of the whole tournament and the poem was read by Dick Enberg. It was so great - I would love to see it again if anyone can post it. Thanks!

[melynn44]

No kidding. I have been looking for it ever since. I was sure it would be on Youtube. Nothing yet. Hopefully someone has Tivoed it somewhere. Honestly, I have heard many recitations of "If" and Federer/Nadal's is the BEST I've ever heard.

[MaeveDOR]

This is such an amazing poem!

When they showed federer and Nadal reciting it yesterday before the final set it was so powerful!

Very good video by the way.

[HeartBeat555555]

for sure

[wowser304]

yeh if u can get the 1 with federer ... that would be great because it was really well spoken !

[keepthefaith06]

The Federer/Nadal one is on Youtube, jus search 'If poem Roger Federer Rafael Nadal.' Wasn't it just the most beautiful thing?

[Escosia08]

God that was awesome

[hyllaf]

can u post this poem as read by Federer and Nedal today please. ta

[terrorcide]

I was thinking exactly that. If I can get hold of the video, I'll post it

[chublets]

the clips match the phrases perfectly.

[twilsss]

Does any one know where i can find the music to this with the lyrics on because i can only find the music!thnx

[Laudo97]

BBC Sports finest moment, sad now we have the over hyped Sky Sports style coverage

[ferretace]

5 stars!! Great poem and thanks I have to read this from memory in front of my class and this vid helps me to better understand it so thanks dude! If I could I'd pay you! XD

[lutonmale1983]

Just beautiful- Best World Cup in my lifetime (24 years old), Best epilogue/montage to any major sporting event, Best introductory/ closing music (Pavane, Faure), Best coverage by the BBC of any sporting event in my living memory.

The poem...words cannot describe!

[anonperson]

Brilliant video! anyone know what the classical piece is playing in the background in the first part of the video?

[HSW1212]

Absolutly Brilliant. WHAT A POEM. Great place to use it too, the music makes it a little bit worse in my opinion. JUST MY OPINION. But it doesn't matter, the poem is fucking amazing.

[kellyaltman1012]

flippin' brilliant!

[tonton6969]

Great vid, of the greatest of all sports on the planet.

[sepedrito]

excellent

[Monsunamii]

Ooooh yes!!! Quality!

[swedishgoth]

booooriiing..

[sznikers89]

One of the best video i ever see

[superredsfc]

Yer, the mike bassett version was amazing, love that film.

[MMjhytgb]

If you live by those words you wont want for anything else.

[SmiertSpionem]

Ahh takes me back, I think I cried watching this.

[lukebradleyjstamp]

Ah, France 98 my first World Cup. I vividly remember watching this when I was 11 and it still gives me goosebumps.

Great poem. Great piece of music. Great World Cup.

[spaceboyuk]

...and then Des went to ITV and turned shite.

Still thats a level of class Clive Tyldesley can only dream of reaching

[manchead]

Yeah well hard that hey, reading a poem!

[nikolay109]

Where is BULGARIA, man? I don't see them.

[bachgammon]

This piece seemed corny back in '98 because Des Lynam had used the "If" reading before on at least one other sports show. But nine years on, I find this unbearably moving. Nostalgia ain't what it used to be.

[Alexander40]

Fantastic!

[fluffynoses]

this was a great world cup, as long as you weren't a fan of spain coz they bombed out that year.

if only netherlands beat brazil so i could have seen a france-netherlands final.

[Festuspaul]

cool poem!!!!

[mhshabir]

Just to say thanks... i had the final on video with this bit at the end but someone nicked the video :(. love the poem, the editing, the music and the whole world cup was awesome (England got robbed btw lol). Cheers

[TinyPieCutter]

Whats the music at the end called?

[danejaneiro]

Pavane in F-sharp minor, op. 50, by Gabriel Faure

[TinyPieCutter]

thank yoooooooo.

[06farmerg]

Totally agree, so glad i had this World Cup in my childhood rather than the total shit of the current millenium, i doubt Italy 06 and Brazil 02 would have made even the quarters

[firebreathone]

It was a very good world cup.Too bad 2002 sucked and 2006 sucked too (because france lost and Zidane made a fool of himself)

[mirijo]

but Zidane didn't make a fool of himself. he stood up for things he thought were important, his sister, his mother. Football isn't important.

[wagnerologist1984]

well on mate, you dont insult someones family, and mother on thier death bed..

[supermanalone]

agree 110% ther!

[ozza33]

I agree, probably the best world cup in my lifetime. Much better than this years which was pretty dull.

[06farmerg]

Takes me back to a World Cup that was actually good

[bababoum]

Probably the best world cup there will ever be...

if 02 and 06 are anything to go by.

[forbes999]

brillant well done

[EwanDrysdale]

Well done the geinius editors at the BBC! Not me sadly...

[lucasleiva5491]

thank you very much nice vid as well :~)

[murton2k]

i love this poem! its soo kool! and mixed with sir des and clips of the bets world cup in recent history! its like a fantastic vid!