As excitement builds ahead of this summer’s FIFA World Cup in Brazil, BBC Sport is to give football fans the chance to relive and interact with five classic matches from the tournament’s history.
Using the corporation’s innovative live technology, fans will be able to watch classic moments as though they’re unfolding for the first time with ‘live’ video complemented by text commentary and social media interaction.
The five selected classic World Cup matches include the famous 1966 World Cup final, Archie Gemmill’s wonder goal in 1978, the ‘Hand of God’ in 1986, Paul Gascoigne’s tears in 1990, and Gerry Armstrong stunning goal against Spain in 1982.
These matches will be replayed in full and will be given BBC Sport’s popular full live treatment, including ‘live’ video, text commentary and contributions from special guests with unique perspectives on the action, such as former England striker turned BBC Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker.
There will also be the chance to see the original BBC TV presentation from all five matches, featuring the likes of Desmond Lynam, Kenneth Wolstenholme, John Motson and Barry Davies, as well as punditry from Jimmy Hill, Terry Venables and Sir Bobby Charlton, among others.
All matches will be available to watch across four screens – PC, tablet, mobile and connected TV – via the BBC’s 2014 World Cup website – bbc.co.uk/worldcup – or via the BBC Sport apps for mobiles, tablets and connected TVs.
The ‘as live’ matches will also be replayed on conventional TVs via the BBC’s Red Button service at various times (see below).
Fans will also be able to get involved with the action as it happens through the use of social media, replicating the modern day online discussion which is now commonly used across all of the BBC Sport website’s live coverage.
So whether you were a child when Nobby Stiles danced his jig in 1966, were left in tears by Scotland’s near-miss in 1978, had a Chris Waddle mullet in 1990 or were in Spain for Northern Ireland’s famous win in 1982, fans will be able to reminisce with BBC World Cup Rewind.
If you’ve only ever seen brief highlights from these games, you can now decide for yourself if England were rightful winners in 1966, whether Geoff Hurst’s shot crossed the line or not, if Gazza should have been booked and just how good Gemmill’s goal was.
Ben Gallop, Head of BBC Sport Interactive, says: “With the end of the football season drawing near, this is a great way to bring fans together again and to start getting excited about this year’s World Cup.
“We’ve had some fantastic moments over the years, as well as some painful ones, and we’re looking forward to giving the country a way of experience those highs and lows like never before – with full, modern, digital coverage.”
BBC Sport will be broadcasting live coverage of 31 matches at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil with lead presenter Gary Lineker based in Rio de Janeiro alongside pundits including Thierry Henry, Rio Ferdinand, Alan Hansen and Alan Shearer.
The BBC will show England’s first group match against Italy on June 14 as Roy Hodgson’s side kick off their campaign in the Amazonian city of Manaus, as well as many of the top group phase matches, including Spain v Netherlands.
Into the knockout phase, the BBC will have first pick of the last 16 and semi finals clashes, before sharing coverage of the final itself with ITV.
For a full list of which games the BBC and ITV are screening during this summer’s World Cup finals in Brazil, visit SOTB’s dedicated 2014 World Cup page.
.
| BBC WORLD CUP REWIND – FULL SCHEDULE |
