(CNN) -- Striking the right chord with football fans has long proved a tricky proposition for music's elite. Throughout the 84-year history of the World Cup, stars from across the musical spectrum, from Shakira to the late Luciano Pavarotti, have tried -- with varying degrees of success -- to write the soundtrack to the "beautiful game." But 24 years ago, ahead of Italia '90, seminal British band New Order arguably penned the ultimate football anthem. To achieve that elusive goal, they had to break a few rules -- most notably, the one that says footballers shouldn't rap. "There wasn't supposed to be a rap," recalls former England winger John Barnes, who not only starred on the pitch but also performed memorably on New Order's "World in Motion" -- the team's official song for the 1990 World Cup.
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England's official song for 1990 World Cup saw football mix with rap
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"World in Motion" was released by British band New Order
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The band collaborated with the England team, with John Barnes performing a rap
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Barnes' rap is now a part of English football folklore
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