BBC World Cup 98 opening titles

The lavish opening titles for the BBC's coverage of France 98.

[@dessiemckenzie5857]

Still brings a shiver down the spine when you hear the opening lines . Classic theme and credits .

[@mkdon101]

Wow this takes me back. My first world Cup. Still the best theme to any major tournament

[@PlasticBagForAHelmet]

Me too! 10 years old and in awe. Just got back from school to see Scotland winning 😁

[@andycross9840]

One of the best, but there has been a few over the years mate. ITV's Azteca Gold for Mexico 86' was bloody brilliant (still is) and although IItalia 90' was a let down for me as a tournament (too cynical) BBC's 'Nessun Dorma' intro for it sent shivers down the spine.

[@alexkrycek21]

Theme still gives me goosebumps.

[@xboxgamer6112]

Disagree. Pavorotti italia 90 was the best.

[@clingfilmlover]

It was also my first World Cup even though I was 13. The choir that sings this also performed it at Sports Personality of the year that year

[@samstevens6544]

This was a sensational choice for a sensational World Cup. So much class, romance and drama rolled into one.

[@adamcross5820]

best world cup theme ever ,takes me back to my 1st world cup too as a teenager👍

[@FPLNOVA]

March 2021. Who would have thought watching this back in 1998, that the world would be in the state it is today. 😞

[@shazanali692]

2022 march I actually heard the news say there could be world war 3

[@kebabremover6024]

The great reset 😔

[@Sicario-Gamer]

George Carlin did

[@mjs32]

best intro music to a channel's coverage of a Football tournament of all time!

[@richardwallace5226]

Nesun dorma by Pavarotti is the best of all time. It practically defined the Italia90 world cup. But this was also special.

[@alexkrycek21]

Can't believe this was 20 years ago.

[@alexkrycek21]

Yeah same here.

[@SuperDougie89]

And 6 world cups later.

[@fahaadkhan3090]

Tell me about it

[@clingfilmlover]

me as well, the choir that sung this also sung it at Sports Personality of the Year that year

[@TejSingh-xj3ux]

How good was the 90s!?!

[@hurley31]

The good old days.

[@Sicario-Gamer]

Hands down the best ever football tournament theme.

[@leeroynozzaar]

Check out bbc euro 2000 that’s a close second (I know it’s not a World Cup)

[@Sicario-Gamer]

@@leeroynozzaar Old enough to remember both mate 😂

[@leeroynozzaar]

@@Sicario-Gamer me to not good is it 🤣

[@davidkelly9594]

Nessun Dorma

[@TheManOfRash]

God this takes me back

[@NFGTV-gz1fr]

Brings back my childhood this does

[@GigiCestone]

Listening to this and Dennis Bergkamp Vs Argentina pops into my head immediately

[@seanporter5867]

This was a brilliant introduction in 1998 for the BBC I'm torn between this and ITV's coverage intro 1998 World Cup as to which is the best, both brilliant intros for a brilliant tournament.

[@dalefc9331]

ITV's was a hundred times better than this funereal offering, zzzzzzzzzzzzzz.........

[@seanporter5867]

@@dalefc9331 true. I guess it does sound like sumit you would hear at a funeral where ITV's was more upbeat and gave out postive vibes

[@PHDiaz-vv7yo]

@@seanporter5867 and the itv one had a pretty lady sitting in a café for a split second

[@seanporter5867]

@@PHDiaz-vv7yo haha it did! Great times when football seemed so much better

[@stephenhendry491]

Cannot be beaten. Era, grandeur, class. Sounding like Alan Partridge here. Wrong world cup.

[@dmg8530]

Don't make them like they used to! Music reaching the high point with Shearer's arm raised salute still gives me goose pimples!

[@Doughty321]

The memories, loved this intro.

[@Scallion_D]

This is just glorious.

[@kc8563]

Simply majestic!!

[@fahaadkhan3090]

Great tune

[@u-felt-it]

A very emotional one, you felt it...

[@kevinhough5960]

When the BBC could still do it. Sadly no longer.

[@martinsmith1538]

Fantastic memories.

[@leeroynozzaar]

One of the best intros ever and very French,what they should do to the host nation

[@JasonCameron774]

I've never liked football but this is awesome

[@Zavala1]

Who's here after watching University Challenge? Probably not a huge crossover.

[@HonestToast]

Best world cup overall

[@kevinprior3549]

First world cup I properly remember. 1990 was only 3 so wud hardly remember a thing. 1994 England didn't qualify so nobody cared.

[@byanymeansnecessary398]

Word. I'm 33 and this was the best world cup ever. Such an experience for me. I vaguely remember the world cup 94 final. You must be 32?

[@michaelscott7166]

94 was crap, everyone pretended to be Irish (like half the Irish squad back then) until they got knocked out. So imagine St Patrick's Day going on for a month.

[@MrBooBeeDoo]

Oh the memories! This is on a par with Nessun Dorma! The slightly uptempo USA 94 intro was a misstep.

[@anngulliver5964]

It's like the opening of Poirot

[@ryansykes7783]

Mark Gums is a strange, silly little man who is the spitting image of that deformed ginger character from the 1980s movie "The Mask".

[@Taporeee]

The memories

[@francolive5718]

Eerie 90s

[@HWatch-l9l]

Des here!!

[@seigneurdemerde1935]

lol “France = wine and bread” may be nostalgic but it’s kinda shite tbh

[@ChubbyChecker182]

Also featured on a Great ending scene of a Sopranos episode

[@SuperDougie89]

ChubbyChecker182 what episode was that. Was that the one where the fbi have a camera in a waiters shirt when Junior is being congratulated as boss of the NJ crew?

[@ronburgundinho3929]

Although technically correct, it was Xzibit’s Paparazzi that was used which sampled this

[@kisbie]

Oi! Shouldn't you be at work?

[@That_Random_Bloke]

kisbie good old Des

[@alexv2926]

c

[@qasimdin7438]

England vs Tunisia was like 1pm kick off

[@alexrobinson4802]

matt h s fave thene lilys song

[@danielafcw]

Good afternoon Shouldn’t you be at work ?

[@Adam-gp7co]

Good theme but doesn't beat Mexico 86 and Italia 90

[@tnewton1988]

BBC take a leaf out the Nessun Dorma book for opening theme.

[@mariashrieves3641]

Same theme as Sara Dane

[@jonathancainphotography6105]

Good morning shouldn't you be at work

[@davidbarker9068]

Best world cup theme ever

[@87street79]

Fauré's Pavane is not an ideal music for France but whatever

[@rkent06]

Do you remember ITV’s title sequence? Nah didn’t think so

[@dalefc9331]

ITV's was better than this pompous crap.

[@rkent06]

Dale FC you have no class, TV full of adverts about lager and double glazing were undoubtably more suited to your tastes

[@dalefc9331]

I thought you were talking about the title sequence, not the coverage in general? You could be right about having no class though, I just need summat to get me buzzing before a game, not send me to sleep.

[@Scallion_D]

Yeah I do, ITV's one was fantastic that year too!

[@trewens]

what is the piece of music?

[@giles852002]

tom ewens Pavane by Faure

[@bobdebeul9547]

Fauré an not faure

[@dariusnikbin1695]

Straights... FIN

[@dalefc9331]

Might be controversial but I much preferred ITV's Jean-Michel Jarre theme. Needed summat to get me going before the game, not send me to sleep.

[@Scallion_D]

Agree I preferred ITV's one but this is great too.

[@goldmanking7468]

crap!