Drummond Challis

The French team —on home soil— was always going to be in contention for the title of World Champion. It did not disappoint its fans. France '98 was not short on drama or controversy, in equal measure and this is captured most effectively on this film. The 1998 film was shot on Super 16 mm film and includes the most complete and extensive coverage ever, with each match being filmed from more angles than any previous film.

Italia 90 was another fascinating tournament, a melting pot of different styles, culture and technique. The biggest tournament to date, it saw the emergence of the African nations with the free-flowing Cameroon capturing everyone's hearts. The final was tight and not for the squeamish, but the well-drilled and better-disciplined Germans prevailed 1-0 winners to claim the crown for the third time.

Argentina, as hosts in 1978, were under great pressure to succeed. Amidst passionate supporters, they progressed to the finals with a wonderful blend of attacking football and tough defending. The unlucky Dutch, now lacking Cruyffs' sublime skills, were the fall guys once again in the Final, losing 3-1 in a classic clash of styles. This 1991 reedited version omits controversial interviews from the 1978 original "Copa 78 - O Poder do Futebol", while also including additional television footage of the tournament and newly dubbed English narration instead of the original Spanish.

A documentary covering the 1980 Olympic Games in Lake Placid.

In the early years of the 20th Century, two British yachtsmen (Michael York and Simon MacCorkindale) stumble upon a German plot to invade the east coast of England in a flotilla of specially designed barges. They set out to thwart this terrible scheme, but must outwit not only the cream of the German Navy, but the feared Kaiser Wilhelm himself.

British documentary filmmaker and producer Tony Maylam reinvigorated the sports documentary genre with WHITE ROCK, an idiosyncratic and utterly engaging account of the XII Olympic Winter Games Innsbruck 1976. He did so by placing music (by organ and synth wunderkind Rick Wakeman) front and center, and by using Hollywood star James Coburn as a "guide for the uninitiated."

Ruud Gullit, Marco van Basten, The brothers Koeman… These were some of the superstars from Holland whose blazing talents made the European Championship of 1988 so memorable and one to log indelibly in the whole recent legend of outstanding international football. Eight teams qualified for the tournament finals, including England who scored more goals than any other side, 18, to reach the final stages – and the Cinderella side from the Republic of Ireland, managed by Jack Charlton. But most of all Euro ’88 had a winning side who swept all before them in a colourful and passionate series of displays that will be viewed again and again by anyone fascinated and intrigued by the way the world’s most popular game is so sumptuously developing as it enters its second organised century. It is a must for fans and serious students alike.