Month: July 2014
Six of the Best – England matches under Bobby Robson
To mark the anniversary of the death of Sir Bobby Robson in 2009, let’s look back at six of the best games of his reign as England manager. It was a spell in charge that would not always go smoothly, as he found himself in the line of fire from the tabloids at times, but would end with Robson leaving as a hero after Italia ’90 and being much-loved in the later years of his life. A true legend of English football who will never be forgotten.
June 10th, 1984 – Brazil (a) 2-0 (Friendly)
It may only have been a friendly, but 30 years later this remains one of the most talked about games of the Bobby Robson era. The result in itself was momentous as England had only beaten Brazil once before, but it was particularly joyful for an under-pressure Robson. A week earlier England had been booed off after a home defeat by the USSR, following on from their failure to qualify for the European Championship and a poor showing in the last Home International Championship. While Brazil looked a pale shadow of the side that had won so many admirers at the 1982 World Cup, it was still a win to treasure for England in the Maracana and will forever be remembered for the incredible John Barnes goal shortly before the break (missed by England fans back home as ITV’s coverage only began at half-time). A Mark Hateley header wrapped things up in the second half. The pressure on Robson had eased and good results would now follow.
November 14th 1984 – Turkey (a) 8-0 (World Cup qualifier)
Fast forward five months and England had renewed confidence, having beaten Finland 5-0 in their opening World Cup qualifier in October 1984. They were expected to get a result against Turkey in Istanbul, with the Turks not regarded as one of the stronger European nations of the time. However, few were anticipating England to be so quite dominant and subdue the fervent home crowd with such an emphatic display. England in the 1980s were inspired by the two Robsons, with Bobby being manager and namesake Bryan his captain and on-field general. The skipper netted a hat-trick, with Tony Woodcock (2), John Barnes (2) and Viv Anderson also finding their way onto the scoresheet.
In typical football manager fashion, the older Robson was not totally satisfied. “I never thought I would ever win an international match 8-0 and think we’d let them off the hook because really we could have gone into double figures,” he told ITV’s Brian Moore afterwards, reflecting on missed chances. But there was a new-found confidence from England and they qualified with an unbeaten record for the finals. Other notable thrashings dished out by England under Robson included a 9-0 win over Luxembourg (December 1982) and another 8-0 win over Turkey (October 1987), both coming in European Championship qualifiers at Wembley.
June 11th, 1986 – Poland (n) 3-0 (World Cup Group F)
Almost exactly two years after the Brazil game, the pressure was again on Bobby Robson as England went into their final World Cup group game in Mexico in June 1986. They were in serious danger of an immediate exit after losing to Portugal and drawing with Morocco. A defeat would ensure elimination and a draw could also see them on the next plane home, with Robson’s job at serious risk if they failed to get the required result. Without the injured Bryan Robson and suspended Ray Wilkins, the manager reshuffled his midfield pack and brought Peter Beardsley in for Mark Hateley in attack. The changes paid off as Gary Lineker famously scored a first half hat-trick and went on to win the World Cup Golden Boot. The relief was visible for the manager, as England saw out the match and repeated the scoreline in the second round against Paraguay. Another 3-0 over Poland in a World Cup qualifier in June 1989 was one of the Wembley highlights of the Robson years.
February 18th, 1987 – Spain (a) 4-2 (Friendly)
There was a time in the mid to late 1980s that, if they clicked, England looked as dangerous going forward as any side in the world. It didn’t always work out but if Gary Lineker, Peter Beardsley, John Barnes, Chris Waddle, Bryan Robson et al were on top of their game then few defences would find it easy to live with them. This was one of those games when the forward line was on-form, making it a happy 54th birthday for Bobby Robson. Lineker had moved to Barcelona after the 1986 World Cup and his stock was to rise in Spain as he tore the home side apart in Madrid. England recovered from being 1-0 down to lead 4-1, as Lineker scored all of them past Barcelona team-mate Andoni Zubizarreta. Robson’s side could even afford to concede a second goal before the end and still win comfortably against a fellow World Cup quarter-finalist. Another friendly win worth remembering came away to Soviet Union in March 1986, the 1-0 success inflicting a rare home defeat on the USSR.
November 11th, 1987 – Yugoslavia (a) 4-1 (European Championship qualifier)
Another example of England looking unstoppable, with the goals flying in against decent opposition. Played in foul weather in Belgrade, England could have been forgiven for keeping it tight and settling for the draw they needed to qualify for the European Championship finals. But Bobby Robson’s side were brimming with confidence after beating Turkey 8-0 the previous month and they destroyed Yugoslavia in the opening 25 minutes. An early Peter Beardsley goal settled the nerves, with further efforts from John Barnes, Bryan Robson and Tony Adams ensuring the game was settled long before half-time. Yugoslavia could only manage one goal after the break, as England deservedly clinched their place in the Euro finals. Sadly, it’s fair to say what happened there will not rate as a highlight of the Bobby Robson England reign and he once more became a target for the tabloids.
July 4th, 1990 – West Germany (n) 1-1 (World Cup semi-final – lost on penalties)
It ended in heartache, but this was the night that cemented Bobby Robson’s reputation as an England hero. He’d become the first England manager to guide England into the World Cup last four on foreign soil, Robson memorably dancing a jig of delight as David Platt scored a last-gasp winner against Belgium in the second round and then breathing a huge sigh of relief as his men edged out Cameroon in an enthralling quarter-final. But now came the major test, up against the World Cup favourites in Turin and needing to perform better than in the previous rounds if they were to stand a chance of winning. England gave what was widely considered to be their best performance at a major finals for years, genuinely having a go at their highly-rated hosts and winning over many critics.
You all know what ultimately happened, as it took a penalty-shoot-out to separate the sides on a night of high emotion and tears. England returned home with their pride intact and the departing Robson could bask in a level of public affection he had not always enjoyed in the previous eight years. A knighthood would eventually come his way. With every passing World Cup disappointment since then, England’s achievements in Italy grow more impressive and may not be matched for some time yet.
Gary’s path to Golden Glory – how Lineker finished top scorer in 1986 World Cup
As Colombia’s James Rodriguez returned home from the 2014 World Cup with six goals to his name after the quarter-final stage and his value rocketing, one man could probably identify with him better than anyone else. Gary Lineker may have been a different type of player to Rodriguez (no stunning volleys from outside the area for him), but in 1986 he matched his goalscoring tally from the same number of matches and found himself in big demand after his first World Cup finals. So let’s look back at the summer that changed his life…
Lineker’s rise to prominence was pretty rapid. He made a relatively slow start to his football career and would not have been in anybody’s thoughts as England played the 1982 World Cup when he was 21 and a low-profile Second Division striker with hometown club Leicester City. But the goals started flowing in as promotion was achieved in 1982-83 and in May 1984 came the big moment when he was brought on for Tony Woodcock during England’s 1-1 draw away to Scotland.
He didn’t score and wouldn’t win another cap until March 1985, when his international career began to take off with a goal against the Republic of Ireland. He would net twice against the USA in June and then came the night that appeared to have confirmed his arrival on the international scene, a hat-trick in a 5-0 destruction of Turkey in October as England celebrated World Cup qualification. By that point he had made the switch to Everton and continued his prolific goalscoring form at club level as he netted 40 times in 1985-86.
But then the doubts set in. Lineker played in four more internationals before the World Cup and failed to score in any of them and a wrist injury sustained in the last warm-up match against Canada led to fears he would miss the finals. There would be three other strikers vying for a forward place in Bobby Robson’s line-up. There was the powerful duo of Mark Hateley and Kerry Dixon, who both could act as the proverbial handful for any defence to contend with. And there was the customary latecomer to the party, with Newcastle’s Peter Beardsley adding a touch of class to the attack after only making his international debut in January 1986. He’d linked up well with Lineker in a friendly against USSR in March, but then had clicked with Hateley in the penultimate pre-World Cup friendly.
Nearly over before it began
Lineker, with his wrist in plaster and having felt ill on the morning of the match, took his place in the side for England’s opening game in the World Cup against Portugal in Monterray and partnered Hateley in attack. Although Portugal had reached the semi-finals of Euro ’84, England were expected to beat them and they created enough chances to do so. On another occasion Lineker could have had a hat-trick with his three decent scoring chances, coming closest in the second half when his effort was cleared away by the final Portugese defender with the goalkeeper beaten. But his potency and luck was out and England were made to pay in the closing stages as Carlos Manuel grabbed a winner. Things got worse in the second match against Morocco, Lineker fairly anonymous in a goalless draw forever remembered for Bryan Robson’s World Cup ending through injury and Ray Wilkins being sent-off after throwing the ball in the direction of the referee.
The pressure was now on Bobby Robson and it looked certain he would act and make changes. Although there was a chance England could progress with a draw against group seeds Poland, for the matter to be in their own hands they had to win. If they lost they would definitely be out, a humiliating failure in one of the weakest of the six groups. Bobby Robson was left to make tough calls for how to find the goalscoring answer. He could quite easily have dropped Lineker. Instead Hateley was the unlucky man to miss out, with Beardsley brought in. It was a move that helped save England’s World Cup and Bobby Robson’s reputation, along with bringing in understated players like Steve Hodge and Peter Reid who did excellent jobs.
A life-changing moment (or three)
“It was the game that changed my life,” Lineker has said in numerous interviews over the years. It’s hard to argue with that. While he had been absolutely prolific in recent seasons at club level, English football has been littered with strikers who have scored goals for fun in the top-flight but could not find the finishing touch when they pulled on the England shirt (Clive Allen, Andrew Cole and Kevin Phillips to name but three). At this point he was barely known outside of England, having not appeared in a major tournament or in a European club competition. By half-time he’d be talked about globally as his predatory instincts transformed the contest, to the delight of the millions staying up late back home to watch the 11pm kick-off.
England started nervously and were twice almost punished for their slackness, but after nine minutes came the moment that changed the tournament. A good move involving Beardsley, Lineker, Trevor Steven and Gary Stevens (his Everton team-mate, there was also confusingly the Spurs player of the same name in the squad) ended with Lineker scoring from close range to the delight of every Englishman, epitomised by Jimmy Hill’s cheering being heard on the BBC commentary as he sat alongside Barry Davies. The second goal quickly followed, Beardsley playing a delightful ball to Hodge whose perfect cross was sweetly finished by Lineker. Hodge had a goal disallowed before England wrapped victory up before the break. The Polish goalkeeper failed to handle a corner and Lineker showed his poaching instinct to pounce from typically close range. The second half was after the Lord Mayor’s show as England saw the game out with a 3-0 win and through in second place, having also helped to finally dim the memory of that infamous night at Wembley against the Poles in October 1973.
Suddenly Lineker was big news. Film crews converged on the family’s fruit and veg market stall back in Leicester and attention would be given to how, showing a typically superstitious outlook for a footballer, he sought his damaged boots to be repaired rather than replaced now he was on a scoring run.
The game that changed Lineker’s life.
More of the same
Considering they had only finished second in their group, fortune was on their side in terms of the second round draw. England had a week to recover before they played in Mexico City against Paraguay, not regarded as a strong side. Had England finished first in the group it would have been West Germany they would face; if they had gone through in third, they would have been up against Brazil. They would also have a chance to get used to playing at the Azteca Stadium before potentially playing there again against Argentina in the quarter-finals.
England looked far more confident than in the group stage, although again they could have been punished at 0-0. But they were to carry on where they left off as Lineker netted his fourth of the tournament, sticking out a leg to turn the ball into an empty net from Steve Hodge’s assist. The Paraguayans were not afraid to compete physically and Lineker was floored by a flying elbow into the throat in the second half. While off the field being treated, Beardsley scored a Lineker-esque close-range goal from inside the six yard box following the corner. Lineker returned to the action and wrapped up the win from just outside the six yard box, after excellent approach play by Hoddle and Gary Stevens (the Spurs one this time).
Lineker, goalless two games earlier, was now the World Cup’s top scorer with five goals. “It’s a great honour to be ahead of some of the names who are in the competition. I just hope I can stay there and hopefully we get to the final and even bring the cup home,” he told the BBC, while praising the team as a whole for their part in the goals he scored. The team-spirit seemed strong and confidence was flowing.
Lineker nets twice in the win over Paraguay.
Moving onto six, but so nearly seven…
And so to quarter-final Sunday, a showdown with Argentina that would be talked about for years. We all know what happened with Argentina running out 2-1 winners, but perhaps an interesting subplot concerned the destiny of the Golden Boot. Maradona of course scored twice, Lineker once. His late header from John Barnes’ excellent cross gave him six goals, the same as had finished top scorer in the past two World Cups. An action replay looked certain minutes later as England rallied and Barnes sparkled, Lineker somehow having the ball somehow cleared away from him as he prepared to level from close range (ITV commentator Martin Tyler screamed “goal”, such was the assumption Lineker would score). He would have to be content with six goals for the tournament and, more importantly, just a place in the last eight in the World Cup. It also became clear how in demand Lineker was, with stories emerging of Barcelona being willing to spend big to sign him. With English clubs banned from Europe, a move overseas seemed inevitable.
It was now out of Lineker’s hands if he could claim the Golden Boot, with the four surviving teams all having two games left to bang the goals in. But one consolation was Brazil (Careca) and Spain (Emilio Butragueno) also went out in the quarter-finals, meaning the two players on five goals would not be able to overtake him. Realistically the main threat to the Golden Boot would come from Argentina. Maradona had scored three and was coming into form. He underlined that three days later with two goals in the semi-final against Belgium, including another great solo goal. He now stood on five goals.
Lineker’s sixth and final World Cup goal in 1986.
Winning the award while in the hallowed studio
Lineker, back home in England, was getting an early insight into life presenting on the BBC as he was a pundit for the final alongside Lawrie McMenemy and Terry Venables, with Des Lynam presenting. Lynam would get a telling-off from McMenemy for raising the subject of Lineker possibly moving to Barcelona without Everton manager Howard Kendall being present. Lineker was giving nothing away, although his suggestion he would simply “play for the team I want to play for next season” was hardly a reassurance to Evertonians he was staying at Goodison Park.
Lineker could only watch and wonder if his name could join such names as Kempes, Eusebio, Rossi and Fontaine as Golden Boot winner. Maradona had been so influential for Argentina that it seemed inconceivable he wouldn’t score. But this was to be one of his quieter games and it was his turn to turn provider rather goalscorer, in managing to tee up Burruchaga for the late winner as Argentina triumphed 3-2. Maradona was the player of the tournament, but not the top scorer.
Watch the moment Gary discovered the World Cup Golden Boot would be his…
As expected, Lineker headed off to Barcelona in a £2.8 million move. The next time he pulled on the England shirt, he scored twice against Northern Ireland in a European Championship qualifier, including a superb chipped goal. His stock was rising all the time and he must have fancied his chances of landing the Sports Personality of the Year award. But Lineker was surprisingly to not even make the top three, Nigel Mansell taking the prize despite missing out on the Formula One championship. Lineker must have looked on with a touch of envy when Paul Gascoigne (1990) and Michael Owen (1998) subsequently won the award off the back of World Cup performances.
But for Lineker, the World Cup Golden Boot would provide ample consolation. He still remains the only British player ever to win it. And later advertising deals with Walkers Crisps and the Match of the Day presenting gig have again softened the blow I’m sure…
Six of the Best – yet they didn’t even make the last four…
As the excitement mounts ahead of the quarter-finals of the World Cup, it seems an appropriate time to look back at some of the sides who had the world talking – but then it would all end prematurely before the semi-final stage, with the teams returning home with just the happy memories of their early good form to treasure…
Brazil 1982
For anyone who fell in love with football shortly after the 1970 World Cup, they would have to wait until 1982 to see a genuinely captivating Brazil team on the global stage. The names of Zico, Socrates, Eder, Falcao and others are likely to have football fans of a certain age drooling at the memory. The goals flew in from all over the pitch as Brazil dominated their first round group and looked clear favourites to go all the way. But then they had the misfortune to be placed alongside Argentina and Italy in the second round group of three teams (probably the ultimate Group of Death at any World Cup, with only one side able to advance to the semi-finals).
Brazil beat their South American rivals, but then lost out in one of the greatest World Cup matches of all time against Italy. Italian forward Paolo Rossi suddenly rediscovered his goalscoring touch with a hat-trick to turn the competition on its head, as Italy won an epic encounter in which Brazil were exposed defensively. The Brazilians had scored 15 goals in just five matches, but they wouldn’t even be in the semi-finals – some would argue the magic of 1982 has never quite been matched by them since.
Denmark 1986
From nothing, Denmark emerged to be one of the most popular and stylish teams of the 1980s as they gained admirers well beyond Scandinavia. After reaching the semi-finals at Euro ’84 (qualifying at England’s expense), Denmark made their World Cup bow two years later. With players like Michael Laudrup and Preben Elkjaer weaving their magic, the Danes emerged with a 100% record from the Group of Death (yes another one) including Scotland, West Germany and Uruguay (who they thrashed 6-1).
The Danes were now being talked about as potential winners and it came as little surprise when they led Spain 1-0 in the second round. Suddenly, a misplaced backpass from Jesper Olsen allowed Spain back into the game and a second half collapse ended with the Danes thrashed 5-1 and crashing out in the last 16. They had promised and deserved much more. They wouldn’t even qualify for the next two World Cups, but for a couple of weeks in 1986 they had looked as good as any side in the world.
Argentina 2006
It seems much of Argentina’s luck was used up in struggling through to the final in 1990, as they haven’t been beyond the last eight since then despite having several highly-rated sides. The tournament that stands out is 2006. During the first round Argentina produced one of the great World Cup performances in modern times to thrash Serbia and Montenegro 6-0, scoring a truly outstanding team goal as they took possession football to new heights. “I think we’ve just seen the World Cup winners,” was the sort of comment I saw widely being posted on messageboards afterwards, but the tournament can be a cruel mistress. A stunning extra-time winner from Maxi Rodriguez was needed to dispose of Mexico in the second round, but then came the toughest test yet as hosts Germany lay in wait in the quarter-finals. The Germans equalised late in normal time and triumphed in a penalty shoot-out, also knocking Argentina out in the last eight in 2010.
Cameroon 1990
For many youngsters of the time like me watching the World Cup in 1990, Cameroon will always have a special place in our hearts. Widely dismissed as African outsiders before the start of the competition, their raw, cavalier approach won hearts as more established football nations struggled to deal with them. Their disciplinary record wasn’t the best and they had two men sent off in the tournament opener against holders Argentina, but they sensationally won 1-0. 38-year-old ‘supersub’ Roger Milla was the hero in wins against Romania and Colombia, leading to his corner flag ‘wiggle’ celebration being mimicked the world over.
In the quarter-finals they were paired with England (not ideal for those of us who loved both). It was a momentous night, the only game in the tournament in which both teams scored at least twice. The match was a see-saw contest which Cameroon probably should have won as they outplayed England for much of the second half to lead 2-1 late on. But their defensive weaknesses resurfaced and led to them conceding a late penalty for Lineker to equalise and save England, with history repeating itself in extra-time as he netted the winner from the spot and Bobby Robson’s side won 3-2. “We’ve all aged 10 years,” said presenter Bob Wilson as he signed off the BBC’s live coverage, correctly summing up the exhausting nature of the night. Four years later we watched the World Cup in USA hoping for more magic from Cameroon, but it never came and they have not gone beyond the group stages again – this year produced a particularly underwhelming effort that did them no credit at all.
North Korea 1966
It’s perhaps easy to forget North Korea’s World Cup adventure in 1966 lasted just four games, losing two and needing a late equaliser to avoid defeat in another. And yet the diminutive Asians wrote their name into World Cup folklore in the tournament. Their 1-0 group stage win over Italy is regarded as one of the greatest World Cup giantkillings and ensured Pak Doo-Ik’s name would forever be well-known. They were now just three matches away from being World Cup winners!
Interest now grew beyond Middlesbrough where they were based for the group stage and had been adopted as the team to cheer on. The North Koreans headed to face Portugal in the quarter-finals at Goodison Park (joined by about 3,000 newly-acquired fans travelling down from Middlesbrough, preferring to do that than watch England’s quarter-final at the same time). In a thrilling match, North Korea led 3-0 after 24 minutes, before falling victim to a one-man goalscoring exhibition. The brilliant Eusebio scored four times (including twice from the penalty spot as the North Koreans lost their defensive discipline) to turn the game around by the hour mark, with Portugal eventually running out 5-3 winners. The dream had died and North Korea would disappear back into communist secrecy until qualifying again in 2010 – but their exploits in 1966 will never be forgotten in England.
An excellent documentary about North Korea’s World Cup adventure in 1966.
Romania 1994
When they clicked, they were brilliant. When they didn’t, they got punished. Romania, boasting such talents as Gheorghe Hagi and Ille Dumitrescu, were technically impressive and laid down a marker in their opening match against highly-fancied Colombia. Hagi scored a speculative goal from out wide in a 3-1 win. There was a reality check in the next match against Roy Hodgson’s Switzerland, as Romania lost 4-1. But a win against hosts USA took Romania through as group winners to a last 16 tie with Argentina, who had been rocked by Diego Maradona’s positive drugs test a few days earlier. The sides served up a classic, Romania playing some excellent stuff and Hagi’s creativity helping them go 2-0 up early on through a Dumitrescu double. Hagi would find the net himself in the second half as Romania held out to win 3-2 and send the 1986 winners and 1990 runners-up home.
Romania were now fancied to beat Sweden in the quarter-finals but they would show some hint of inconsistency as went out on penalties after a 2-2 draw. To rub salt into the wounds, neighbours Bulgaria surprisingly went through to the semi-finals by beating Germany so Romania could not even lay claim to being the last Eastern European side left in. But it had been good while it lasted.
And as for England?
Considering England’s high amount of past quarter-final exits, it would seem amiss not to mention at least one of them here. While perhaps not having the world on the edge of their seats, the one that stands out most is 1970. Sir Alf Ramsey’s side boasted arguably a better team than the one that won on home soil four years earlier and have never been so well fancied on foreign soil, being considered as potentially the biggest threat to favourites Brazil. The sides played out an iconic group stage match in which England could lay claim to one of the best saves (Gordon Banks), best tackles (Bobby Moore) and worst misses (Jeff Astle) in World Cup history. England lost 1-0 but looked good enough to go all the way to the final for a re-match with Brazil. Certainly when they held a 2-0 lead in the quarter-final against West Germany that looked odds-on to get there. Inexplicably, England threw victory away to crash out of the tournament. It would be a long 12-year wait until they even qualified for another finals.
