No 321
Norway, Wembley, 10.9.80. England
won 4-0
Shilton Anderson Sansom
Thompson* Watson Robson
Gates McDermott2
Mariner1
Woodcock1
Rix
Highlights: Without Keegan,
Wilkins, Brooking, Coppell and Trevor Francis, a new-look England attack took
a long time to get into its stride in this opening qualifying match for the
1982 World Cup finals. A Terry McDermott goal in the thirty-fifth minute
calmed jangling nerves, and England finally won comfortably with three goals
in the last thirty-three minutes through Tony Woodcock, a McDermott penalty
and a beautiful creation by Paul Mariner, who skillfully deceived three
defenders before firing the ball majestically into the net with his left foot.
Bryan Robson was a powerhouse in midfield and Eric Gates and Graham Rix made
satisfactory debuts.
No
322
Romania, Bucharest, 15.10.80.
England lost 2-1
Clemence Neal Sansom
Thompson* Watson Robson
Rix McDermott Birtles (Cunningham) Woodcock1
Gates (Coppell)
Highlights: A controversial
penalty decided this game in the seventy fifth minute and dealt a severe blow
to England's hopes of qualifying for the World Cup finals. Kenny Sansom
angrily protested his innocence after his tackle on Iordanescu had been ruled
a foul. The Romanian picked himself up and scored the winning goal from the
penalty spot. England had just been getting on top after Tony Woodcock scored
in the sixty-sixth minute following a neat exchange of passes with Garry
Birtles. Romania had their best moments in the first-half and scored at the
peak of their pressure through Raducanu in the thirty-sixth minute.
No
323
Switzerland, Wembley, 19.11.80.
England won 2-1 (own goal1)
Shilton Neal Sansom Robson
Watson Mills*
Coppell McDermott Mariner1
Brooking (Rix) Woodcock
Highlights: England
were leading comfortably 2-0 at half-time through goals by Tony Woodcock (a
deflected shot) and Paul Mariner, and there was no hint of the way the
pendulum of play would swing Switzerland's way in the second-half of this
crucial World Cup qualifier. Trevor Brooking, who had been dominant in
midfield, started feeling the effects of an old injury and when his output
dropped England began to struggle to contain a suddenly lively Swiss side. A
long period of Swiss pressure was finally rewarded when Pfister drove a
scorching shot wide of Peter Shilton, and England clung on desperately for a
victory that revived their World Cup hopes.
No
324
Spain, Wembley, 25.3.81. England
lost 2-1
Clemence Neal Sansom Robson
Butcher Osman
Keegan* Francis T. (Barnes) Mariner Brooking
(Wilkins) Hoddle1
Highlights: England
were on the way to their first home defeat under Ron Greenwood from the moment
Satrustegui snatched an early goal following a misunderstanding at the heart
of the defence between Ipswich partners Terry Butcher and Russell Osman. A
rain-saturated surface seemed to give England greater problems than their
opponents, and it was against the run of play when Glenn Hoddle equalised with
a blistering volley after a Bryan Robson cross had been blocked in the
twenty-seventh minute. Spain quickly regained the lead through Zamora, and
only their weak finishing prevented them scoring a more emphatic victory. As
host of the 1982 World Cup finals, Spain were desperate to find a winning
combination and they played with more urgency than a strangely lethargic
England side. It was Ron Greenwood's first experience of defeat at Wembley,
and sections of the media were now pointing their poison pens at him.
No
325
Romania, Wembley, 29.4.81. Drew
0-0
Shilton Anderson Sansom
Robson Watson* Osman
Wilkins Brooking (McDermott)
Coppell Francis Woodcock
Highlights: Anxiety anchored the
England forwards in front of goal, and they missed vital chances that could
have clinched victory in this World Cup qualifying match against their closest
group rivals. England's defence generally dominated the Rumanian forwards, but
there was one amazing escape when Peter Shilton's feet slipped from under him
as he reached for a dipping header from Balaci during a rare raid in the
thirty-third minute. Shilton was lying on the ground as he scooped the ball
clear with two Rumanian forwards bearing down on him. England's players went
off to the sound of boos and jeers, and with their prospects of qualifying for
the World Cup looking remote. They had only away games against Switzerland and
Hungary in which to salvage a place in the finals.
No
326
Brazil, Wembley, 12.5.81. England
lost 1-0
Clemence* Neal Sansom
Robson Martin Wilkins
Coppell McDermott Withe
Rix Barnes
Highlights: Peter Withe, making
his debut in the centre of the shot-shy England attack, came within inches of
ending the goal famine in the last minute against Brazil when his header hit
the inside of a post before being cleared. An equaliser would have been an
injustice to a Brazilian team that played with a lot of their traditional
flair, particularly in the twelfth minute when Zico outsmarted two England
defenders before powering a shot past Ray Clemence. Alvin Martin had a tough
baptism in the middle of the defence against Reinaldo, but could be pleased
with his display in a heartening England performance that earned an ovation
from the Wembley crowd despite another defeat.
No
327
Wales, Wembley, 20.5.81. Drew 0-0
Corrigan Anderson Sansom
Robson Watson* Wilkins
Coppell Hoddle Withe
(Woodcock) Rix Barnes
Highlights: England's lack of goal
power was beginning to eat at their confidence, and they scrambled a draw
against a Welsh side buoyed by six successive victories. Crystal Palace
striker Ian Walsh missed two glittering opportunities to tie up the game for
Wales early in the second-half. England were setting unwanted records as the
pressure increased on manager Ron Greenwood. For the first time they had gone
three consecutive games without scoring, and it was the first time in history
that they had gone four matches at Wembley without a victory.
No
328
Scotland, Wembley, 23.5.81.
England lost 1-0
Corrigan Anderson Sansom
Wilkins Watson* (Martin) Robson
Coppell Hoddle Withe Rix
Woodcock (Francis T.)
Highlights: A sixty-fifth minute
penalty by Nottingham Forest winger John Robertson won this match for Scotland
as England continued their miserable form in front of goal. England argued
that they should have had a penalty at the opposite end when substitute Trevor
Francis was pulled down by Willie Miller, but the French referee waved play
on. England's goal famine was now becoming a national joke, and manager Ron
Greenwood was being held up to ridicule. A true gentleman of the game,
Greenwood found it all extremely distasteful but retained his dignity and
refused to get involved in slanging matches with the tabloid reporters taking
pot shots at him.
No
329
Switzerland, Basle, 30.5.81.
England lost 2-1
Clemence Mills Sansom
Wilkins Watson (Barnes) Osman
Coppell Robson Keegan* Mariner Francis T.
(McDermott1)
Highlights: For nearly thirty
minutes England outplayed Switzerland in this World Cup qualifier, and it was
totally unexpected when the Swiss suddenly swept into the lead with two goals
in a minute. Ron Greenwood attempted a salvage operation by sending on Terry
McDermott for Trevor Francis and pushing Kevin Keegan forward into a striker's
role. It was McDermott who at last ended England's run of almost eight hours
without a goal when he collected a Steve Coppell pass in the fifty-fifth
minute and buried a shot in the Swiss net. But Switzerland held out under
enormous pressure to record their first victory over England for thirty-four
years. To add to England's despair, the hooligan element among their
supporters caused more sickening problems on the terraces. Only a victory in
the following match in Hungary could keep alive England's slim hopes of making
it into the World Cup finals. The appalling behaviour of the England
supporters meant that most neutrals would have been quite happy to see them
fail to make it to Spain, and there were whispers that the powers-that-be at
FIFA were considering a ban on England.
No
330
Hungary, Budapest, 6.6.81. England
won 3-1
Clemence Neal Mills
Thompson Watson Robson
Coppell McDermott Mariner Brooking2
(Wilkins) Keegan*1
Highlights: England
dug deep to come up with one of their finest performances under the Greenwood
banner and against all the odds they breathed life back into their World Cup
campaign. Trevor Brooking gave England an eighteenth minute lead which the
Hungarians cancelled out seconds before half-time. It was in the second-half
that England really turned on the pressure, and they got their reward in the
shape of a brilliantly taken goal by Brooking, who drove a rising shot so
powerfully after accepting a pass from Kevin Keegan that the ball jammed in
the net behind the stanchion. Keegan put the result beyond doubt when he
scored from the penalty spot in the seventy third minute after being brought
down by a desperate tackle. Brooking and Keegan were devastating together and
were the main motivators of one of the greatest displays ever seen from an
England team on a foreign field.
No
331
Norway, Oslo, 9.9.81. England lost
2-1
Clemence Neal Mills Thompson Osman Robson1
Keegan* McDermott
Mariner (Withe) Francis T. Hoddle (Barnes)
Highlights: After hitting the heights against Hungary,
England sunk to an all-time low when they lost to Norway's team of part-time
professionals – a defeat that seemed certain to end their World Cup hopes.
Bryan Robson gave England a fourteenth minute lead and a comfortable victory
looked well within reach, but the Norwegians battled back to snatch a
thirty-fourth minute equaliser that gave them the momentum to go on to what
was considered the greatest triumph in a football history that had mostly been
about taking part. Thorensen took advantage of dithering in the England
defence in the fortieth minute to force home what proved the match-winning
goal. It was a humiliating defeat to rank with the 1950 World Cup loss to the
United States. Once again, the knives were out for Ron Greenwood. The game
lives on through the delirious words of Norwegian television commentator Bjorn
Minge, who switched to English as the final whistle blew to tell the world:
'Lord Nelson! Lord Beaverbrook! Sir Winston Churchill! Sir Anthony Eden!
Clement Attlee! Henry Cooper! Lady Diana! Maggie Thatcher - can you hear me,
Maggie Thatcher! Your boys took one hell of a beating! Your boys took one hell
of a beating!'
No
332
Hungary, Wembley, 18.11.81.
England won 1-0
Shilton Neal Mills
Thompson Martin Robson
Keegan* Coppell (Morley) Mariner1
McDermott Brooking
Highlights: England came back from
the dead to clinch a place in the World Cup finals with this nervously
constructed victory over Hungary. The door to the finals in Spain was
re-opened by group favourites Rumania making a mess of their final qualifying
match, and England needed only a point against Hungary to book their tickets.
Paul Mariner scored the vital match-winning goal in the sixteenth minute,
scrambling the ball into the net after a mishit shot by Trevor Brooking had
confused the Hungarian defenders. Hungary were already assured of their place
in the finals, and were content to concentrate on defence and they looked in
danger of conceding a second goal only in the final moments when Tony Morley,
making his debut as a substitute, had his shot well saved by goalkeeper
Meszaros. Rumours of the death of English football were greatly
exaggerated.
No
333
Northern Ireland, Wembley,
23.2.82. England won 4-0
Clemence Anderson Sansom Wilkins1
Watson Foster
Keegan*1
Robson1
Francis T. (Regis) Hoddle1
Morley (Woodcock)
Highlights:
Goalkeeper Pat Jennings was picking the ball out of the Irish net after only
forty four seconds of his ninetieth international following a typical burst
from Bryan Robson. England were experimenting with a sweeper system, Ray
Wilkins playing behind the back line of the defence, and there was a lack of
rhythm in their play after their dream start. It was not until the second-half
that they proved their supremacy with goals from Kevin Keegan, Wilkins and
Glenn Hoddle. Cyrille Regis replaced the limping Trevor Francis in the
sixty-sixth minute for his first experience of international football and was
only inches wide with a diving header. Brighton defender Steve Foster won the
first of his three England caps in an England defence that settled comfortably
to the sweeper trial.
No
334
Wales, Cardiff, 27.4.82. England
won 1-0
Corrigan Neal Sansom
Thompson* Butcher Robson
Wilkins Francis T.1
(Regis) Withe Hoddle (McDermott) Morley
Highlights: Trevor Francis gave
England their first victory over Wales in five matches when he struck a
powerful shot high into the net after Bryan Robson had pushed a short
free-kick into his path in the seventy-fourth minute. Glenn Hoddle had looked
the most inventive player on the pitch, and England lost a lot of their poise
and control when he limped off early in the second-half. Wales were always a
threat and goalkeeper Joe Corrigan rescued England with three outstanding
saves. England played a conventional defence, with Phil Thompson and Terry
Butcher proving rock-solid partners.
No
335
Holland, Wembley, 25.5.82. England
won 2-0
Shilton* Neal Sansom
Thompson Foster Robson
Wilkins Devonshire (Rix) Mariner1
(Barnes) McDermott Woodcock1
Highlights: Holland's young
experimental team were sunk by two goals in five minutes immediately after
half-time by Tony Woodcock and Graham Rix. It was Rix, Bryan Robson and Ray
Wilkins who bossed the match in midfield, and assured a victory for Ron
Greenwood in his last Wembley match as manager. He had already decided to
stand down at the end of the World Cup finals. Goalkeeper Peter Shilton
captained England for the first time, and was at last clearly Greenwood's
number one choice.
No
336
Scotland, Hampden Park, 29.5.82.
England won 1-0
Shilton Mills Sansom
Thompson Butcher Robson
Keegan* (McDermott) Coppell
Mariner1
(Francis T.) Brooking Wilkins
Highlights: Old heroes Tom Finney
and George Young led the teams out for this one hundredth meeting between
Scotland and England. Paul Mariner's brave header in the thirteenth minute
clinched the home championship for England and gave them their third
successive victory at Hampden Park. England's 100 per cent record gave them
the Home Championship and raised their hopes of making a decent challenge for
the World Cup. England exposed flaws in the Scottish tactics that manager Jock
Stein knew he had to iron out before they went into a difficult World Cup
finals group that included Brazil and Russia.
No
337
Iceland, Reykjavik, 2.6.82. Drew
1-1
Corrigan Anderson Neal*
Watson Osman McDermott
Hoddle Devonshire (Perryman) Withe Regis (Goddard1)
Morley
Highlights: Ron Greenwood fielded
his second-string team from his World Cup squad, and they struggled in
difficult conditions on a frozen pitch to hold an enthusiastic Iceland team.
Paul Goddard, making his debut as a substitute for injured Cyrille Regis,
cancelled out Iceland's twenty-third minute lead when he ran on to a precise
pass from Glenn Hoddle and steered the ball home in the sixty-ninth minute. It
was Goddard's only cap, and he found his way into the record books by becoming
the first England player to score while playing less than a full match. Glenn
Hoddle looked the pick of the England players on an uneven surface that made
ball control difficult.
No
338
Finland, Helsinki, 3.6.82. England
won 4-0
Clemence Mills Sansom Thompson Martin Robson2
(Rix)
Coppell (Francis T.) Wilkins Brooking (Woodcock) Keegan*
Mariner2
Highlights: A goal
apiece in each half by Paul Mariner and Bryan Robson gave England their sixth
victory in six months and sent them into the World Cup finals in a quietly
confident mood. The match was staged to celebrate Finland's seventy-fifth
anniversary, and the outplayed Finns had the consolation of a penalty goal in
the eightieth minute. It was recalled that in 1966 England beat Finland in
Helsinki in their final warm-up match before the World Cup finals. With Kevin
Keegan back after injury, England went to Spain in buoyant mood.
No
339
France, World Cup, Bilbao,
16.6.82. England won 3-1
Shilton Mills* Sansom (Neal) Thompson Butcher Robson2
Coppell Wilkins Mariner1
Francis T. Rix
Highlights: England had a dream
send-off to the World Cup finals when Bryan Robson scored one of the fastest
goals in the history of the tournament. He struck in just twenty-seven
seconds, lashing the ball left footed past a startled French goalkeeper after
Terry Butcher had headed on a quickly taken Steve Coppell throw from the
right. France recovered from this shattering start to equalise after
twenty-five minutes, but England raised their pace despite scorching heat in
the second-half and the switch by Ron Greenwood of Graham Rix to a left-sided
role in midfield proved a tactical masterstroke. Rix, playing in place of the
injured Trevor Brooking, enjoyed his new freedom and England took full control
when Robson headed in his second goal in the sixty-seventh minute. Paul
Mariner underlined England's supremacy with a close-range shot following a
defensive mix-up. It was the fifth successive international in which the
Ipswich striker had found the net. This was an encouraging start for an
England team missing the input of their most famous player, Kevin Keegan, who
was suffering a recurrence of an old back injury.
No
340
Czechoslovakia, World Cup, Bilbao,
20.6.82. England won 2-0
Shilton Mills* Sansom Thompson
Butcher Robson
Coppell (Hoddle) Wilkins Francis T.1
Mariner1
Rix
Highlights: Two
fortunate goals in three minutes midway through the second-half booked
England's place in the second phase of the finals. Trevor Francis rammed the
ball into the net after Czech goalkeeper Semen had dropped a Ray Wilkins
corner, and then Czech defender Barmos diverted the ball into his own net as
Francis raced to meet a pass from Paul Mariner. A blow for England was that
they now had Bryan Robson joining Kevin Keegan and Trevor Brooking on the
injury list.
No
341
Kuwait, World Cup, Bilbao,
25.6.82. England won 1-0
Shilton Neal Mills* Thompson
Foster Hoddle
Coppell Francis T.1
Mariner Rix Wilkins
Highlights: A gem of a goal by
Trevor Francis was the one highlight of England's third World Cup victory
against a Kuwaiti side that battled bravely and with some eye-catching skill.
The match-winning goal came in the twenty-seventh minute when Mariner back
heeled a Peter Shilton clearance into the path of Francis, who set off on a
thirty yard run that he climaxed by sliding the ball past the oncoming
goalkeeper. Kevin Keegan made a secret trip back to Germany for specialist
treatment on his back injury in a desperate bid to get fit for the late stages
of the tournament.
No
342
West Germany, World Cup, Madrid,
29.6.82. Drew 0-0
Shilton Mills* Sansom
Thompson Butcher Robson
Coppell Francis T. (Woodcock)
Mariner Rix Wilkins
Highlights: England and West
Germany have had some classic confrontations on the football field, but this
was not one of them. The Germans decided on a policy of suffocating defence,
and the game deteriorated into a midfield muddle. Bryan Robson came closest to
scoring for a England with a first-half header that was tipped over the bar by
Schumacher, and the subdued, half-fit Rummenigge threatened to win the match
with one moment of brilliance. His sniper shot from twenty-five yards rocked
the England crossbar in the closing minutes of a best-forgotten game. England
now had to beat Spain by two clear goals to qualify for a place in the
semi-finals.
No 343
Spain, World Cup, Madrid, 5.7.82.
Drew 0-0
Shilton Mills* Sansom Thompson
Butcher Robson
Rix (Brooking) Francis T.
Mariner Woodcock (Keegan) Wilkins
Highlights: Ron Greenwood's final
game as manager ended in a frustrating draw with the host country and a sad
exit from the World Cup. England were unable to put the vital finishing touch
to some excellent approach work that was a good advertisement for the quality
football that Greenwood has always believed in. Greenwood finished his reign
with a rare gamble against a Spanish team determined not to be beaten. He sent
Kevin Keegan and Trevor Brooking on in the sixty third minute for their first
World Cup action, and the double substitution so nearly brought reward. Keegan
headed wide from the best chance of the match and Brooking had a rasping shot
well saved. Exit Ron Greenwood (55 matches, won 33, drew 12 and lost ten).
Enter Bobby Robson, who had been named as England's next manager during the
World Cup finals.
No
344
Denmark, Copenhagen, 22.9.82. Drew
2-2
Shilton Neal Sansom
Wilkins* Osman Butcher
Morley Robson Mariner Francis T.2
Rix (Hill)
Highlights: Jesper
Olsen stopped Bobby Robson celebrating a victory in his first match when he
conjured a spectacular last minute goal that gave Denmark a thoroughly
deserved draw in this European championship qualifier. Olsen outwitted three
England defenders in a jinking run before guiding the ball wide of Peter
Shilton, who had performed minor miracles keeping out the talented Danish
forwards. Trevor Francis had given England a seventh minute lead, but they
were then forced on the defensive and it was thanks mainly to the acrobatics
of Shilton that the Danes had to wait more than an hour before they finally
got an equaliser through a Hansen penalty. Francis scored his second goal ten
minutes from the final whistle with a hooked shot that restored England's lead
and looked like being the winner until Olsen's moment of magic. Ricky Hill
became Robson's first new cap when he came on as substitute for Tony Morley in
the eighty-third minute. A major surprise was that Robson had decided to kick
off his reign without Kevin Keegan, whose international career ended after
sixty-three caps.
No
345
West Germany, Wembley, 13.10.82.
England lost 2-1
Shilton Mabbutt Sansom
Thompson Butcher Wilkins*
Hill Regis (Blissett) Mariner (Woodcock1)
Armstrong (Rix) Devonshire
Highlights: England had the better
of the first-half during which new cap Gary Mabbutt hit a post with a fierce
cross shot, but the Germans took control when Pierre Littbarski came on as
substitute just twenty-four hours after helping Germany beat England 3-2 in an
Under-21 international in Bremen. Karl-Heinz Rummenigge ended brave resistance
by England's overworked defence in the seventy second minute when he
delicately chipped the ball over Peter Shilton, and shortly after he held off
a tackle from Terry Butcher as he swept the ball into the net from a
Littbarski cross. Tony Woodcock scored for England four minutes from the end
with a shot that went in off the bar. Luther Blissett came on as a substitute
in the eightieth minute for his first taste of international football.
No
346
Greece, Salonika, 17.11.82.
England won 3-0
Shilton Neal Sansom
Thompson Martin Robson*
Lee1
Mabbutt Mariner Woodcock2 Morley
Highlights: Tony
Woodcock, playing in borrowed boots, put England on the way to a first victory
under Robson with a goal in the second minute, and he made it 2-0 in the
sixty-fourth minute of this European championship qualifier. Five minutes
later Sammy Lee made his debut memorable when he crashed the ball into the net
after Bryan Robson had transferred a Woodcock free-kick into his path. Lee and
Gary Mabbutt were exceptional in midfield in place of injured Ray Wilkins and
Glenn Hoddle in a hard-fought game played on a difficult rain-saturated
surface.
No
347
Luxembourg, Wembley, 15.12.82.
England won 9-0 (own goal1)
Clemence Neal1
Sansom Lee Butcher Martin
Robson* Mabbutt (Hoddle1)
Blissett3 Woodcock1
Coppell1
(Chamberlain1)
Highlights: England
struggled to find their rhythm in the goalless first twenty minutes of this
European championship qualifier, but the floodgates opened with a Luxembourg
own goal. A minute later Steve Coppell headed in a Bryan Robson cross and Tony
Woodcock and Luther Blissett made it 4-0 by half-time. The first twenty
minutes of the second-half were, as in the first-half, barren but then England
stepped up the pace and Blissett completed his hat-trick and substitutes Mark
Chamberlain and Glenn Hoddle found the net before, in the final seconds, Phil
Neal netted the ninth goal to equal the haul when England – including Bobby
Robson – beat Luxembourg in 1960. Blissett's opening goal of his hat-trick was
the first scored by a black player in a full England international.
No
348
Wales, Wembley, 23.2.83. England
won 2-1
Shilton* Neal1
(Pen) Statham Lee Martin Butcher1
Blissett Mabbutt Mariner
Cowans Devonshire
Highlights: Phil
Neal scored from the penalty spot in the seventy-eighth minute to end a bold
victory bid by Wales on an ice-bound pitch. Ian Rush had given Wales a
fourteenth minute lead, and was just a coat of paint away from making it 2-0
nine minutes later when his shot struck a post. Terry Butcher equalised six
minutes before half-time following a quickly taken free-kick by Gordon Cowans
who, along with Derek Statham, was making his debut. Neal slotted his penalty
home just four days after missing a vital spot-kick for Liverpool in an FA Cup
tie.
No
349
Greece, Wembley, 30.3.83. Drew 0-0
Shilton* Neal Sansom Lee
Martin Butcher
Coppell Mabbutt Francis T.
Woodcock (Blissett) Devonshire (Rix)
Highlights: England were
frustrated by a Greek team that came only to defend in this European
championship return match. Trevor Francis was the one England forward to play
with any penetration, and he might have had a hat-trick before he was subdued
by some spiteful tackles. The match was a sad milestone for Steve Coppell,
whose international career ended after forty-two caps because of a serious
knee injury. After-match quotes by Bobby Robson about Alan Devonshire were
taken out of context, and he had to contact the West Ham player to tell him
that he had not meant to make him the so-called 'scapegoat' for England's
dismal performance.
No
350
Hungary, Wembley, 27.4.83. England
won 2-0
Shilton* Neal Sansom Lee
Martin Butcher
Mabbutt Francis T.1
Withe1
Blissett Cowans
Highlights: Goals in each half
from Trevor Francis and Peter Withe sank a skilful Hungarian team and
strengthened England's position at the top of their European championship
qualifying group. Francis was always a handful for the Hungarian defence, and
Withe topped a powerhouse performance with a cracking goal in the seventieth
minute when he chested down a long pass from Sammy Lee and rifled in an
unstoppable cross shot. Action man Withe had to go to hospital for treatment
to a fractured cheekbone and a broken thumb. There was the rare sight of two
goalkeeping captains tossing the coin at the pre-match ritual.
No
351
Northern Ireland, Belfast,
28.5.83. Drew 0-0
Shilton* Neal Sansom Hoddle
Butcher Roberts
Mabbutt Blissett (Barnes J.) Withe
Cowans Francis T.
Highlights: John Barnes, making
his debut as a substitute for Luther Blissett, threatened to end the deadlock
in the final seconds but goalkeeper Pat Jennings managed to block his
close-range shot. Robson also introduced Graham Roberts to international
football and he almost turned the ball into his own net in the twenty-eighth
minute, Peter Shilton saving the day by diving across goal to punch the ball
against a post. Glenn Hoddle had his first full game for Robson after a
succession of injuries. Jimmy McIlroy and Martin O'Neill bossed the midfield
for long periods, and England were fortunate to escape with a draw.
No
352
Scotland, Wembley, 1.6.83. England
won 2-0
Shilton Neal Sansom
Lee Roberts Butcher
Robson*1
(Mabbutt) Francis T. Withe (Blissett) Hoddle Cowans1
Highlights: Skipper Bryan Robson
gave England the lead in the thirteenth minute with a carbon copy of the goal
he scored in the opening seconds of the World Cup, forcing the ball into the
net from close range after Terry Butcher headed on a Kenny Sansom throw.
Robson limped off with a groin injury ten minutes later, but England continued
to dominate in midfield and schemer Gordon Cowans turned scorer in the
fifty-fourth minute to clinch victory and the British championship. Sammy Lee
and Trevor Francis each had 'goals' disallowed. Goalkeeper Peter Shilton
marked his fiftieth international appearance with a wonderful diving save that
prevented Scotland's best player, Gordon Strachan, from pulling a goal back.
No
353
Australia, Sydney, 12.6.83. Drew
0-0
Shilton* Thomas Statham (Barnes
J.) Williams Osman Butcher
Barham Gregory Blissett
(Walsh) Francis T. Cowans
No
354
Australia, Brisbane, 15.6.83.
England won 1-0
Shilton* Neal Statham
(Williams) Barham Osman Butcher
Gregory Francis T. Walsh1
Cowans Barnes J.
No
355
Australia, Melbourne, 19.6.83.
Drew 1-1
Shilton* (Spink) Neal (Thomas)
Pickering Lee Osman Butcher
Gregory Francis T.1
Walsh (Blissett) Cowans Barnes J.
Highlights: Bobby Robson inherited
this 'Down Under' tour, and went there reluctantly with what was virtually an
England ‘B’ team and it was a controversial issue that full caps were awarded.
Australia missed the chance to turn the games into a soccer showpiece, and
defended grimly and often brutally in all three matches. A crowd of 14,000 saw
England struggle through a goalless first game in Sydney, and there were just
10,000 to watch Paul Walsh score the only game of the match three days late in
Brisbane. A Phil Neal own goal cancelled out a Trevor Francis goal in the
third match in front of 20,000 spectators in Melbourne in the final game of a
tour that Robson described as 'of little value to anybody, and nothing like
the sort of preparation we needed for the European championships.' Mark Barham,
Steve Williams, Danny Thomas, John Gregory, Nick Pickering and Nigel Spink
were, along with Walsh, the new full caps, and not one of them was still in
the frame for England when the 1986 World Cup build-up started.
No
356
Denmark, Wembley, 21.9.83. England
lost 1-0
Shilton Neal Sansom
Wilkins* Osman Butcher
Francis T. Lee (Blissett)
Mariner Gregory Barnes J. (Chamberlain)
Highlights: A first-half Allan
Simonsen penalty decided this European championship qualifier on a soaking-wet
pitch and gave Bobby Robson what he described as 'the blackest day of my
career.' England disputed the penalty that was awarded when the ball bounced
up and struck Phil Neal on the hand. The midfield trio of Sammy Lee, John
Gregory and Ray Wilkins failed to function together, and England did not
deserve to take a point from the Danes, who were always the more inventive and
industrious team. The England players were jeered off and a section of the
crowd turned on Robson as he made the long, lonely walk back to the
dressing-room. The tabloid press were unmerciful with their criticism and
poured scorn on Robson, who said privately: 'Even the Prime Minister does not
get the pressure and criticism of an England manager. Some of things written
and said are completely out of order, but you just have to bite your tongue
and take it.'
No
357
Hungary, Budapest, 12.10.83.
England won 3-0
Shilton Gregory Sansom Lee1
Martin Butcher
Robson* Blissett (Withe) Mariner1
Hoddle1
Mabbutt
Highlights: Bryan Robson and Glenn
Hoddle were recalled to the midfield, and they were the tandem team that gave
England a decided edge over the Hungarians. Hoddle scored an early goal
to settle England down, and made the third goal for Paul Mariner after Sammy
Lee had made it 2-0 with a twenty-yard drive. The victory meant England were
still just about breathing in the European championship.
No
358
Luxembourg, Luxembourg, 16.11.83.
England won 4-0
Clemence Duxbury Sansom Lee Martin Butcher1
Robson*2 Hoddle
Mariner1
Woodcock (Barnes J.) Devonshire
Highlights: Just before the
kick-off England heard the news that Denmark had beaten Greece 2-0 to clinch
the place in the European championship finals, so it was something of an
anti-climax as they went into action against Luxembourg. Skipper Bryan Robson
refused to allow chins to drop, and he was the main motivator as England
cruised to a comfortable victory. Robson scored two of the goals, with Bobby
Robson's former Ipswich faithfuls Terry Butcher and Paul Mariner netting a
goal each. Manchester United right-back Mick Duxbury made his debut in an
England defence that was rarely troubled by the shot-shy Luxembourg forwards.
No
359
France, Paris, 29.2.84. England
lost 2-0
Shilton Duxbury Sansom
Lee (Barnes J.) Roberts Butcher
Robson* Stein (Woodcock)
Walsh Hoddle Williams
Highlights: Two second-half goals
by Michel Platini gave France a victory that was earned in midfield where they
were always a thought and a deed ahead of an experimental England side for
whom Luton partners Brian Stein and Paul Walsh failed to find their club form.
France went on to win the European championship in the summer, so there was no
disgrace for the England team. The disgrace came off the pitch where hooligans
among England's followers again ran riot. Hooliganism had become known as 'the
English disease.' When manager at Ipswich, Bobby Robson had landed himself in
trouble by saying that the way to deal with hooligans was 'to turn a
flamethrower on them.' Asked what he thought of the hooligans who had poisoned
the atmosphere in Paris, he shrugged and said: 'You know my feelings. I
honestly do not know what the solution is, but I do know it needs to be sorted
out before there is a terrible tragedy.' The Heysel Stadium disaster was just
over a year away.
No
360
Northern Ireland, Wembley, 4.4.84.
England won 1-0
Shilton Anderson Kennedy
Roberts Butcher Lee
Wilkins Robson* Rix Francis T. Woodcock1
Highlights: A Tony Woodcock goal
won the match for England at the start of a Home Championship series that was
being abandoned after 102 years. Northern Ireland might easily have got at
least a draw if the central strikers had made more of the many chances created
for them by winger Ian Stewart. Alan Kennedy won the first of his two caps at
left-back.
No
361
Wales, Wrexham, 2.5.84. England
lost 1-0
Shilton Duxbury Kennedy
Lee Martin (Fenwick) Wright
Wilkins* Gregory Walsh
Woodcock Armstrong (Blissett)
Highlights: Two youngsters, Mark
Wright and Mark Hughes, had mixed fortunes in their international debuts.
Hughes outjumped Wright to head a superb winning goal for Wales. Terry Fenwick
came on as substitute for Alvin Martin in the eightieth minute for the first
of his twenty caps. The Sun reacted to the defeat by offering readers 'Robson
Out/Clough In' lapel badges. Robson commented: 'I am caught up in a tabloid
circulation war, and they are saying and doing outrageous things just to sell
newspapers off my back. All the football reporters I talk to tell me it is not
they who are putting the boot in, but their editors. It is disgraceful.'
No 362
Scotland, Hampden Park, 26.5.84.
Drew 1-1
Shilton Duxbury Sansom
Wilkins Roberts Fenwick
Chamberlain (Hunt) Robson* Woodcock1
(Lineker) Blissett Barnes J.
Highlights: Bobby Robson responded
to all the criticism by reverting to the 4-2-4 system in which he had been a
key man for England as a player a quarter of century earlier. For the midfield
role he shared with Johnny Haynes, he called in Manchester United partners
Bryan Robson and Ray Wilkins, and for his old-style wingers he selected Mark
Chamberlain and John Barnes. Loose marking let McGhee in for an early goal
that was cancelled out by a spectacular thirty-sixth minute equaliser from the
edge of the box by Tony Woodcock. Peter Shilton kept England in the match with
a series of marvelous saves, and the heavily abused manager could feel
satisfied with his bold experiment at the final whistle. A young striker
called Gary Lineker won his first cap when he substituted for injured Tony
Woodcock in the seventy-third minute. Steve Hunt came on for Chamberlain to
win the first of his two caps. It was fitting that this final match in the
Home Championship between the auld enemy should finish all square. For the
record, of the 102 England-Scotland Home Championship matches England won 40.
Scotland 39 and 23 were drawn. England scored 185 goals to 166 by the Scots.
No
363
USSR, Wembley, 2.6.84. England
lost 2-0
Shilton Duxbury Sansom
Wilkins Roberts Fenwick
Robson* Chamberlain Francis T.
(Hateley) Blissett Barnes J. (Hunt)
Highlights: 'Robson out' chants
echoed around Wembley after England had gone down to second-half goals from
Russian substitutes Gotsanov and Protasov. The first goal could be traced to
anerror by Mike Duxbury, who was an excellent club player who seemed jinxed
the moment he pulled on an England shirt. It was a clumsy, uncoordinated
performance by England, brightened only by the entrance on to the
international stage of Portsmouth centre-forward Mark Hateley, who brought
life to the England attack when he substituted for Trevor Francis. Steve Hunt
also came on as a substitute for the second successive match to complete an
England career that lasted just fifty minutes in total. Yet more huge headline
criticism for Bobby Robson, who was being projected as the most hated man in
the land by the warring tabloids. No manager in the history of the game had
been subjected to such vitriolic criticism. At the height, or rather depth, of
the campaign against him, Robson had to suffer the headlined nickname, 'Plonker.'
Yet there was hardly a football reporter in the media circus who did not have
a soft spot for the warm, likeable Geordie, who took the criticism on the chin
and kept coming back smiling.
No
364
Brazil, Rio de Janeiro, 10.6.84.
England won 2-0
Shilton Duxbury Sansom
Wilkins Watson Fenwick
Chamberlain Robson* Hateley1
Woodcock (Allen) Barnes J.1
Highlights: John
Barnes scored one of the all-time great England goals to inspire this
remarkable victory over Brazil just a week after the team had been booed off
at Wembley. Terry Fenwick and Mark Hateley combined to feed the ball out to
Barnes on the left wing in the last minute of the first-half. He set off on a
zig-zagging thirty-five-yard run, outsmarting four defenders on the way and
then wrong-footing two outstanding players in Costa and Junior before
virtually walking the ball into the net. It was an incredible goal that had
'made-in-Brazil' written all over it, and it was such a confidence booster for
England that they more than held their own in the second-half after Peter
Shilton's brilliance had helped curb an attempted fight back by the
Brazilians. It was Barnes who set up the second knock-out goal in the
sixty-fifth minute when his cross to the far post was headed so powerfully by
Mark Hateley that goalkeeper Roberto Costa could only help it across the line.
Clive Allen came on for his debut in the seventy-sixth minute in place of the
tiring Tony Woodcock, and with his first touch he almost set up a third goal
for Bryan Robson, who sent the ball inches wide of a post. It was Brazil's
first home defeat for more than a quarter of a century, and reward for Bobby
Robson's courage in sticking to a 4-2-4 formation in the land where the system
was born. Norwich centre-half Dave Watson won the first of his twelve caps in
place of appendicitis-victim Graham Roberts. A delighted Bobby Robson said:
'You could live to be a hundred and not see a better goal that Barnsie scored.
It was the sort of goal only Brazilians are supposed to score. Fantastic!'
No
365
Uruguay, Montevideo, 13.6.84.
England lost 2-0
Shilton Duxbury Sansom Wilkins
Watson Fenwick Robson*
Chamberlain Hateley Allen
(Woodcock) Barnes J.
Highlights: Uruguay led from the
eighth minute through an angrily disputed penalty after winger Acosta fell
over Mark Hateley's outstretched leg. England made and missed half a dozen
scoring chances before Cabrera wrapped it up with a cleverly created second
half goal just as it looked as if England would take full command. A draw
would have been a fairer reflection of the play. Clive Allen, who had been
scoring buckets of goals for Tottenham, missed two sitters, and was replaced
by Tony Woodcock after Uruguay had gone two goals clear. 'I was disappointed
with the result but delighted with our performance,' said the beleaguered
Bobby Robson. 'None of my players deserve criticism after this whole-hearted
display.'
No
366
Chile, Santiago, 17.6.84. Drew 0-0
Shilton Duxbury Sansom
Wilkins Watson Fenwick
Robson* Chamberlain (Lee)
Hateley Allen Barnes J.
Highlights: Despite unleashing
more than twenty shots at goal England could not find the back of the net in a
totally one-sided game. Chilean goalkeeper Rojas made half a dozen
unbelievable saves, and also enjoyed a charmed life when the ball hit him when
he was stretched on the ground on four occasions. Clive Allen came off at the
end of his second full international wondering how he had managed to miss at
least a hat-trick of goals. Bryan Robson gave a magnificent captain's
performance, and continually won the ball in midfield to set up England's
avalanche of attacks. The game did not exactly capture the imagination of the
Chilean public. There were just 3,876 spectators scattered around the vast
National Stadium in Santiago.
No
367
East Germany, Wembley, 12.9.84.
England won 1-0
Shilton Duxbury Sansom
Williams Wright Butcher
Robson* 1 Wilkins Mariner (Hateley) Woodcock (Francis
T.) Barnes J.
Highlights: Bobby Robson made a
double substitution in the second-half when he sent on Mark Hateley and Trevor
Francis for Paul Mariner and Tony Woodcock, and within a minute England at
last broke down the massed East German defence. The goal was an all-Manchester
United affair, with Bryan Robson volleying in a cross from his clubmate Ray
Wilkins. In a match that was a warm-up for the start of the 1986 World Cup
qualifying campaign England had one scare when East German striker Streich,
playing his hundredth international, smacked a twenty-five yard shot against a
post. There was an attendance of just 23,951, and the tabloids blamed Bobby
Robson!
No 368
Finland, Wembley, 17.10.84.
England won 5-0
Shilton Duxbury (Stevens)
Sansom1
Williams Wright Butcher
Robson*1
(Chamberlain) Wilkins Hateley2
Woodcock1
Barnes J.
Highlights: Mark
Hateley excited the Wembley spectators with an exhibition of old-fashioned
centre-forward play, powering his way through the Finnish defence for two
goals in this opening 1986 World Cup qualifier. Bryan Robson and Tony
Woodcock were also on the mark, and in the closing moments Kenny Sansom made
it 5-0 with his one and only goal in eighty-six international appearances.
Gary Stevens made his debut as substitute for injured Mick Duxbury. The
Wembley floodlights temporarily failed while the Finnish players were on the
pitch for a pre-match warm-up, and they seemed to be in the dark for the rest
of the evening. England might easily have reached double figures with more
accurate finishing. Tony Hateley, Mark's father who knew a thing or three
about centre-forward play, was a proud spectator.
No
369
Turkey, Istanbul, 14.11.84.
England won 8-0
Shilton Anderson1 Sansom
Williams (Stevens) Wright Butcher
Robson*3 Wilkins
Withe Woodcock2 (Francis T.) Barnes
J.2
Highlights: Bryan Robson became
the first England captain since Vivian Woodward back in 1909 to score a
hat-trick as Turkey were steam-rollered to defeat in this World Cup qualifier.
John Barnes and Tony Woodcock collected two goals apiece, and Viv Anderson
scored the first of his two goals for England. It was England's most emphatic
overseas victory since the 10-0 tanking of the United States in 1964. Even
Bobby Robson escaped criticism.
No
370
Northern Ireland, Belfast,
27.2.85. England won 1-0
Shilton Anderson Sansom
Stevens Martin Butcher
Steven Wilkins* Hateley1
Woodcock (Francis T.) Barnes J.
Highlights: England took another
step towards the 1986 World Cup finals with a narrow but well-merited victory
churned out in the mud of Windsor Park. Mick Quinn headed against the English
crossbar and Terry Butcher cleared off the goal-line from Norman Whiteside and
Gerry Armstrong before Mark Hateley settled the issue with a second-half goal
after Butcher had hammered a Pat Jennings clearance into his path. Trevor
Steven won the first of his thirty caps.
No
371
Republic of Ireland, Wembley,
26.3.85. England won 2-1
Bailey Anderson Sansom Steven1
Wright Butcher
Robson* (Hoddle) Wilkins Hateley (Davenport) Lineker1
Waddle
Highlights: Gary Lineker scored
the first of his international goals and Trevor Steven got his name on the
England scoresheet for the first time against a Republic of Ireland team that
battled every inch of the way. Their reward for all their industry came in the
closing stages when Liam Brady became the first player to score against
England in nearly nine hours following an error by goalkeeper Gary Bailey in
his debut match. Chris Waddle and Peter Davenport were also introduced to
international football for the first time. This was England's fifth
successive victory at Wembley and at long last the press were off Bobby
Robson's back.
No
372
Romania, Bucharest, 1.5.85. Drew
0-0
Shilton Anderson Sansom
Steven Wright Butcher
Robson* Wilkins Mariner
(Lineker) Francis T. Barnes J. (Waddle)
Highlights: England retained top
place in their World Cup qualifying group with a creditable draw that might
easily have been a victory if Bryan Robson's header from a John Barnes
free-kick had not hit a post and if Paul Mariner had steadied himself before
missing the best chance of the match. Peter Shilton and Viv Anderson were
outstanding in the hard-worked England defence. Kenny Sansom, winning his
fiftieth cap, gave a polished performance that added to the legend he was
building as one of England's greatest ever left-backs.
No
373
Finland, Helsinki, 22.5.85. Drew
1-1
Shilton Anderson Sansom
Steven (Waddle) Fenwick Butcher
Robson* Wilkins Hateley1
Francis T. Barnes J.
Highlights: Finland shocked
England with an early goal and might have gone 2-0 up but for Terry Butcher
clearing the ball off the goal-line with Peter Shilton beaten. Mark Hateley
equalised five minutes into the second-half, but England were unable to force
a winner against a spirited Finnish team that hung on for a deserved World Cup
point. England now needed just three points from their three home qualifying
games to qualify for the 1986 World Cup finals, which had been switched from
financially-strapped Colombia to Mexico.
No
374
Scotland, Hampden Park, 25.5.85.
England lost 1-0
Shilton Anderson Sansom
Hoddle (Lineker) Fenwick Butcher
Robson* Wilkins Hateley
Francis T. Barnes J. (Waddle)
Highlights: Graeme Sounness got
the better of Bryan Robson in the battle for midfield supremacy, and he
inspired Scotland to their first victory over the auld enemy at Hampden since
1976. There were thirty-four goal attempts in all, twenty of them coming from
England, but the only one that found its way into the net came from full-back
Richard Gough in the sixty-eighth minute of this first contest for the Sir
Stanley Rous Cup. It was England's first defeat in nine matches, but the Daily
Mirror ran a front-page headline that screamed 'Robson Must Go!' The vultures
were back.
No
375
Italy, Mexico City, 6.6.85.
England lost 2-1
Shilton Stevens Sansom
Steven (Hoddle) Wright Butcher
Robson* Wilkins Hateley1
Francis T. (Lineker) Waddle (Barnes J.)
Highlights: This opening match in the 'Little World Cup' tournament was staged
in the wake of the Heysel Stadium tragedy in which 38 spectators died during
rioting before the Liverpool-Juventus European Cup Final. Players from both
sides showed tremendous character in what was a difficult game for everybody
involved, and a 1-1 draw looked the likely satisfactory outcome until the
Mexican referee amazed even the Italians by awarding them an eighty-eighth
minute penalty from which Altobelli scored the winning goal. Peter Shilton was
beaten by a shot that swerved in the thin air for Italy's
first goal that was quickly cancelled out by Mark Hateley. In the last seconds
England had an obvious penalty turned down when Gary Lineker was brought down
when shaping to shoot. Gary Stevens made his debut at right-back in a game
that raised little excitement in Mexico City. There were just 8,000 spectators
dotted around the Azteca Stadium that would be the venue for the World Cup
final a year later.
No
376
Mexico, Mexico City, 9.6.85.
England lost 1-0
Bailey Anderson Sansom
Hoddle (Dixon) Fenwick Watson
Robson* Wilkins (Reid) Hateley
Francis T. Barnes J. (Waddle)
Highlights: Peter Reid and Kerry
Dixon were sent on for their first caps as substitutes as England tired in the
high altitude. Luis Flores had given Mexico the lead with a shot that went in
off the post, and then England celebrated what they were convinced was an
equaliser from Viv Anderson. But the referee awarded the Mexicans a free-kick
after their goalkeeper had collapsed dramatically after Anderson's header had
powered into the net. It was the first time since 1959 that an England team
had lost three successive matches and the criticism of Bobby Robson reached a
new crescendo.
No 377
West Germany, Mexico City,
12.6.85. England won 3-0
Shilton Stevens Sansom Hoddle
Wright Butcher
Robson*1
(Bracewell) Reid Dixon2 Lineker
(Barnes J.) Waddle
Highlights: The Germans made the
mistake of not getting themselves properly acclimatised, and they were run to
the edge of exhaustion in the second-half as England stepped up the pace.
Kerry Dixon had an exceptional first full game in an England shirt, scoring
twice in the second-half after laying on the first goal for Bryan Robson in
the first-half. Four minutes before half-time Peter Shilton played a vital
part in an outstanding team display when he saved a Brehme penalty. The
Germans arrived in Mexico only two days before the match, and their players
were huffing and puffing in less than an hour of running around in the
rarified air.
No
378
USA, Los Angeles, 16.6.85. England
won 5-0
Woods Anderson Sansom (Watson)
Hoddle (Steven1)
Fenwick Butcher
Robson* (Reid) Bracewell Dixon2
Lineker2 Waddle (Barnes J.)
Highlights: Kerry
Dixon and Gary Lineker scored two goals apiece against a gallant but
outclassed United States team. Lineker's first goal was memorable. He chested
down a pass from Glenn Hoddle, swivelled round and volleyed an unstoppable
right foot shot into the net. Glenn Hoddle had a penalty saved, and Trevor
Steven scored the fifth and final goal after his Everton clubmate Paul
Bracewell had acrobatically knocked the ball into his path. Bracewell was
getting his first full outing after playing as a substitute against West
Germany, and Bobby Robson awarded a first cap to goalkeeper Chris Woods.
____________________
CG
England
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