This was England's last home game before the World Cup began and the players responded with an excellent performance against very good opponents. It was a severe test of England's defence as the lively Skoblar, Mušović and Samardžić posed plenty of problems for Jack Charlton and company. But it was England who had a magnificent start to the game.

Straight from the opening whistle Bobby Charlton, who had another super game, put Jimmy Greaves away down the right with one of those long, raking passes that were his trademark. Greaves quickly put over a corner and there was Geoff Hurst to head just over. It would have been a classic goal but England did not have to wait too much longer to open their account. This time Terry Paine provided the cross and Greaves was on the end of it to head cleanly past Šoškić. It was the little master's 39th goal for his country and one superby taken.

Other goals should have followed. A great move begun by Bobby Charlton was carried on down the left by Ray Wilson and Greaves, this time centring from the left wing, found Bobby Tambling. Unfortunately, Tambling's volley from close in flew over the bar. Immediately, though, Greaves saw a fine header well saved by Šoškić, that came after another clever and intricate move involving Martin Peters, Bobby Charlton and Wilson.

By now the match could have been all over but as it was England had to wait until ten minutes from the interval before they increased their lead. It was a goal out of this world and one that the Wembley crowd would remember for a long time. It came from Bobby Charlton.

Collecting the ball some 40 yards out, he moved forward majestically, searching for an opening. Then suddenly he changed direction, quickened his pace and let fly a screamer into the top corner. Poor Šoškić, a world-class goalkeeper, was dumbfounded. It was a goal in a thousand and the crowd roared their approval. It left Charlton on 37 goals for England and a 'ding-dong' struggle for 'top dog' was now raging between him and Greaves.

Two goals down, Yugoslavia decided to up the pace of their game but as they came at England they left more gaps at the back and it was at their end that most of the chances fell.

Once, Peters sold a beautiful 'dummy' and instead of passing to Tambling he let fly himself a super shot which Šoškić brilliantly turned away. Peters could be justifiably proud of his first display at this level and he contributed much to the night's entertainment. Other chances also came and went. A snap-shot by Greaves flew just over, Peters narrowly missed with a diving header following a cross by Paine, and Greaves again shot over, this time from a Tambling pass. Super work by Peters and Wilson then set up Greaves again but again the Tottenham striker missed what was a clear chance.

Finally, another fine save by Šoškić prevented Tambling scoring after Bobby Charlton and Wilson had opened up the defence again. Despite plenty of Yugoslav attacks, their forwards rarely troubled Gordon Banks and the only disappointing aspect of the game was England's failure to convert more of the goal chances that came their way.
  

Jimmy Greaves, back in the England team after his hepatitis-forced five-month lay-off, scored the first goal in the ninth minute. Bobby Charlton celebrated being elected 'Footballer of the Year' by wrapping up England's victory with another of his screaming long-range shots. Martin Peters, the player who would be described by Ramsey as 'ten years ahead of his time', twice went close to marking his debut with a goal against a highly skilled Yugoslav side. It was England's last home game before the World Cup and they responded with a powerful performance that sent a mood of optimism shooting through the country.
  

England had beaten Yugoslavia only once in seven meetings, at Wembley in 1956. Their two latest clashes had both been draws, 1-1 in Belgrade a year earlier and the six-goal thriller at Wembley in 1960. Yugoslavia had slumped since their fourth-place position in the 1962 World Cup. They had failed to qualify for the approaching tournament in England. England had just retained the British Championship.
A rare headed goal by Jimmy Greaves, from Paine's cross, put England in front. 25 minutes later, Bobby Charlton wrapped it up, giving Šoškić no chance with a bullet-shot from outside the area. With a two-goal lead England consolidated.
Two years later, Yugoslavia beat England 1-0 in Florence in the European Championship semi-finals with a late winner. They then lost the final for the second time, to the hosts, Italy after a replay. They returned to Wembley in 1972.
     

Source Notes

TheFA.com
Original newspaper reports
Rothman's Yearbooks
Mike Payne's England: The Complete Post-War Record (Breedon Books Publishing Company, Derby, U.K., 1993)
Norman Giller, Football Author
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CG