Soccernostalgia Talk Podcast-Episode 252 (Interview with English Author Mr. John Smith, as we discuss his book ‘Escape: A Love Letter to a Cult Football Classic’ (2025))

 This is the 252^nd episode of my podcast, 'Soccernostalgia Talk Podcast’.

 

For this episode, I interview English Author Mr. John Smith, as we discuss his book, ‘Escape: A Love Letter to a Cult Football Classic’ (2025).

 

Mr. Smith is also the author of the following books:

Booked!: The Gospel According to our Football Heroes (2018)

Second Yellow: The Further Adventures of our Footballing Heroes (2020)

Final Third!: The Last Word on our Football Heroes (2022)

 

 

For any questions/comments, you may contact us:

You may also contact me on this blog, on twitter @sp1873 and on facebook under Soccernostalgia.

https://linktr.ee/sp1873

 

Mr. Paul Whittle, @1888letter on twitter and https://the1888letter.com/contact/

https://linktr.ee/BeforeThePremierLeague

 

You may also follow the podcast on spotify and Apple podcasts all under ‘Soccernostalgia Talk Podcast’

Please leave a review, rate and subscribe if you like the podcast.

Mr. Smith’s contact info:

Twitter (X): @verypopularname

Bluesky: @verypopularname.bsky.social

Link to Mr. Smith’s book:

https://www.pitchpublishing.co.uk/shop/escape

https://www.amazon.com/Escape-Love-Letter-Football-Classic/dp/1801509670

https://www.amazon.com/stores/John-Smith/author/B0BF31DHWC?ref=ap_rdr&shoppingPortalEnabled=true

 

 

Listen on Spotify / Apple Podcasts:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/2Vfur2t6TnrI1O9DWCWVt2?si=6fZc52geRCq8JXs2qGiCrQ&nd=1&dlsi=2d23a0ece6104b06

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/soccernostalgia-talk-podcast-episode-252-interview/id1601074369?i=1000750940173

Compendium to The Soccernostalgia Talk Podcast-Part 251-Matches of Sweden National Team matches during the 1990 World Cup

  

 

Sweden National Team matches during the 1990 World Cup

 

June 10, 1990, FIFA World Cup, Torino, Italy, Brazil 2-Sweden 1 (Antônio de Oliveira Filho ‘Careca’ 40, 63 / Tomas Brolin 79)

June 16, 1990, FIFA World Cup, Genoa, Italy, Scotland 2-Sweden 1 (Andrew Stuart Murray 'Stuart' McCall 10, Maurice Johnston 80 pen / Glenn Strömberg 86)

June 20, 1990, FIFA World Cup, Genoa, Italy, Costa Rica 2-Sweden 1 (Roger Flores 75, Hernan Medford 88 / Johnny Ekström 32)

 

 

Sweden’s 1990 World Cup Finals squad:

 

Goalkeepers:

1- Sven Andersson (Örgryte Idrottssällskap- Göteborg)

12- Lars Eriksson (Idrottsföreningen Kamraterna Norrköping)

22-Thomas Ravelli (IFK (Idrottsföreningen Kamraterna) Göteborg)

 

Defenders:

2- Jan Eriksson (AIK (Allmänna Idrottsklubben) Solna-Stockholm)

3- Glenn Hysen (Liverpool Football Club / England)

4-Peter Larsson (Amsterdamse Football Club Ajax / Holland) 

5-Roger Ljung (Berner Sport Club Young Boys / Switzerland)

6- Roland Nilsson (Sheffield Wednesday Football Club / England)

7-NiklasNyhlén (Malmö Fotbollforening)

8- Stefan Schwarz (Malmö Fotbollforening)

Midfielders:

9-Leif Engqvist (Malmö Fotbollforening)

10- Klas Ingesson (IFK (Idrottsföreningen Kamraterna) Göteborg)

11-Ulrik Jansson (Östers Idrottsförening- Vaxjo)  

13- Anders Limpar (Unione Sportiva Cremonese / Italy)

14- Joachim Nilsson (Malmö Fotbollforening)

15-Glenn Strömberg (Atalanta Bergamasca Calcio-Bergamo / Italy) 

16- Jonas Thern (Sport Lisboa e Benfica / Portugal) 

19-Mats Gren (Grasshopper -Club Zürich / Switzerland)

 

Strikers:

17- Thomas Brolin (Idrottsföreningen Kamraterna Norrköping)

18-Johnny Ekström (Association Sportive de Cannes Football / France)

20- Mats Magnusson (Sport Lisboa e Benfica / Portugal)

21-Stefan Petterson (Amsterdamse Football Club Ajax / Holland)

 

Coach: Olle Nordin

Team Captain: Glenn Hysen

Official Kit Supplier/Designer: Adidas

 

 

Photo From: Panini World Cup 1990

(Sweden 1990 World Cup squad)

 

Photo From: Guerin Sportivo, No 24 (799), June 13-19, 1990

(Sweden 1990 World Cup squad)

 

Photo From: Soccer America, Vol. 38, No. 16, Issue 957, April 26, 1990

(Sweden 1990 World Cup Preview)

 

Photo From: World Soccer, March 1990

(Sweden 1990 World Cup Preview)

 

Photo From: World Soccer, March 1990

(Sweden 1990 World Cup Preview)

 

 

 

Date: June 10, 1990

Competition: FIFA World Cup-Group C

Result: Brazil 2-Sweden 1 

Venue: Torino- Lo Stadio Delle Alpi, Italy

Attendance: 62, 628

Referee: Tullio Lanese (Italy)

Linesmen: Michel Vautrot (France), Naji Jouini (Tunisia)

Kick-off time: 21:00

Goalscorers:

(Brazil): Antônio de Oliveira Filho ‘Careca’ 40, 63

(Sweden): Tomas Brolin 79

Summary of goals:

1:0 (40^th minute, Brazil): From the middle, Branco sent Careca through who dribbled around Ravelli and scored.

2:0 (63^rd minute, Brazil): Muller’s cross from the right side was struck in by Careca.

2:1 (79^th minute, Sweden): Strömberg’s cross from the right side was headed in the middle  by Thern and reached Brolin inside the box who struck.

Lineups:

Brazil:

1-Cláudio André Mergen  ‘Taffarel’ (Sport Club Internacional- Porto Alegre)
2-Jorge de Amorim Campos  ‘Jorginho’ (Turn und Sportverein Bayer 04 Leverkusen / West Germany)
13- José Carlos Nepomuceno ‘Mozer’ (Olympique de Marseille / France) 
21- Mauro Geraldo Galvão (Botafogo de Futebol e Regatas- Rio de Janeiro) 
3-‘Ricardo’ Raimundo Gomes (Sport Lisboa e Benfica / Portugal)
6- Cláudio Ibrahim Vaz Leal ‘Branco’ (Futebol Clube do Porto / Portugal) 
5- Ricardo Rogério de Brito ‘Alemão’ (Societa Sportiva Calcio Napoli / Italy) 
4-Carlos Caetano Bledorn Verri  ‘Dunga’ (Associazione Calcio Fiorentina-Firenze / Italy)
8-’Valdo’ Cândido Filho  (Sport Lisboa e Benfica / Portugal)  (10- Paulo ‘Silas’ do Prado Pereira (Sporting Clube de Portugal- Lisboa / Portugal) 82)
9- Antônio de Oliveira Filho ‘Careca’ (Societa Sportiva Calcio Napoli / Italy)
15- Luís Antônio Corrêa da Costa ‘Müller’ (Torino Calcio 1906 / Italy)                 

 

Coach: Sebastião Lazaroni

Booked: José Carlos Nepomuceno ‘Mozer’ 39, Cláudio Ibrahim Vaz Leal ‘Branco’ 61, Carlos Caetano Bledorn Verri  ‘Dunga’ 83

Other Substitute

12-Acacio Cordeiro Barreto (Club de Regatas Vasco da Gama - Rio de Janeiro)

16- José Roberto da Gama de Oliveira ‘Bebeto’ (Club de Regatas Vasco da Gama - Rio de Janeiro) 

18- Iomar do Nascimento ‘Mazinho’ (Club de Regatas Vasco da Gama - Rio de Janeiro)

20-Mílton Queiroz da Paixão ‘Tita’ (Club de Regatas Vasco da Gama - Rio de Janeiro)

 

Team Captain: ‘Ricardo’ Raimundo Gomes

Official Kit Supplier/Designer: Topper

Uniform Colors: Yellow Shirts, Blue Shorts, White Socks

 

Sweden:

22-Thomas Ravelli (IFK (Idrottsföreningen Kamraterna) Göteborg)

4-Peter Larsson (Amsterdamse Football Club Ajax / Holland) 

5-Roger Ljung (Berner Sport Club Young Boys / Switzerland) (15-Glenn Strömberg (Atalanta Bergamasca Calcio-Bergamo / Italy) 70)

6- Roland Nilsson (Sheffield Wednesday Football Club / England)

8- Stefan Schwarz (Malmö Fotbollforening)

10- Klas Ingesson (IFK (Idrottsföreningen Kamraterna) Göteborg)

13- Anders Limpar (Unione Sportiva Cremonese / Italy)

14- Joachim Nilsson (Malmö Fotbollforening)

16- Jonas Thern (Sport Lisboa e Benfica / Portugal) 

17- Thomas Brolin (Idrottsföreningen Kamraterna Norrköping)

20- Mats Magnusson (Sport Lisboa e Benfica / Portugal) (21-Stefan Petterson (Amsterdamse Football Club Ajax / Holland) 46)

 

Coach: Olle Nordin

Booked: Joachim Nilsson 83

Other Substitute

12- Lars Eriksson (Idrottsföreningen Kamraterna Norrköping)

7-NiklasNyhlén (Malmö Fotbollforening)

3- Glenn Hysen (Liverpool Football Club / England)

 

Team Captain: Roland Nilsson

Official Kit Supplier/Designer: Adidas

Uniform Colors: Blue Shirts, Blue Shorts, Blue Socks

Note:

1-In another source, Tomas Brolin is also shown booked in the 40^th minute.

2-Tomas Brolin scored against his future teammate Claudio Taffarel. They would both join Parma for the following season.

3-Final cap for Mats Magnusson (30/9) (1984-1990).

 

 

Photo From: Guerin Sportivo, No 25 (800), June 20-26, 1990

(June 10, 1990, World Cup, Brazil 2-Sweden 1)

 

Photo From: Placar, No 1043, June 15, 1990

(June 10, 1990, World Cup, Brazil 2-Sweden 1)

 

Photo From: Placar, No 1043, June 15, 1990

(June 10, 1990, World Cup, Brazil 2-Sweden 1)

 

Photo From: Placar, No 1043, June 15, 1990

(June 10, 1990, World Cup, Brazil 2-Sweden 1)

 

Photo From: Placar, No 1043, June 15, 1990

(June 10, 1990, World Cup, Brazil 2-Sweden 1)

 

Photo From: Soccer America, Vol. 38, No. 24, Issue 965, June 21, 1990

(June 10, 1990, World Cup, Brazil 2-Sweden 1)

 

Photo From: World Soccer, July 1990

(Brazil squad, June 10, 1990, World Cup, Brazil 2-Sweden 1)

 

 

Photo From: (Magazine Source unknown) / Contribution From a blog viewer

(Brazil squad, June 10, 1990, World Cup, Brazil 2-Sweden 1)

 

Photo From: (Magazine Source unknown) / Contribution From a blog viewer

(Sweden squad, June 10, 1990, World Cup, Brazil 2-Sweden 1)

Photo From: France Football, Issue 2305, June 12, 1990

(June 10, 1990, World Cup, Brazil 2-Sweden 1)

 

Photo From: France Football, Issue 2306, June 19, 1990

(June 10, 1990, World Cup, Brazil 2-Sweden 1)

 

Date: June 16, 1990

Competition: FIFA World Cup-Group C

Result: Scotland 2-Sweden 1

Venue: Genova – Stadio Luigi Ferraris (Marassi), Italy

Attendance: 32,000

Referee: Carlos Antonio Maciel (Paraguay)

Linesmen: Michal Listkiewicz (Poland), Vincent Mauro (USA)

Kick-off time: 21:00

Goalscorers:

(Scotland): Andrew Stuart Murray 'Stuart' McCall 10, Maurice Johnston 80 pen

(Sweden): Glenn Strömberg 86

Summary of goals:

1:0 (10^th minute, Scotland): McLeod’s corner kick from the right side was headed across by McPherson to the far post and struck in by McCall.

2:0 (80^th minute, Scotland): Thern fouled Aitken in the box. Johnston scored from the ensuing penalty kick.

2:1 (86^th minute, Sweden): Joakim Nilsson’s long cross from the left side was knocked in by Strömberg.

Lineups:

Scotland:

1-James Leighton (Manchester United Football Club / England)

2-Alexander McLeish (Aberdeen Football Club Limited)

6-Maurice Daniel Robert Malpas (Dundee United Football Club)

19-David McPherson (Heart of Midlothian Football Club-Edinburgh)

15-Craig William Levein (Heart of Midlothian Football Club-Edinburgh)

3-Robert Sime ‘Roy’ Aitken (Newcastle United Football Club / England)

10-Murdo Davidson MacLeod (Ballspielverein Borussia Dortmund 1909 e.V. / West Germany)

16-Andrew Stuart Murray 'Stuart' McCall (Everton Football Club- Liverpool / England)

13-Gordon Scott Durie (Chelsea Football Club-London / England) (5- Paul Michael Lyons McStay (The Celtic Football Club-Glasgow) 75)

21-Robert William Fleck (Norwich City Football Club / England) (9- Alistair Murdoch McCoist (Rangers Football Club- Glasgow) 84)
7-Maurice Johnston (Rangers Football Club- Glasgow)

 

Coach: Andrew Roxburgh

Booked: David McPherson 69

Other Substitutes:

12- Andrew Lewis Goram (Hibernian Football Club – Edinburgh)

17- Stuart Mc Kimmie (Aberdeen Football Club Limited)

20- Gary McAllister (Leicester City Football Club / England)

 

Team Captain: Robert Sime ‘Roy’ Aitken

Official Kit Supplier/Designer: Umbro

Uniform Colors: Navy Blue Shirts, White Shorts, Red Socks

 

Sweden:

22-Thomas Ravelli (IFK (Idrottsföreningen Kamraterna) Göteborg)

3-Glenn Hysen (Liverpool Football Club / England)

4-Peter Larsson (Amsterdamse Football Club Ajax / Holland) (15-Glenn Strömberg (Atalanta Bergamasca Calcio-Bergamo / Italy) 75)

6-Roland Nilsson (Sheffield Wednesday Football Club / England)

8-Stefan Schwarz (Malmö Fotbollforening)

10-Klas Ingesson (IFK (Idrottsföreningen Kamraterna) Göteborg)

13-Anders Limpar (Unione Sportiva Cremonese / Italy)

14-Joachim Nilsson (Malmö Fotbollforening)

16-Jonas Thern (Sport Lisboa e Benfica / Portugal) 

17-Thomas Brolin (Idrottsföreningen Kamraterna Norrköping)

21-Stefan Petterson (Amsterdamse Football Club Ajax / Holland) (18-Johnny Ekström (Association Sportive de Cannes Football / France) 62)

 

Coach: Olle Nordin

Booked: Jonas Thern 60

Other Substitutes:

12- Lars Eriksson (Idrottsföreningen Kamraterna Norrköping)

5-Roger Ljung (Berner Sport Club Young Boys / Switzerland)

9-Leif Engqvist (Malmö Fotbollforening)

 

Team Captain: Glenn Hysen

Official Kit Supplier/Designer: Adidas

Uniform Colors: Yellow Shirts, Blue Shorts, Yellow Socks

Photo From: Guerin Sportivo, No 26 (801), June 27-July 3, 1990

(June 16, 1990, World Cup, Scotland 2-Sweden 1)

 

Photo From: Shoot, June 23, 1990

(June 16, 1990, World Cup, Scotland 2-Sweden 1)

 

Photo From: Shoot, July 7, 1990

(June 16, 1990, World Cup, Scotland 2-Sweden 1)

 

Photo From: Soccer America, Vol. 38, No. 25, Issue 966, June 28, 1990

(June 16, 1990, World Cup, Scotland 2-Sweden 1)

 

Photo From: Soccer International, Issue 8, September 1990

(June 16, 1990, World Cup, Scotland 2-Sweden 1)

Photo From: Source unknown

(Scotland squad, June 16, 1990, World Cup, Scotland 2-Sweden 1)

 

Photo From: FIFA 1990 World Cup technical report

(Sweden squad, June 16, 1990, World Cup, Scotland 2-Sweden 1)

 

 

 

Date: June 20, 1990

Competition: FIFA World Cup-Group C

Result: Costa Rica 2-Sweden 1

Venue: Genova – Stadio Luigi Ferraris (Marassi), Italy

Attendance: 30,223

Referee: Zoran Petrovic (Yugoslavia)

Linesmen: George Courtney (England), Alan Snoddy (Northern Ireland)

Kick-off time: 21:00

Goalscorers:

(Costa Rica): Roger Flores 75, Hernan Medford 88

(Sweden): Johnny Ekström 32

Summary of goals:

0:1 (32^nd minute, Sweden): Schwarz’s free kick was parried by Conejo, Ekstroem knocked in the rebound.

1:1 (75^th minute, Costa Rica): Cayasso’s free kick from the right side was headed in by Flores.

2:1 (88^th minute, Costa Rica): From a pass by Ronald Gonzalez, Medford on a breakaway advanced to score.

Lineups:

Costa Rica:

1- Luis Gabelo Conejo (AD Ramonense)

3- Roger Flores (Deportivo Saprissa)

4- Ronald Gonzalez (Deportivo Saprissa)

6- Jose Chavez (Deportivo Alajuelense)

19- Hector Marchena (Deportivo Cartagines)

20- Mauricio Montero (Deportivo Alajuelense)

8- German Chavarria (CS Herediano) (9- Alexander Guimaraes (Deportivo Saprissa) 73)

10- Oscar Ramirez (Deportivo Alajuelense)

12- Roger Gomez (Deportivo Cartagines) (7- Hernan Medford (Deportivo Saprissa) 60)

14- Juan Cayasso (Deportivo Saprissa)

11- Claudio Jara (CS Herediano)

 

Coach: Bora Milutinovic (Yugoslavia)

Booked: Roger Gomez 28, Hector Marchena 53

Other Substitutes:

21- Hermidio Barrantes (Municipal Puntarenas)

5- Marvin Obando (CS Herediano)

15- Ronald Marin (CS Herediano)

 

Team Captain: Roger Flores

Official Kit Supplier/Designer: Lotto

Uniform Colors: Black/White vertically striped Shirts, White Shorts, White Socks

 

Sweden:

22-Thomas Ravelli (IFK (Idrottsföreningen Kamraterna) Göteborg)

3-Glenn Hysen (Liverpool Football Club / England)

4-Peter Larsson (Amsterdamse Football Club Ajax / Holland) 

6-Roland Nilsson (Sheffield Wednesday Football Club / England)

8-Stefan Schwarz (Malmö Fotbollforening)

10-Klas Ingesson (IFK (Idrottsföreningen Kamraterna) Göteborg)

14-Joachim Nilsson (Malmö Fotbollforening)

15-Glenn Strömberg (Atalanta Bergamasca Calcio-Bergamo / Italy) (9-Leif Engqvist (Malmö Fotbollforening) 81)

17-Thomas Brolin (Idrottsföreningen Kamraterna Norrköping) (19-Mats Gren (Grasshopper-Club Zürich / Switzerland) 34)

18-Johnny Ekström (Association Sportive de Cannes Football / France)

21-Stefan Petterson (Amsterdamse Football Club Ajax / Holland) 

 

Coach: Olle Nordin

Booked: Glenn Strömberg 19, Stefan Schwarz 74

Other Substitutes:

12- Lars Eriksson (Idrottsföreningen Kamraterna Norrköping)

5-Roger Ljung (Berner Sport Club Young Boys / Switzerland)

13-Anders Limpar (Unione Sportiva Cremonese / Italy)

 

Team Captain: Glenn Hysen

Official Kit Supplier/Designer: Adidas

Uniform Colors: Yellow Shirts, Blue Shorts, Yellow Socks

Note:

1- On July 17, 1990, Sweden Officials announced that Olle Nordin’s contract would not be renewed.

On August 1, 1990, Tommy Svensson was named as a prospective manager of Sweden.

2-This was the first World Cup in which two European teams were defeated by a Central American squad: Costa Rica.

3-Final cap for Glenn Strömberg (52/7) (1982-1990).

 

Photo From: World Soccer, June 1991

(June 20, 1990, World Cup, Costa Rica 2-Sweden 1)

 

Photo From: Guerin Sportivo, No 26 (801), June 27-July 3, 1990

(June 20, 1990, World Cup, Costa Rica 2-Sweden 1)

 

Photo From: Soccer America, Vol. 39, No. 1, Issue 967, July 5, 1990

(June 20, 1990, World Cup, Costa Rica 2-Sweden 1)

 

 

Photo From: France Football, Issue 2309, July 10, 1990

(Diagram of goals in the World Cup)

Photo From: FIFA 1990 World Cup technical report

Photo From: Onze-Mondial, Issue 18, July 1990

(Sweden in the 1990 World Cup)

Photo From: Onze-Mondial, Issue 18, July 1990

(Sweden in the 1990 World Cup)

Photo From: Shoot, July 21, 1990

(Sweden in the 1990 World Cup)

Photo From: World Soccer, July 1990

(Sweden in the 1990 World Cup)