No 379
Romania, Wembley, 11.9.85. Drew 1-1
Shilton Stevens Sansom Reid Wright Fenwick
Robson* Hoddle1
Hateley Lineker (Woodcock) Waddle (Barnes J.)
Highlights: Romania's talented Gheorghe Hagi hit the
woodwork twice in this World Cup qualifier before Glenn Hoddle calmed
England's nerves with a beautifully constructed goal after he had run on to a
free-kick from Kenny Sansom. Camataru equalised in the second-half with the
England defenders standing still appealing for a handling offence that escaped
the notice of the referee. England still needed two points from their last two
home games to guarantee a place in the World Cup finals in Mexico.
No
380
Turkey, Wembley, 16.10.85. England won 5-0
Shilton Stevens Sansom Hoddle Fenwick Wright
Wilkins Robson*1
(Steven) Lineker3 Hateley (Woodcock)
Waddle1
Highlights: England
played with bite and pace for an hour during which Gary Lineker rattled in a
hat-trick and Bryan Robson and Chris Waddle got in on the scoring act against
a weak Turkish defence. But they lost their momentum when Robson went off with
a pulled hamstring, and though the victory confirmed England's qualification
for the World Cup finals Bobby Robson was less than happy with his team's
performance. England knew they were through to the quarter-finals barring
freak results even before a ball was kicked thanks to a magnificent victory by
Northern Ireland against Romania in Bucharest earlier in the day. Bobby Robson
said: 'Knowing we were through took the edge off things, and we lacked the
killer instinct. We must learn to be positive at all times.'
No
381
Northern Ireland, Wembley, 13.11.85. Drew 0-0
Shilton Stevens Sansom Hoddle Fenwick
Wright
Bracewell Wilkins* Dixon Lineker Waddle
Highlights: Goalkeeper Pat Jennings celebrated his world
record 113th cap with sensational saves that prevented Glenn Hoddle, Kerry
Dixon and Gary Lineker from scoring for England. The point from the goalless
game clinched a place in the World Cup finals for Northern Ireland as
runners-up in the group to England, who would go to Mexico as the only
undefeated European team in the qualifying matches. England argued that they
should have had a penalty when defender Alan McDonald handled during a
goalmouth scramble, but the referee awarded a corner-kick. Pat Jennings got a
standing ovation as he came off at the final whistle, and decided to postpone
his retirement so that he could finish his career in the World Cup finals.
No
382
Egypt, Cairo, 29.1.86. England won 4-0 (own goal1)
Shilton (Woods) Stevens Sansom Fenwick Wright Steven1
(Hill)
Wilkins* Cowans1
Wallace1
Hateley Lineker (Beardsley)
Highlights: England
were flattered by the 4-0 scoreline, and the Egyptians might have salvaged a
draw but for the safe hands of Peter Shilton. Club calls meant that Bobby
Robson was unable to field several of his World Cup players, and he gave first
caps to Danny Wallace and Peter Beardsley. It was Wallace's one and only
international appearance, and he marked it with a goal. Gordon Cowans and
Trevor Steven were both on the scoresheet, and England were given help by an
own goal.
No
383
Israel, Rammat Gan, 26.2.86. England won 2-1
Shilton (Woods) Steven Sansom Hoddle Martin
Butcher
Robson*2 Wilkins
Beardsley Dixon (Woodcock) Waddle (Barnes J.)
Highlights: 'Captain Courageous' Bryan Robson, back
following his hamstring injury, scored both England goals including a penalty
after Israel had taken a shock early lead. His first goal was a right foot
volley after fifty minutes following a perfect pass by Glenn Hoddle, and he
scored the winner from the penalty spot in the closing minutes after former
Liverpool player Avi Cohen had punched his header off the goal-line. It was a
fitting way for Bryan Robson to celebrate his fiftieth cap.
No
384
USSR, Tbilisi, 26.3.86. England won 1-0
Shilton Anderson Sansom Hoddle Wright Butcher
Cowans (Hodge) Wilkins* Beardsley Lineker Waddle1
(Steven)
Highlights: The
Russians missed a first-half penalty and were beaten for the first time in
eighteen matches by a classic sixty-seventh strike by Chris Waddle. It was a
goal created in Newcastle, with Peter Beardsley chasing a long ball to the
corner by his fellow Geordie Waddle, who raced in to the middle to meet the
return pass at the far post and hammer it into the net. Steve Hodge came on
for the first of his twenty-four caps. Reporters who had been pouring oil on
Bobby Robson suddenly started wondering aloud if he had started to put
together a team capable of winning the World Cup.
No
385
Scotland, Wembley, 23.4.86. England won 2-1
Shilton Stevens M.G. Sansom Hoddle1
(Reid) Watson Butcher1
Wilkins* Francis T. Hateley Hodge (Stevens G.A.)
Waddle
Highlights:
First-half goals from Terry Butcher and Glenn Hoddle gave England the edge in
a fiercely fought match for the Sir Stanley Rous Cup. Scotland got back into
the game when Graeme Souness scored from the penalty spot after Terry Butcher
had upended Charlie Nicholas, but the England defence held out for a
confidence-boosting victory before their World Cup journey to Mexico. England
had stretched their unbeaten run to nine games, and their two best players –
Bryan Robson and Gary Lineker – were both set to return after injury.
No
386
Mexico, Los Angeles, 17.5.86. England won 3-0
Shilton Anderson Sansom Hoddle Fenwick Butcher
Robson* (Stevens G.A.)
Wilkins (Steven) Hateley2
(Dixon) Beardsley1
Waddle (Barnes)
Highlights: A convincing victory over World Cup hosts
Mexico in a warm-up match was spoilt by the sight of skipper Bryan Robson
going off with a dislocated shoulder. Mark Hateley gave England an early 2-0
lead with two magnificent headers, and the third victory-clinching goal was
Peter Beardsley's first for England.
No
387
Canada, Burnaby, 24.5.86. England won 1-0
Shilton (Woods) Stevens Sansom Hoddle Martin
Butcher
Wilkins* (Reid) Hodge Hateley1
Lineker (Beardsley) Waddle (Barnes J.)
Highlights: Gary Lineker damaged a wrist so badly that it
was feared he would miss the World Cup in this final tuning-up game before the
finals. Mark Hateley scored the only goal of a scrappy game against opponents
who were out of their depth, but determined not to let England get into any
sort of rhythm. The Canadians had also qualified for the finals and were as
keen as England for a full-blooded warm-up match, but the action was rarely
better than mediocre on what was a dull, depressing, rain-hammered day.
Steve Hodge was the pick of the England players, and with luck might have had
a hat-trick.
No
388
Portugal, World Cup, Monterrey, 3.6.86. England lost 1-0
Shilton Stevens Sansom Hoddle Fenwick
Butcher
Robson* (Hodge) Wilkins Hateley Lineker Waddle
(Beardsley)
Highlights: A rare defensive blunder by Kenny Sansom led to
Carlos Manuel scoring the winning goal for Portugal in the second-half of a
disappointing World Cup opener. Gary Lineker played with his sprained wrist
strapped, and Bryan Robson came off after seventy-five minutes to protect his
shoulder. England created enough chances to have won the match comfortably,
but they lacked finishing finesse. 'A shocking start,' admitted a grim-faced
Bobby Robson, knowing that the vultures were ready to swoop at the first
opportunity.
No
389
Morocco, World Cup, Monterrey, 6.6.86. Drew 0-0
Shilton Stevens Sansom Hoddle Fenwick
Butcher
Robson* (Hodge) Wilkins Hateley (Stevens G.A.)
Lineker Waddle
Highlights: England's World Cup turned into a nightmare in
the space of five minutes just before half-time when first Bryan Robson was
taken off with a recurrence of his shoulder injury, and then acting captain
Ray Wilkins was sent off for throwing the ball at the referee in protest at an
off-side decision. The ten men of England battled with enormous energy and
spirit in the second-half and could feel satisfied with their point.
Temperatures on the pitch soared above 100 degrees, and players on both sides
were reduced to walking pace. The ten men of England played boldly and
bravely, and the defence - with Terry Butcher like a colossus - stifled any
hopes the Moroccans had of making capital of their extra man.
No
390
Poland, World Cup, Monterrey, 11.6.86. England won 3-0
Shilton* Stevens Sansom Hoddle Fenwick
Butcher
Steven Reid Lineker3
(Dixon) Beardsley (Waddle) Hodge
Highlights: Gary Lineker scored all three goals in the
first-half to put England on the way to an exhilarating victory and into the
second round of the World Cup finals. Bobby Robson was forced to make changes
- both tactical and in personnel - because of injuries and the Ray Wilkins
suspension, and Lineker looked more comfortable playing in a 4-2-4 formation.
'People can say what they like about me,' said a triumphant Bobby Robson, 'but
never ever accuse my players of lacking character. This was a phenomenal
performance given the pressure they were under. Phenomenal!'
No
391
Paraguay, World Cup, Mexico City, 18.6.86. England won 3-0
Shilton* Stevens Sansom Hoddle Martin
Butcher
Steven Reid (Stevens G.A.) Lineker2
Beardsley1
(Hateley) Hodge
Highlights: After surviving some early scares, England took
command with a first-half goal by Gary Lineker. Peter Beardsley netted the
second goal while Lineker was off the pitch receiving treatment after being
elbowed in the throat, and it was Lineker who clinched England's place in the
quarter-finals with his fifth goal of the tournament after combining with
Tottenham team-mates Glenn Hoddle and Gary Stevens. Waiting for England in the
quarter-finals were Argentina and Maradona. It would be the first meeting
between the two countries since the Falklands War of 1982.
No 392
Argentina, World Cup, Mexico City, 22.6.86. England lost
2-1
Shilton* Stevens Sansom Hoddle Fenwick
Butcher
Steven (Barnes J.) Reid (Waddle) Lineker1
Beardsley Hodge
Highlights (a longer report this time because this was one
of the most eventful games in World Cup history):
Watched by a crowd of 114,580 spectators in
Mexico City’s Azteca Stadium, the match was heavy with tension because of the
overspill of feeling from the Falklands War. Squads of military police
brandishing white batons patrolled the ground, but apart from a few isolated
skirmishes the rival England and Argentine fans gave all their attention to a
game that was electric with action and atmosphere.
All eyes were on Diego
Maradona, who was in the form of his life and forcing good judges to reassess
whether Pele really was the greatest footballer of all time. He might have
been the shortest man on the field at 5ft 4in, but the chunky, wide-shouldered
Argentine captain paraded across the pitch with the assured air of a giant
among pygmies. England’s defenders noticeably quivered every time he took
possession, which was often because he was continually demanding the ball the
moment it reached the feet of any team-mate. When he had the ball on his left
foot, he would glide past tackles with the ease of a Rolls-Royce overtaking a
Reliant Robin; and when he did not have the ball he was still a menace because
of the speed with which he ran into areas of space to make himself available
for a pass.
England defender Terry
Fenwick, out of the retaliate-first school of football, decided that a
physical assault might be the best way to keep Maradona quiet. Wrong! All he
got for his clumsy effort was a booking and a cold stare from the Master that
could be interpreted as meaning that he would eventually pay for his attempted
ambush. He would pick his moment to provide action to go with that look.
England might have fared
better in a goalless first forty-five minutes had they been more adventurous,
but they were so conscious of Maradona’s match-winning ability that they
cautiously kept players back in defence. They would have been better employed
supporting raids against an Argentine back line that looked vulnerable under
attack.
The second-half belonged
almost entirely to Maradona, and the two goals that he scored became the major
talking point of the entire tournament. The first will always be remembered
for its controversy – many would say, cheating – and the second for its quite
astounding quality.
Six minutes had gone of the
second-half when Maradona swept the ball to the feet of Valdano, and raced
into the penalty area for the return. As he made his break some England
defenders were appealing for offside. But the linesman’s flag stayed down as
Valdano’s centre was deflected across the face of the England goal by Steve
Hodge. Goalkeeper Peter Shilton came off his line prepared to punch clear.
There seemed no way the
stocky Maradona, dwarfed by the powerfully built England goalkeeper, could
outjump Shilton. Spectators looked on in amazement as the ball cannoned into
the net off Maradona with the airborne Shilton stretching out to thrash empty
air.
All eyes in the Press box
swivelled towards the action replay on the television screen for confirmation
of what they thought they had just seen, and there was the instant evidence.
No doubt about it, Maradona had pushed the ball into the net with his left
hand.
Outraged Shilton led a
posse of protesting players trying to persuade referee Ali Ben Naceur that the
goal had been illegal but, from the angle that the Tunisian saw it, Maradona
appeared to have scored with his head. He pointed to the centre-circle and the
little man from Buenos Aires went on a dance of celebration that should have
been a skulk of shame.
Four minutes later, with
the aggrieved England players trying to regain their composure, the Jeykll and
Hyde character that was Maradona unveiled the genius in his game. He produced
the sort of magic that had prompted Napoli to buy him from Barcelona for a
world record £6.9 million in 1984.
To say he ran rings round
England would be too simple a description of a goal that stands comparison
with the very best scored anywhere and at any time. Indeed, it was voted Goal
of the Century in 1999.
Running with the ball at
his feet from close to the halfway line, Maradona drew England defenders to
him like a spider luring its prey. Kenny Sansom, Terry Butcher and then Terry
Fenwick - he who tried a physical assault in the first half - all came into
the Maradona web and were left in a tangle behind him as he accelerated past
their attempted tackles.
Again, it was Maradona
versus Shilton, this time on the ground. Maradona did not have to cheat his
way past the England goalkeeper. He sold him an outrageous dummy that left
Shilton scrambling for a shot that was never made, and then nonchalantly
prodded the ball into the empty net for a goal of breathtaking beauty. It was
a moment of magnificence that sweetened the sour taste left by Maradona’s
first goal. Well, almost.
England, to their credit,
battled back and substitute John Barnes laid on a goal for the razor-sharp
Lineker in the eightieth minute (making Gary the tournament's top marksman
with six goals). But it was Argentina who went through to the semi-finals.
As they walked exhausted
off the bakehouse of a pitch after their 2-1 defeat, the England players - led
by Shilton - found the energy to continue their complaints to the referee
about the first Maradona goal. But most of the capacity crowd were talking
only about his second goal as they filed out of the ground at the end of an
eventful quarter-final that would always be remembered as 'Maradona’s match.'
The little man had a mix
between a smile and a smirk on his face as he said later: 'Yes, the ball did
go into the England net off my hand. It was the hand of God. It was not
deliberate and so I do not in any way feel guilty claiming it as a goal. Would
an England player have gone to the referee and said, "Don’t award the goal.
The ball hit my hand?" Of course not. Anyway, why all the controversy? Surely
my second goal ended all arguments.'
Bobby Robson summed up the
feelings of most England followers when he said: 'There is no room in football
for cheating. Maradona is a magnificent footballer, but he should be
thoroughly ashamed of himself. Yes, his second goal was a thing of wonder, but
that should have counted as Argentina's first goal.'
No
393
Sweden, Stockholm, 10.9.86. England lost 1-0
Shilton* Anderson Sansom Hoddle Martin
Butcher
Steven Wilkins Hodge Dixon Barnes J. (Cottee)
Highlights: It took a fiftieth minute goal from Sweden's
ace striker Johnny Ekstrom to wake up England, and they raised their game but
were unable to translate their dominance into goals. Tony Cottee, substituting
for injured John Barnes seven minutes after Sweden took the lead, went on to
win seven caps but was not on the pitch for the full ninety minutes in any of
the matches. Predictably, there were calls for Bobby Robson's head by a
section of the media who had turned England manager-baiting into a national
sport.
No
394
Northern Ireland, Wembley, 15.10.86. England won 3-0
Shilton Anderson Sansom Hoddle Watson
Butcher
Robson* Hodge Beardsley (Cottee) Lineker2
Waddle1
Highlights: In his first international since the World Cup,
Barcelona-based Gary Lineker was quickly back to his scoring form with two
goals that helped lift England to victory over Northern Ireland in this
opening European championship qualifying match. He scored his first goal in
the thirty-third minute against a spirited Northern Ireland team that often
had the England defence at full stretch. It was not until two goals in two
minutes in the closing stages, first by Chris Waddle and then Lineker, that
England could feel confident they had overcome the Irish challenge. Lineker
considered his match-clinching goal among the best he ever scored for
England. He ran on to a perfect through ball from Peter Beardsley and outpaced
defender John McClelland before chipping the ball into the net from a tight
angle while in full stride.
No
395
Yugoslavia, Wembley, 12.11.86. England won 2-0
Woods Anderson1
Sansom Hoddle Wright Butcher*
Mabbutt1
Hodge (Wilkins) Beardsley Lineker Waddle (Steven)
Highlights: Gary Mabbutt celebrated his recall after three
years by giving England the lead in the twenty-first minute of this European
championship qualifier. It was his Tottenham team-mate Glenn Hoddle who
monopolised the match from midfield, and he created enough chances for
England to have sewn up the match long before Viv Anderson scored the second
goal in the fifty-seventh minute. Terry Butcher captained England for the
first time, and Ray Wilkins came on as a second-half substitute for his
eighty-fourth and final appearance for England. It had been a distinguished
international career, scarred only by his loss of temper in the World Cup in
Mexico when he threw he ball at the referee and got his marching orders. 'The
worst moment of my career,' he said later. 'I had always been proud of my self
control, but this time I just lost it.'
No
396
Spain, Madrid, 18.2.87. England won 4-2
Shilton (Woods) Anderson Sansom Hoddle Adams
Butcher
Robson* Hodge Beardsley Lineker4
Waddle (Steven)
Highlights: Gary Lineker made it a memorable fifty-fourth
birthday for manager Bobby Robson when he scored all four goals against Spain
in a dynamic display of finishing in atrocious, mud-caked conditions in the
Bernebeu Stadium. Three weeks earlier he had scored a hat-trick for Barcelona
against Real Madrid, and now the combined might of those club defences
crumbled before him as he pounced for two goals in each half after Spain had
taken an early lead. He headed the first, poached the second and third from
close range and powered the fourth from the edge of the penalty area after
running on to a pass by his favourite partner Peter Beardsley. Tony Adams,
twenty-year-old Arsenal centre-half, became the first player born after the
1966 World Cup triumph to be capped by England.
No
397
Northern Ireland, Belfast, 1.4.87. England won 2-0
Shilton (Woods) Anderson Sansom Mabbutt Wright
Butcher
Robson*1
Hodge Beardsley Lineker Waddle1
Highlights: Bryan Robson put his injury problems behind him
and returned to the England team with a typically inspiring performance in
this European championship qualifier. He headed the first goal in the
nineteenth minute, and Chris Waddle gave England a comfortable two-goal
cushion when he scored two minutes before half-time. Chris Woods took over
from injured Peter Shilton in the forty-sixth minute. Terry Butcher, winning
his fiftieth cap, was a tower of strength in the middle of the England defence
alongside Mark Wright.
No
398
Turkey, Izmir, 29.4.87. Drew 0-0
Woods Anderson Sansom Mabbutt Adams Hoddle
Robson* Hodge (Barnes J.) Allen C. (Hateley) Lineker
Waddle
Highlights: Two days before being named Footballer of the
Year after his 49 goals for Tottenham, Clive Allen was celebrating what he
thought was his first goal for England against Turkey in this European
championship qualifier. But the referee disallowed it, and there was a further
disappointment for him in his first international match for three years when
he was substituted by Mark Hateley. England had expected a shoal of goals, but
were unable to find the target against a disciplined Turkish defence. A
swirling wind made ball control difficult, and the game came bogged down in
midfield as the players struggled to come to terms with the aggravating
conditions.
No
399
Brazil, Wembley, 19.5.87. Drew 1-1
Shilton Stevens Pearce Reid Adams Butcher
Robson* Waddle Beardsley Lineker1
(Hateley) Barnes J.
Highlights: A diving header by Gary Lineker gave England a
first-half lead against a young, experimental Brazilian team that showed
flourishes of the skilful football that would have pleased their ancestors. It
was Lineker's nineteenth goal in twenty matches, but this did not save him
from being substituted by Mark Hateley as Bobby Robson attempted to expose
Brazil's weakness in the air. Marindinha, later of Newcastle, scored Brazil's
deserved equaliser in an exciting Rous Cup match. Stuart Pearce made his
international bow at left-back for the first of his seventy-eight caps.
No
400
Scotland, Hampden Park, 23.5.87. Drew 0-0
Woods Stevens Pearce Hoddle Wright
Butcher
Robson* Hodge Hateley Beardsley Waddle
Highlights: Defences dominated in a drab goalless draw in
which both teams wasted scoring chances. Veteran press box observers could
not remember an auld enemy match so lacking in passion and and excitement. The
topic became the old chestnut of whether there was too much football, leaving
players jaded at the end of the season. Brazil beat Scotland 2-0 on the same
Hampden Park pitch three days later to take the Rous Cup.
No
401
West Germany, Dusseldorf, 9.9.87. England lost 3-1
Shilton* Anderson (Pearce) Sansom Hoddle (Webb) Adams
Mabbutt
Reid Barnes J. Beardsley Lineker1
Waddle (Hateley)
Highlights: England
never recovered after going two goals down in the first half hour. Gary
Lineker pulled one back before half-time, but Littbarski was again a thorn in
England's side and his second goal of the match clinched a convincing victory
for the Germans. Neil Webb became the 1000th player to be capped by England
when coming on as substitute for Glenn Hoddle in the sixty-fourth minute. 'You
cannot give a team like West Germany a two-goal start and hope to win,' was
the after-match appraisal from Bobby Robson, who came in for the anticipated
criticism from the 'Robson-must-go' campaigners.
No
402
Turkey, Wembley, 14.10.87. England won 8-0
Shilton Stevens Sansom Steven (Hoddle) Adams
Butcher
Robson*1
Webb1
Beardsley1
(Regis) Lineker3 Barnes J.2
Highlights: England
were two goals up in eight minutes through John Barnes and Gary Lineker, and
both players added a goal each before half-time on a rain-saturated Wembley
pitch. Bryan Robson deflected a Neil Webb shot into the Turkish net to make it
5-0 and Peter Beardsley headed the sixth goal before Lineker completed his
fourth international hat-trick in the seventy-first minute. It was Webb,
playing in his first full international, who completed the massacre with a
rasping volley as England moved to the top of their European championship
qualifying table.
No 403
Yugoslavia, Belgrade, 11.11.87. England won 4-1
Shilton Stevens Sansom Steven Adams1
Butcher
Robson*1
(Reid) Webb (Hoddle) Beardsley1
Lineker Barnes J.1
Highlights: England
won the match and clinched a place in the European championship finals with a
dazzling first-half display that produced goals in the opening twenty-five
minutes from Peter Beardsley, John Barnes, Bryan Robson and Tony Adams. The
Yugoslavs could not cope with the pace and power of the England attack, and
were forced to pull attacking players back in a bid to shore up their
beleaguered defence. England were coasting to victory when Katanec scored a
consolation goal in the eightieth minute. Bobby Robson summed up the
performance when he said: 'I am proud to have a long association with England
going back to my playing days, and I cannot recall a more emphatic first-half
display overseas. We looked unbeatable in that opening half hour.'
No
404
Israel, Tel Aviv, 17.2.88. Drew 0-0
Woods Stevens Pearce Webb Watson Wright (Fenwick)
McMahon Allen (Harford) Beardsley* Barnes J. Waddle
Highlights: Steve McMahon and Mick Harford won their first
caps in a match that was in danger of being called off as driving rain turned
the ground into a quagmire. The waterlogged pitch made decent football an
impossibility, and the game developed into farce. Peter Beardsley was made
captain in place of the absent Bryan Robson. Stuart Pearce went closest to
breaking the deadlock with a fizzing left foot shot from fifteen yards that
was hacked off the Israel goal-line with the goalkeeper beaten.
No
405
Holland, Wembley, 23.3.88. Drew 2-2
Shilton Stevens Sansom Steven Adams1
Watson (Wright)
Robson* Webb (Hoddle) Beardsley (Hateley) Lineker1
Barnes J.
Highlights: Gary Lineker scored his twenty-fourth goal in
twenty-four games to give England a fourteenth minute lead, sliding the ball
past the advancing Dutch goalkeeper after controlling a thirty-yard pass from
Gary Stevens. Ruud Gullit was the inspiration behind a Dutch fight back and
they equalised when a cross hit Tony Adams and deflected into the England net.
A sparkling Gullit run made the opening for Bosman to give Holland a half-time
lead that was cancelled out when Adams made amends for his own goal by heading
in a Trevor Steven free-kick. England and Holland were drawn in the same group
for the upcoming European championship finals, and the coaching staff on each
bench were furiously making notes for future reference.
No 406
Hungary, Budapest, 27.4.88. Drew 0-0
Woods Anderson Pearce (Stevens) Steven Adams
Pallister
Robson* McMahon Beardsley (Hateley) Lineker (Cottee)
Waddle (Hoddle)
Highlights: Gary Pallister, stepping up from Second
Division football with Middlesbrough, made an excellent debut alongside Tony
Adams in an England defence that coped well with a Hungarian attack that
promised much more than it finally produced. For goalkeeper Chris Woods, the
understudy to Peter Shilton, it was a sixth successive full game in which he
had not conceded a goal. Bobby Robson made it clear before hand that he would
be experimenting with the European championships in mind, and he replaced
Beardsley, Lineker and Waddle with Hateley, Cottee and Hoddle in search of a
back-up attacking formation. There was little to encourage Robson that he had
found the right blend.
No
407
Scotland, Wembley, 21.5.88. England won 1-0
Shilton Stevens Sansom Webb Adams Watson
Robson* Steven (Waddle) Beardsley1
Lineker Barnes J.
Highlights: This
107th match between England and Scotland and the first staged on a Saturday
for seven years was spoiled by crowd trouble outside the ground that led to
over two hundred arrests. The high spot on the pitch was a beautifully created
first-half goal by Peter Beardsley that was enough to give England victory in
this Rous Cup match, which was again a triangular tournament with Colombia the
overseas guests. England were far and away the better team, and Jim Leighton
pulled off a procession of brilliant saves to prove that Scottish goalkeepers
were not as bad as myth suggested.
No
408
Colombia, Wembley, 24.5.88. Drew 1-1
Shilton Anderson Sansom McMahon Adams Wright
Robson*
Waddle (Hoddle) Beardsley (Hateley) Lineker1
Barnes J.
Highlights: Gary Lineker's flicked header from a Chris
Waddle right wing cross went in off a post to give England the lead after
twenty-three minutes in this Rous Cup match. The Colombians were forced to
abandon their dour defensive tactics, and the orange-haired Carlos Valderrama
started to treat the crowd to his bag of tricks. Escobar equalised for
Colombia in the sixty-sixth minute with a header that went into the net off
the underside of the bar following a corner-kick, but it was not enough to
stop England skipper Bryan Robson collecting the Rous Cup. The crowd were
entertained by the antics of goalkeeper Higuita, who played as a sweeper and
often came out of the penalty area to pay the ball with his feet. It was just
a warm-up for his most eccentric trick that would be saved for his next visit
to the Wembley ground that the Colombians described as The Cathedral of
football.
No
409
Switzerland, Lausanne, 28.5.88. England won 1-0
Shilton (Woods) Stevens Sansom Webb Adams (Watson)
Wright
Robson* (Reid) Steven (Waddle) Beardsley Lineker1
Barnes J.
Highlights: A
superbly struck second-half goal by Gary Lineker gave England a well merited
victory over a disciplined Swiss team in a final warm-up match before the
European championship finals. Peter Shilton hardly had a shot to save in the
first-half before making way for substitute Chris Woods, who was a little
busier but yet again kept a clean sheet. Lineker's goal was set up for him in
the fifty-ninth minute by clever combination work between Bryan Robson and
Peter Beardsley, with Lineker reading the situation perfectly to be in the
right place at the right time to sweep the ball into the net.
No
410
Republic of Ireland, Stuttgart, 12.6.88. England lost 1-0
Shilton Stevens Sansom Webb (Hoddle) Adams Wright
Robson* Waddle Beardsley (Hateley) Lineker Barnes J.
Highlights: Jack Charlton's 25-1 outsiders took a shock
sixth minute lead through Ray Houghton and then defied all attempts by England
to save this opening game in the European championship finals. England put too
much responsibility on the shoulders of Gary Lineker, who took a buffeting as
he missed a hat-trick of chances before goalkeeper Paddy Bonner produced a
miracle save to stop him snatching a late equaliser. It was a tactical triumph
for Jack Charlton, who employed Ray Houghton and Tony Galvin as
nuisance-makers in midfield, crowding out England's engine room so that it was
unable to function properly. It was not pretty, but it was effective. 'You
have to have the ball to be able to play with it,' Charlton explained. 'We
decided not to let England have it. Simple as that.'
No
411
Holland, Dusseldorf, 15.6.88. England lost 3-1
Shilton Stevens Sansom Hoddle Adams Wright
Robson*1
Steven (Waddle) Beardsley (Hateley) Lineker Barnes J.
Highlights: Marco Van Basten chose this European
championship match to reveal to the world that he had developed into one of
the great strikers of modern times. He powered Holland into the lead a minute
before half-time, and then returned to the scoring stage after Bryan Robson
had given England brief hope with a fifty-fourth minute equaliser. As Ruud
Gullit pulled the English defence inside out with his clever running and
precise passing, Van Basten decided the match with two goals in four minutes
to complete a devastating hat-trick and ruin Peter Shilton's 100th
international appearance. While desperately disappointed, Bobby Robson had to
hold up his hands and admit England had been beaten by a superior side. 'World
class,' was his brief but accurate decision to Van Basten.
No
412
USSR, Frankfurt, 18.6.88. England lost 3-1
Woods Stevens Sansom Hoddle Adams1
Watson
Robson* Steven Lineker (Hateley) McMahon (Webb) Barnes
J.
Highlights: The Russians rushed into a third minute lead
and compounded England's misery by handing them their third successive victory
in the European championship tournament. A Tony Adams goal pulled England
level in the fifteenth minute, but the Russians regained the lead thirteen
minutes later and wrapped up the game with a third goal thirteen minutes from
the final whistle. Gary Lineker's lethargic performances were more easily
understood when it was diagnosed that he was suffering from hepatitis. Bobby
Robson survived another campaign by the tabloid press for his head. Questions
were even asked in the House by MPs who felt new leadership was the answer to
England's problems.
No 413
Denmark, Wembley, 14.9.88. England won 1-0
Shilton (Woods) Stevens Pearce Rocastle Adams
(Walker) Butcher Robson*
Webb1
Harford (Cottee) Beardsley (Gascoigne) Hodge
Highlights: England's supporters voted against England with
their feet and a crowd of only 25,837 turned up at Wembley to see England beat
Denmark thanks to a twenty-eighth minute goal by Neil Webb. David Rocastle
started his first match for England, and there were two substitutes who would
play a big part in England's future - Des Walker after sixty-five minutes and
then, with just five minutes to go, a beefy young Geordie called Paul
Gascoigne. Only a remarkable recovery tackle by Tony Adams late in the game
prevented Michael Laudrup from snatching an equalizer that the Danes deserved.
No 414
Sweden, Wembley, 19.10.88. Drew 0-0
Shilton Stevens Pearce Webb Adams (Walker)
Butcher
Robson* Beardsley Waddle Lineker Barnes J. (Cottee)
Highlights: There was a tame start to England's 1990 World
Cup campaign when they were held to a goalless draw by a Swedish side that
came with the main objective of not getting beaten. England's forwards were
all out of touch in front of goal, and even a barnstorming display by skipper
Bryan Robson failed to give them the key to victory. Goalkeeper Peter Shilton
was unemployed for long periods, but proved an unbeatable barrier when the
Swedes suddenly stepped up the pace in the second-half and threatened to
dismantle the previously sound England defence. The clamour for Bobby Robson
to be sacked was given new impetus. 'In the name of God go!' pleaded one
headline, lifting the famous historical quote from Oliver Cromwell.
No
415
Saudi Arabia, Riyadh, 16.11.88. Drew 1-1
Seaman Sterland Pearce Thomas (Gascoigne) Adams1
Pallister
Robson* Rocastle Beardsley (Smith) Lineker Waddle (Marwood)
Highlights: It took a fifty-fourth minute equaliser from
Tony Adams to save England from the embarrassment of defeat in a match that
many considered was an unnecessary fixture in England's international
calendar. Sheffield Wednesday right-back Mel Sterland won his one and only
England cap, and Brian Marwood's England career lasted just nine minutes when
he followed Arsenal clubmate Alan Smith on as a substitute to bring the
Highbury contingent to five players including goalkeeper David Seaman. The
result inspired another anti-Robson headline: 'In the name of Allah go!'
No
416
Greece, Athens, 8.2.89. England won 2-1
Shilton Stevens Pearce Webb Walker Butcher¸
Robson*1
Rocastle Smith (Beardsley) Lineker Barnes J.1
Highlights: England were shaken by a second minute penalty
goal, but cancelled it out seven minutes later when John Barnes guided the
ball into the net. It took more than an hour for England to find anything
approaching fluency, and then they started to pound away at the Greek defence
until the inevitable goal came from Bryan Robson in the seventy-ninth minute.
England had clearly lost their pulling power overseas. There were just 6,000
spectators in the huge Olympic Stadium. Robson's goal was a collector's item,
a magnificent volley after Lineker had neatly nodded a John Barnes cross into
his path.
No
417
Albania, Tirana, 8.3.89. England won 2-0
Shilton Stevens Pearce Webb Walker Butcher
Robson*1
Rocastle Waddle (Beardsley) Lineker (Smith) Barnes J.1
Highlights: A
toothless Albanian team failed to trouble Peter Shilton in a World Cup
qualifying match that was strangely lacking in passion. England won
comfortably enough with a goal in each half by John Barnes and Bryan Robson,
but the talk was more of the missed chances and a seventh successive blank
match for Gary Lineker. In his fiftieth game as England captain, Bryan Robson
was in his usual non-stop motivating mode. It is safe to say that no England
captain had ever covered as much ground after fifty games as skipper.
No
418
Albania, Wembley, 26.4.89. England won 5-0
Shilton Stevens (Parker) Pearce Webb Walker
Butcher
Robson* Rocastle (Gascoigne1)
Beardsley2 Lineker1
Waddle1
Highlights: Gary Lineker ended a goal famine that had
lasted nearly a year when he headed past the seventeen-year-old Albanian
goalkeeper in the fifth minute of this return World Cup qualifier. It was
Lineker who laid on the second and third goals for his usual provider Peter
Beardsley. Then substitute Paul Gascoigne lit up the international stage by
setting up a goal for his fellow Geordie Chris Waddle before conjuring a
magical goal of his own in the eighty-eight minute, ghosting past two
defenders and then firing a low shot into the far corner of the net. It was a
taste of things to come.
No
419
Chile, Wembley, 23.5.89. Drew 0-0
Shilton Parker Pearce Webb Walker Butcher
Robson* Gascoigne Clough Fashanu (Cottee) Waddle
Highlights: An experimental England team featuring new caps
Nigel Clough and John Fashanu struggled to break down a resolute Chilean
defence. There was a graveyard atmosphere at Wembley for this Rous Cup match,
with a tube train strike helping to keep the attendance down to an all-time
low for an England international at Wembley of just 15,628. Fashanu, the first
Wimbledon player to be capped by England, limped off after seventy minutes.
His only other England appearance would last just thirty minutes. Nigel
Clough's call up completed the first father-and-son double act -following his
two-cap dad, Brian - since George Eastham followed George senior into the
England team. Paul Parker played his first full game.
No
420
Scotland, Hampden Park, 27.5.89. England won 2-0
Shilton Stevens Pearce Webb Walker Butcher
Robson* Steven Fashanu (Bull1)
Cottee (Gascoigne) Waddle1
Highlights: Substitutes Steve Bull and Paul Gascoigne had
double reason for celebrations as England powered to a 2-0 victory in this
Rous Cup match. Pride of Wolves Bull, the first Third Division player capped
since Peter Taylor in 1976, marked his debut with an eightieth minute goal to
add to Chris Waddle's twentieth minute strike. Gascoigne came on two minutes
before Bull's goal on what was his twenty-second birthday. England were
flattered by the final scoreline against a lively Scottish team that missed a
succession of scoring chances from close range.
No
421
Poland, Wembley, 3.6.89. England won 3-0
Shilton Stevens Pearce Webb1
Walker Butcher
Robson* Waddle (Rocastle) Beardsley (Smith) Lineker1
Barnes J.1
Highlights: Gary Lineker was in exceptional form, scoring
the first goal in the twenty-fourth minute and helping to set up vital goals
for John Barnes and Neil Webb in the sixty-ninth and eighty-second minutes.
Lineker would have opened the scoring early in this World Cup qualifier but
for a cynical foul by the goalkeeper as the England striker prepared to shoot
into a gaping net. In today's game, the goalkeeper would have certainly been
sent for an early bath. Peter Shilton equaled Bobby Moore's record collection
of 108 England caps in what was his 1200th first-class match.
No
422
Denmark, Copenhagen, 7.6.89. Drew 1-1
Shilton (Seaman) Parker Pearce Webb (McMahon) Walker
Butcher
Robson* Rocastle Beardsley (Bull) Lineker1
Barnes J. (Waddle)
Highlights: Gary Lineker fired England into the lead in the twenty-ninth
minute in a match staged to celebrate 100 years of Danish football. Denmark
equalised early in the second-half, the first goal conceded
by Peter Shilton in six matches as he set a new England caps record in his
109th appearance before making way for David Seaman as both managers made the
agreed maximum of four substitutions.
No
423
Sweden, Stockholm,
6.9.89. Drew 0-0
Shilton Stevens Pearce Webb (Gascoigne) Walker
Butcher*
Beardsley McMahon
Waddle Lineker Barnes J. (Rocastle)
Highlights: England's second goalless draw with Sweden
virtually clinched their place in the 1990 World Cup finals. Skipper Terry
Bucher was England's bloody hero. He insisted on playing on after having ten
stitches inserted into a deep gash on his forehead during the half-time
interval. It was a sad game for Neil Webb who limped off with an Achilles
tendon injury that put him on the sidelines for several months. Bobby Robson,
who had introduced Terry Butcher to professional football when manager at
Ipswich, said: 'Terry's performance epitomised what he is all about. The boy
is all heart and character, and he is as good a central defender as there is
in the game. I have known him since he was a kid and he has never ever given
less than one hundred per cent.'
No
424
Poland, Katowice, 11.10.89. Drew 0-0
Shilton Stevens Pearce McMahon Walker Butcher
Robson* Rocastle Beardsley Lineker Waddle
Highlights: Almost sixteen years to the day England had
drawn with Poland at Wembley in a World Cup match in which only a victory
would do. Peter Shilton had been in goal then, and here he was again at the
age of forty playing to the peak of his ability as England battled for the
point that would guarantee their place in the World Cup finals. Shilton was
beaten only once when a thirty-yard shot rattled his crossbar in the last
minute. Thanks largely to Shilts, England had completed their six-match
qualifying programme without conceding a single goal. The press were off Bobby
Reobson's back. He had again guided England to the World Cup finals. 'I have
ignored all the flak,' Robson said, 'but I just wish the people writing the
rubbish would stop and think for a second what effect it has on those nearest
and dearest to the person being vilified. What I have found unforgivable is
the intrusions into my private life and stories that are rarely substantiated
by any facts.' Robson was referring to articles linking him with extra-marital
affairs, allegations that hurt him much more than the headlines calling for
his dismissal.
No 425
Italy, Wembley, 15.11.89. Drew 0-0
Shilton (Beasant) Stevens Pearce (Winterburn) McMahon
(Hodge) Walker
Butcher Robson* (Phelan) Waddle Beardsley (Platt) Lineker
Barnes J.
Highlights: England stretched their unbeaten run to
thirteen matches and nine hours without conceding a goal against the 1990
World Cup hosts and tournament favourites. Bobby Robson experimented by
sending on four new caps as second-half substitutes - Dave Beasant, Nigel
Winterburn, Mike Phelan and David Platt. Phelan went closest to breaking the
scoring deadlock with a thirty-yard volley from a punched clearance by
goalkeeper Zenga. The ball missed the target by inches in what was Phelan's
only international appearance. Gary Lineker had the ball in the Italian net
late in the game, only to have his celebrations cut short because the referee
had spotted an obstruction by Terry Butcher a split second before Linker
netted. The partnership between Des Walker and Terry Butcher at the heart of
the England defence was looking impregnable, and as solid as the 1960s one
between Jack Charlton and Bobby Moore.
No
426
Yugoslavia, Wembley, 13.12.89. England won 2-1
Shilton (Beasant) Parker Pearce (Dorigo) Thomas (Platt)
Walker Butcher
Robson*2 (McMahon)
Rocastle (Hodge) Bull Lineker Waddle
Highlights: Bryan Robson scored the fastest England goal
ever witnessed at Wembley when he headed in a Chris Waddle free-kick after
just thirty-eight seconds. It ended more than five hours' of goalless football
by England and set up what was their 100th win at Wembley. Skoro equalised for
Yugoslavia with a snap shot in a rare attack in the seventeenth minute, and it
was Robson who struck the winning goal in the sixty-seventh minute after Paul
Parker had made an enterprising break down the right wing. Bobby Robson
continued his experiments, sending on Dave Beasant, Tony Dorigo, David Platt,
Steve McMahon and Steve Hodge as substitutes, the first time England had ever
sent on five subs.
No
427
Brazil, Wembley, 28.3.90. England won 1-0
Shilton (Woods) Stevens Pearce McMahon
Walker Butcher*
Platt Waddle Beardsley (Gascoigne) Lineker1
Barnes J.
Highlights: This was billed as an unofficial World
championship because both teams were undefeated in their last fourteen
international matches. The game was settled by Gary Lineker nine minutes
before half-time when he headed in his thirtieth England goal after John
Barnes had flicked on a Peter Beardsley corner from the left. It was England's
first home victory against Brazil for thirty-four years. Shilton had to go off
for stitches after Des Walker's elbow had hit him in the face, and Chris Woods
took over in goal. Muller claimed the ball was over the line when Stuart
Pearce made a goalmouth clearance in the sixty-sixth minute. The 80,000 all-seater
crowd were brought to their feet at the end to give England a standing ovation
for an excellent performance against the favourites for the World Cup just
three months away.
No
428
Czechoslovakia, Wembley, 25.4.90. England won 4-2
Shilton (Seaman) Dixon Pearce1
(Dorigo) Steven Walker (Wright) Butcher
Robson* (McMahon) Gascoigne1
Bull2 Lineker Hodge
Highlights: Paul Gascoigne took hold of this game by the
scruff of the neck and showed what an exciting prospect he was after the
Czechs had startled England by taking an early lead. Gazza laid on two goals
for Steve Bull, another for Stuart Pearce and then in the final moments added
a fourth goal himself with a thumping left foot shot into the roof of the net.
Bobby Robson knew that he had a shining diamond of a player in Gazza, but a
diamond with a flaw. He said of his fellow Geordie, 'The lad is a brilliant
footballer but as daft as a brush.' Gazza was to give many examples to support
the description.
No
429
Denmark, Wembley, 15.5.90. England won 1-0
Shilton (Woods) Stevens Pearce (Dorigo) McMahon (Platt)
Walker Butcher*
Hodge Gascoigne Waddle (Rocastle) Lineker1
(Bull) Barnes J.
Highlights: A draw would have been a fairer reflection of
the play as England stretched their unbeaten run to seventeen internationals.
England survived half a dozen scares before Gary Lineker scored the match
winner in the fifty-fourth minute when he rammed a Steve Hodge centre into the
net off the bar. It was pointed out that England's unbeaten run was now only
three less than the one put together by Sir Alf Ramsey's team on the way to
the 1966 World Cup finals, and there was a growing feeling that Bobby Robson
could emulate Ramsey, who like Robson had used the Ipswich manager's job as a
stepping stone to the England hot seat.
No
430
Uruguay, Wembley, 22.5.90. England lost 2-1
Shilton Parker Pearce Hodge (Beardsley) Walker
Butcher
Robson* Gascoigne Waddle Lineker (Bull) Barnes J.1
Highlights: Uruguay
ended England's undefeated run in what was their final Wembley match before
the World Cup finals. Peter Shilton was beaten by a powerful header in the
first-half and a swerving free-kick in the second-half, the two goals
sandwiching an impressive strike by John Barnes following an audacious
fifty-yard pass by Paul Gascoigne. Gary Lineker got a slight knock and was
replaced in what was his fiftieth international appearance by Steve Bull. It
was not the ideal way to prepare for the World Cup, but Bobby Robson announced
that he was happy with the overall performance. 'If the accuracy of our
finishing had matched our approach work we would have won comfortably,' he
said. 'The spirit in our camp is excellent, and we go to Italy quietly
confident that we can do even better than in Mexico four years ago.'
No
431
Tunisia, Tunis, 2.6.90. Drew 1-1
Shilton Stevens Pearce Hodge (Beardsley) Walker
Butcher (Wright)
Robson* Waddle (Platt) Gascoigne Lineker (Bull1)
Barnes J.
Highlights:
England's final warm-up match before the World Cup finals almost proved too
hot for them. Steve Bull saved them from an unnerving defeat with a headed
last-minute equaliser. Tunis had taken a shock first-half lead when Hergal
accepted a miscued pass from Paul Gascoigne and astonished everybody,
particularly Peter Shilton, with a volley from thirty-five yards. England
looked lethargic and hardly in the mood for the World Cup challenge that lay
ahead of them. 'Don't read too much into it,' said Bobby Robson. 'This was
just a limbering up game. The matches that matter will be played in Italy.'
Robson knew that his England reign was nearly over. He had quietly negotiated
a contract back in club management with PSV Eindhoven. The English press would
have a new man to kick in the shape of Graham Taylor.
No
432
Republic of Ireland, World Cup, Cagliari, 11.6.90. Drew 1-1
Shilton Stevens Pearce Gascoigne Walker Butcher
Robson* Waddle Beardsley (McMahon) Lineker1
(Bull) Barnes J.
Highlights: England could not have got off to a better
start to their World Cup campaign when Gary Lineker chested down a Chris
Waddle pass and then forced the ball it into the net in the eighth minute.
But it was the Irish who grew in stature and confidence as they piled on
pressure with a long-ball game that was ugly to the eye but wearing on the
limbs and lungs of the overstretched England defenders. Peter Shilton,
equaling Pat Jennings' world record of 119 international caps, was beaten in
the sixty-eighth minute after substitute Steve McMahon, with his first touch
of the ball, lost control and watched in anguish as his Merseyside neighbour,
Everton's Kevin Sheedy, whipped it off his toes and planted an instant
left-foot drive into the net. Nobody could dispute that Ireland deserved
their equaliser in a game that was a poor advertisement for British football,
but it was cruel luck for McMahon who in a nightmare couple of minutes also
managed to get himself booked.
No
433
Holland, World Cup, Cagliari, 16.6.90. Drew 0-0
Shilton Parker Pearce Wright Walker Butcher
Robson* (Platt) Waddle (Bull) Gascoigne Lineker Barnes
J.
Highlights: England produced a world-class performance
using the sweeper system that Bobby Robson had virtually ignored throughout
his reign as England manager. The player he chose for the sweeping job was
Derby central defender Mark Wright, who was recalled for his first
international since England's defeat by Holland in the European Championships.
This was the match in which Paul Gascoigne came of age as an international
player. He strode around the centre stage as if he owned it, and some of his
forward surges and his passes were exceptional in their quality and execution.
One twisting turn on the ball when he foxed two Dutch defenders in the second
half was out of the Johan Cruyff school of skill. England were always that
little bit sharper and hungrier for the ball, and David Platt proved himself
made for the World Cup stage when he came on as substitute for injured skipper
Bryan Robson. There was a dramatic climax when Stuart Pearce drove a late
free kick from out on the right wide of the Dutch defensive wall and straight
into the net past diving goalkeeper Hans van Breukelen. Celebration of a
winning goal was cut short when the referee made it clear that he had awarded
an indirect free kick. The ball could only have missed the fingers of van
Breukelen by inches. England came that close to what would have been a richly
deserved win.
No
434
Egypt, World Cup, Cagliari, 21.6.90. England won 1-0
Shilton* Parker Pearce Gascoigne Walker Wright1
McMahon Waddle
(Platt) Bull (Beardsley) Lineker Barnes J.
Highlights: Mark Wright's first goal in international
football catapulted England into the second phase of World Cup '90 and slammed
shut the door on an Egyptian team that got the desserts their negative
approach deserved. Egypt played with just the one ambition of stopping England
from scoring, and they tried to strangle the life out of the game with
aggravating time-wasting tactics. England were reduced to ten men when Wright
scored his dramatic goal in the fifty-ninth minute. Des Walker was lying on
the perimeter of the pitch having treatment to a leg injury when England were
awarded a free kick out near the left touchline midway into Egypt's half. Paul
Gascoigne floated a high kick tantalisingly into the packed Egyptian penalty
area. It hung long enough in the air to tempt goalkeeper Ahmed Shubeir off his
line, and he was stranded as the tall figure of Wright rose above all those
around him. He connected with a glancing header and the ball flicked into the
net off defender Hesham Yakan.
No
435
Belgium, World Cup, Bologna, 26.6.90. England won 1-0 (aet)
Shilton Parker Pearce Wright Walker Butcher*
McMahon (Platt1)
Waddle Gascoigne Lineker Barnes J. (Bull)
Highlights: David Platt stepped into this full-blooded
thriller as a substitute, and with a penalty shoot-out just seconds away he
scored a phenomenal first goal for England to lift them into the
quarter-finals. The match was played at a furious pace until the intense heat
slowed just about everybody down to an exhausted jog in extra time. Enzo
Scifo bossed the game in midfield for Belgium and he and the veteran Jan
Ceulemans both smacked shots against Peter Shilton's right post. John Barnes
had been almost anonymous but was desperately unlucky in the fortieth minute
when he steered in a cross from Gary Lineker for what looked an excellent
goal. A linesman ended England's celebrations by raising the off-side flag.
With one minute of extra time to go Paul Gascoigne floated a free-kick deep
into the penalty area. Platt watched it carefully like a plane spotter, and
spun round to face the goal as the ball dropped over his shoulder. All in the
same movement he volleyed it wide of the Belgian goalkeeper. It would have
been rated a classic goal in any football match. In the last minute of a World
Cup finals tie it must go down as one of the greatest goals ever scored for
England.
No
436
Cameroon, World Cup, Naples, 1.7.90. England won 3-2 (aet)
Shilton Parker Pearce Wright Walker Butcher*
(Steven)
Platt1
Waddle Gascoigne Lineker2 Barnes J.
(Beardsley)
Highlights: Gary Lineker scored two goals from the penalty
spot not only to put England into the World Cup semi-finals but also to rescue
them from one of the most humiliating defeats in their history. The harsh
truth is that for long periods Cameroon played England off the park in a
dramatic duel that was draining both physically and emotionally, and only a
mixture of enormous luck and true grit pulled England through. It was
thirty-eight-year-old Roger Milla who wrote himself into World Cup folklore
against England. The silken skills of substitute Milla were released into the
match at the start of the second-half with Cameroon unlucky to be trailing 1–0
to an excellent goal that had been burgled by David Platt. Paul Gascoigne was
helping out in an overworked defence when he collided with Milla and conceded
a penalty in the sixty-first minute which was converted by Emmanuel Kunde.
Four minutes later Milla drew defenders towards him before threading a pass
through to substitute Eugene Ekeke. He sprinted clear, and then almost
casually flicked the ball into the net past Shilton. With six minutes to go,
Gary Lineker spun in the penalty area and was brought down by Thomas Libiih.
Lineker himself scored from the spot to breathe life back into England. There
was a fresh crisis for England when Mark Wright was cut and badly dazed as he
headed the back of Milla's head. He was treated for a jagged gash on his
forehead, and then bravely played on through extra time with a huge plaster
protecting a wound that later needed seven stitches. In the fourteenth minute
of extra time Gascoigne pushed a perfect pass through to Lineker, whose
promising run towards goal was halted when goalkeeper Thomas Nkono pulled him
down. Lineker shot his penalty on a straight line into the net. England had
won a memorable match, and created history by becoming the first English team
to reach a World Cup semi-final on foreign soil.
No
437
West Germany, World Cup semi-final, Turin, 4.7.90. Drew 1-1
(aet)
England lost 4-3 on penalties
Shilton Parker Pearce Wright Walker Butcher* (Steven)
Platt Waddle Gascoigne Lineker1
Beardsley
Highlights: England saved their finest performance of World
Cup '90 for this epic semi-final, but they finished up with empty hands and
broken hearts as West Germany conquered them in a torturous penalty
shoot-out. A 1–1 draw after extra time was just about a fair reflection on a
masterpiece of a match. There was just one irritating incident when Thomas
Berthold made a meal of a tackle by Paul Gascoigne in extra time, and Gazza
England
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