Bobby Charlton
England World Cup winner in 1966

I thought that we might get to the semi-final, we had the players. Maybe that was a bit of wishful thinking but anything is possible.

Trevor Brooking had a GREAT summer in 1990 didn't he?Adonis.

Peter Shilton
Former England goalkeeper

We knew we'd had a slice of luck against Cameroon in the quarter-finals but we were feeling very good in the run-up to the West Germany game. We knew it would be a tough game but we were confident that we could cause them problems.

We didn't think Argentina were as good as they were in 1986 so we were keen to get into the final and face them. You can't afford to think about the occasion or how many people are watching at home, you've just got to focus on doing your job properly. It was a lovely night though and a fabulous stadium. I remember thinking to myself 'enjoy this'.

There was five-a-side football back in 1990, but it was far less organised than it is today.

And there certainly wasn't the FA People's Cup - the country's biggest free five-a-side tournament...

Register your interest to play in the 2019 FA People's Cup here., external

Good to hear then Tottenham manager Terry Venables talking up a certain Jurgen Klinsmann...

Image source, Reuters

The Press Association reports, back in 1990: "The nation is set to shut up shop as England bid for a place in the World Cup final. After the host side Italy's exit from the competition last night, about 30 million people are expected to shun restaurants, cinemas and other public places to watch the team's semi-final match against West Germany on television.

"Offices, factories and shops plan to close early to allow workers to get home in time for kick-off. But there are fears that the party mood could be spoilt by violence. Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher sent a good luck message to England manager Bobby Robson and his squad but tempered it by saying that she hoped the fans behaved."

Image source, BBC Sport

Just one change for England as Peter Beardsley comes back in up front, just off the main man Gary Lineker.

W. Germany: Illgner; Berthold, Buchwald, Augenthaler, Kohler, Brehme; Hassler, Matthaus, Thon; Voller, Klinsmann. Subs: Reuter, Aumann, Riedle, Steiner, Moller.

England: Shilton; Parker, Wright, Walker, Butcher, Pearce: Waddle, Platt, Gascoigne; Lineker, Beardsley. Subs: Woods, Dorigo, McMahon, Steven, Bull.

Referee: Jose Roberto Wright (Brazil).

Bryan Robson
Injured England captain on World Cup Grandstand

The pain of missing out is more than the injury itself.

The boss is looking forward to the game, I've spoken to him on the phone. We've had two games that have gone to extra time and the Germans haven't - that's an advantage for them. But if we start bright and get attached to people then I'm sure we can win.

There was no Bryan Robson available for England in this game - he had to fly back to London to be in the BBC studio after picking up an injury.

The Times reports that 7,000 Italian police will attempt a day-long segregation of England and West Germany fans before their World Cup semi-final in Turin. The Times is also reporting that Cameroon captain Stephen Tataw is tipping England to beat West Germany. Can they reach the final? "Why not?" he said. "Nobody thought we would beat Colombia in the second round but we did."

The Sun says that England manager Bobby Robson has said "this is my biggest game, it beats everything else."

Image source, guardian

The Daily Express is reporting that West Germany manager Franz Beckenbauer is happy his team are facing England. "I'm glad that England are our opponents, not that they are weaker than Cameroon, but we know them better," he said.

The Guardian believes that Graham Taylor is set to succeed England manager Bobby Robson after the World Cup whether they win or lose. The Guardian is also reporting that London is bracing itself for 'World Cup rush hour'. There are fears people rushing home in cars to see the game will gridlock the streets.

The Daily Mirror thinks that in the absence of John Barnes, Chris Waddle is set for a more advanced role just behind Gary Lineker

It's pretty incredible - to those of us a certain age - that it has been 28 years since England reached a World Cup semi-final, and there were only 24 years between 1990 and England winning the World Cup in 1966.

Only six of the current squad were even born in 1990.

Here, goalkeeper Jordan Pickford reveals Gareth Southgate told the team they were the first England team to reach the semi-finals since 1990, "I wasn't born then so I will take that."

Image source, Getty Images

Paul Brace: What was brutal about 1990 was our performances other than against Holland were not great and Germany were hammering everyone but we were brilliant that night, made them look normal and should have beat them. Still hard to take but hopefully 2018 can erase that

Image source, BBC Sport

If you think BBC budget cuts are tricky now, we made Des present this from his conservatory.

Des Lynam
BBC MOTD presenter

Good evening and welcome to the most momentous day for English football since 1966.

Over half of the population will be watching. What the other half are doing - well, that's up to them...

Bobby Charlton
England World Cup winner in 1966

The Germans are favourites. The responsibility to put England into the World Cup final is on the players, and the players alone.

I was more nervous in the semi-final of 1966 than the final itself. We are the underdogs but we are here and we are ready.

Sort of.

Watch above. NESSUN DORMA TIME...

So then - do you remember the World Cup semi-final of 1990?

What were you doing at the time? Where did you watch the game? Who with?

How does it compare to now?

Image source, Getty Images

If you are too young, what do you know of the side of 1990? And how do you think they shape up to today's crop?

Image source, Getty Images

Please get in touch. If you have any pictures etc of what you were doing in 1990 we'd love to see them...

81111(UK Only, names on please) or tweet us at #bbcworldcup

While England's Rover 200 spluttered its way across Italy to Turin, the West Germans have been cruising down the autobahn in all-wheel drive style. Franz Beckenbauer's men have scored 13 goals already in the tournament, but were made to work hard by Czechoslovakia in the quarter-finals, with Lothar Matthaus scoring the only goal from the spot.

Matthaus has been, for my money, the man of the tournament. What a player.

1990 was England's first semi-final in 24 years - but how did they get this far? That's a good question. A very good question. If we're being honest, Bobby Robson's men should have gone out to Cameroon in the quarter-finals, were lucky to beat Belgium, played sloppily against the Republic of Ireland, and were poor against Egypt.

But hey, they played well in a 0-0 draw with the Netherlands. And they can't be bad again here. Can they?

Let's be honest, I never thought I'd see England play in another World Cup semi-final.

Certainly not this summer.

But Gareth Southgate has steered his side through to the last four.

On Wednesday, the country will once again grind to a halt to watch England face Croatia in Moscow.

But what happened last time they got this far?

Image source, Getty Images

On 4 July, 1990, Bobby Robson and his men took on West Germany for a place in the World Cup final.

Join us, and go back in time...