England's World Cup Story: From Winterbottom's 1950 to Capello's 2010

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Introduction

England’s World Cup Story is a book built on history, facts, tales and major player profiles all pieced together to tell the story of England’s World Cup history.

The Football Association (FA) is the governing body for the joint oldest team in the World, England. With their first International match in 1872, England have had ups and downs throughout the impressive history of a proud Nation’s team.

Gules three lions passant guardant in pale Or armed and langued Azure or Three identical Gold Lions with blue tongues and claws. The Three Lions is the badge proudly worn on the England jersey, however, the history as to why the England National Football team wear the symbol is not clearly known.

The story behind the Three Lions story is told from around the 12th Century, Richard I Lionheart is associated with a shield featuring the Three Lions depicting the great history of the Country. The National team proudly wear the badge on the shirt, and have done so since the game against Scotland in 1872. Out of the nineteen World Cup Finals, the World have seen the English Three Lions feature in thirteen.

Other than the numerous British Home Championships, UEFA European Championships and other tournaments, the book focuses on England’s World Cup history. As one of the eight National teams to have won the FIFA World Cup, the following chapters follow the great moments, the good times, and not so impressive periods for the team with the traditional home white shirts and away red shirts.

From the 1950 World Cup shock, to the 1966 glory, from the 1970 masterpiece to the 1994 disaster, from Bobby’s Italia ‘90 delight to Fabio’s African stuck in the mud, from Stanley Matthews to David Beckham, from Bobby Moore to Stuart Pearce, from Geoff Hurst to Wayne Rooney, this is England...

Kings of Football - 1950 Brazil

Brazil

The World Cup had been hosted since 1930, and every four years after, however, the planned 1942 and 1946 World Cup had been cancelled due to World War II. International Federation of soccer Associations (FIFA) soon laid out plans to continue with a 1950 World Cup. As Europe had been battered by the War, it was the South Americans, Brazil who outbid Germany to host the 1950 World Cup. Since 1930, the tournament was the first outside of Europe, and the first for ‘the Kings of football’, England.

The Jules Rimet Cup was uncovered to the World audience for the first time to mark the 25th anniversary of Rimet’s presidency of FIFA.

The preliminary and qualification competition was somewhat of a charade as teams did qualify and then pull out. Notably India pulled out, as FIFA would not allow the team to play in bare feet!

The World Cup Finals were to consist of 16 teams; however with Countries withdrawing, only 13 took place. The tournament consisted of two phases, the winners of the first Group stage phase advanced into the next.

Kings Embark

With Brazil host and Italy reigning champions already qualified, England paved their way to qualify for the competition through the 1949-50 British Home Championship under the guidance of manager Walter Winterbottom. A 4-1 victory over Wales in October 1949 was bettered with a monstrous 9-2 battering a month later over Northern Ireland. To seal England’s route to Brazil, a 1-0 win was courtesy of Roy Bentley at Hampden Park over Scotland. Scotland announced they would only play at the tournament if they won the British Home Championship, however, they finished second.

Sir Walter Winterbottom CBE Years 1947-62 Record P139, W78, L2 Win percentage 56%

Walter Winterbottom was the first man to take the England post, and held it for 139 games in charge. The ex-teacher was originally appointed director of coaching for the National side a year before he took the reins of manager, and Winterbottom celebrated a 7-2 victory over Ireland in his first game. Back in the day, a selection committee chose the squads, as proven with the infamous USA game in the 1950 World Cup Finals, but Winterbottom could chose the starting XI. The manager was not a professional player himself in his day, so some say there may have been a communication and respect issue. To take the mantle for 16 years underlines these matters were overcome.

The Oldham born manager took England to four World Cup Finals of 1950, 1954, 1958 and 1962, quite remarkable compared to today’s managerial turnover.

Learning on the job is an understatement, as the manager with little club management experience began the 1950 World Cup Finals with a humiliating result against the USA, and an early first round exit. And so he gathered around him knowledgeable football men such as Ron Greenwood and the following tournaments were more successful by reaching the quarter-finals in 1954 and 1962.

With further knowledge of the coaching and motivation in football, Winterbottom brought forward the English game by encouraging players to analyse the game, prepare in terms of diet and fitness, quite ahead of the times. With many changes to the game, foundations were there for the next manager.

Many have complimented the work Winterbottom has done for the Country’s National game, including Ron Greenwood who commented, Many people in the game now have no idea how much English football owes Walter, he launched our coaching system and gave it impetus and status. (Galvin 2005)

Sir Bobby Robson portrayed Winterbottom as ‘a prophet’. (Galvin 2005)

In 1963 the England manager was created an OBE, in 1972 a CBE, in 1978 awarded Knighthood and in 2005 inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame due to his recognition of National managerial contribution.

Roy Thomas Frank Bentley Years 1949-55 Caps 12 Goals 9

Roy Bentley was nicknamed ‘The man who robbed Scotland of Rio’ after scoring the winning goal that prevented Scotland to qualify from the British Home Championship. Bentley made his England debut against Sweden before the 1950 Finals; from there he made 12 appearances and scored an impressive 9 goals, by anyone’s standards an excellent goals-to-games ratio.

Withdraw

With the FA overlooking the FIFA World Cup’s until 1950, there was some confusion with players available to be used in Walter Winterbottom’s squad; none more so than the main man Stanley Matthews. After the 1-0 win over Scotland in the British Home Championship, the Three Lions overturned Portugal 5-3 in Lisbon and Belgium 4-1 in Brussels in a mini warm up to the World Cup Finals. England’s strikers were on form and the team were starting to gel. A Canadian tour was on the cards for other players who made up an experienced team to promote English football, Stanley Matthews was one of the boys included.

England, one of the Tournament favourites including the best players in the world were drawn in Group 2 with European counterparts Spain and unknown teams Chile and USA.

Red Hot Chile

To kick off the Three Lions World Cup assault, an estimated 40,000 in Rio de Janeiro witnessed England overturn Chile 2-0, no surprise to the World audience. Stan Mortensen scored England’s first just before the end of the first half, with Wilfred Mannion adding a second just after the break to secure victory. The temperate was soaring in South America, a new experience for the boys from the soggy England shores, but a win in the opening game was all that was required.

Stanley Matthews arrived late from a tour of Canada, the flying winger wasn’t used in opening World Cup game, however, the Three Lions still sealed victory.

The win against the Chileans turned out to be the beginning of the end of England’s World Cup journey. As Matthews was left out of the Chile game, apparently the selection committee, just one man Arthur Drewry, refused the inclusion of the wing wizard for the forthcoming ‘lowly’ USA game as the winning team should not be changed! Other sources even stated Winterbottom was so confident in winning the game, Matthews was not needed and was therefore left out to rest for the later rounds.

Stanley Harding Mortensen Years 1947-53 Caps 25 Goals 23

The first goal against Chile in the 2-0 victory was scored by Stan Mortensen, it was England’s first ever goal in a World Cup Finals.

Mortensen scored four goals on his England début against Portugal in May 1947 and continued his scoring record for England with 23 goals in 25 appearances, phenomenal goals to games ratio, perhaps better than anyone on the World stage. The Blackpool man formed a great strike partnership with the glorious winger Stanley Matthews. Even though Matthews played a minor part in the 1950 Finals, Mortensen used his own power, strength and quickness to arrive timely in box to score the goals for club and Country.

Many for his talent compliment the forward, no more so than the great Tom Finney who described him as The finest match winner I have ever seen or played with, but also as a great man. (Football-England 2001)

Tommy Lawton, the Everton man who also scored four goals in Mortensen’s début game, described Mortensen as The most dangerous attacker of his day. He added: With that curious, energetic run he has burst open more defences than any other man of his time, and I don’t think I know a player who was faster off the mark than this Blackpool Bombshell. Knocks and injuries meant nothing to Morty. (Lawton 1955)

In 2003 Mortensen was inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame due to his achievements, indeed for his goal scoring abilities.

Wilfred James Mannion Years 1946-51 Caps 26 Goals 11

Wilf Mannion notched England’s second goal in the game against Chile, and the Country’s second ever World Cup goal. With a total of 11 goals from 26 appearances was not bad from the northern lad.

Mannion’s first England cap came in September 1946 against Northern Ireland; he scored a hat-trick in the 7-2 win. He went onto play in several of England’s well earned victories that season including the impressive 10-0 win over Portugal. Mannion took the opportunity to display his skills and understanding with other strikers including Stan Mortensen, Tommy Lawton and Stanley Matthews.

The Middlesbrough forward played collective games for England in the 1949-50 season. The man who could link up play and score goals played 90 minutes against Chile and USA in the 1950 World Cup Finals.

His last game for England was in October 1951 against France.

In 2004 Mannion, like Mortensen was inducted into the English Hall of Fame.

Sir Stanley Matthews CBE Years 1934-57 Caps 54 Goals 11

Stanley Matthews missed the Chile game and played in just one of the 1950 World Cup Finals matches, in a 1-0 defeat against Spain. This was a game where England where licking their wounds after a historical defeat against the USA.

The ‘Wizard of Dribble’ or ‘The Magician’ made his England debut in September 1934 whilst making his name for his local club Stoke City, for whom he had two successful spells. He scored in a 4-0 win over Wales. Matthews was absent from the England team during the 1946-47 season as Tom Finney was securing the right wing role, but as Finney could cross with his left foot as well as cut inside, he was moved to the left so Matthews could again march up and down the right side of the England flank.

Playing wide, and with the ability to glide and dribble past defenders again, again and again as well as provide the perfect cross, Stanley Matthews was the man to supply the ammunition for the likes of Stanley Mortensen. Even though Matthews’s game was all about supply, he did chip in with the odd goal, nearly one in five for England.

Matthews, who was at the time playing for Blackpool travelled with the England squad to Switzerland for the 1954 World Cup Finals where he played in two out of three games due to injury.

His last appearance on 15 May 1957 underlines the span of a 23-year England career, running out onto the field at 42 years old.

Because of the change of pace and exceptional ball control, many commented on Matthews’s skills, Danny Blanchflower, the Northern Ireland captain commented, You usually knew how he’d beat you, but you couldn’t do anything about it. (Hogan 2001)

The list is endless with quotes and tales, however, one that that stands out must be summed up from the great Pele; The man who taught us the way football should be played. (en.wikipedia.org 2011)

Whilst still playing, even until the age of 50 in the English top Division, was the first player to be knighted. Matthews was also the first who won both the European Footballer of the Year (1956) and the Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year (1948 & 1963). In 2002 the great man and footballer was inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame.

England v USA History in the Making

An evening kick off in Belo Horizonte derailed England’s World Cup hopes on 29 June 1950; it was perhaps the shock of World football. Stanley Matthews who had missed out against Chile sat in the crowd watching the game, as substitutes were not used in those days. Winterbottom had to use his tactical knowledge with the players on the field. With the USA containing just one professional player Ed McIlvenny, surely the games was a ‘banker’ for England, in fact sources state a 500-1 USA victory.

Unlike England, the USA changed their team around after their first defeat of the tournament against Spain, something had to be done against England, and it was. Souza replaced Wolanin and the wingers were apparently changed around to cope with the on coming of Tom Finney and co.

The team of footballing greats lost 1-0 to USA. How this event happened, nobody knew, England expected to win, and perhaps the USA feared the worse? None more so than on form goalkeeper Frank Borghi who commented, he wanted to keep the score down to four or five goals. It was keeper Borghi that kept out the barrage of attacks from the likes of Tom Finney, Stan Mortensen and Jimmy Mullen after the USA had scored in the 37th minute. (en.wikipedia.org 2011)

With England peppering the USA goal with shots, the USA feared for the worse until Joe Gaetjins, a restaurant employee popped up with a 37th minute body blow for the Kings. England stopper Bert Williams was to catch a deep cross from Walter Bahr but was helpless as Gaetjins head was enough to direct the ball into the empty goal.

The reaction was expected, England domination. A disallowed goal from an Alf Ramsey free kick was the answer England offered along with several other shots. Nearly twenty shots compared to the one USA had on target, ended in a historical result that opened the eyes of the footballing World.

Legend Finney recalled; We had a wonderful team, some said the best in the world at the time. We were playing on the side of a mountain, they were still taking rocks off the pitch just before kick-off and we hit the woodwork half a dozen times. But there were no excuses. We expected to win and we took it for granted. We were beaten by our own complacency. Back on the England shores, it was believed that some newspapers thought the result was incorrect and they typed the result England 10-1 USA. (Powell 2009)

Sir Tom Finney OBE Years 1946-58 Caps 78 Goals 30

The man from Preston who stamped his technique, skill, and football brain on the game made his England debut in 1946 due to interruptions of the War. After continuing plying his trade as a plumber and working his stint in the Royal Armoured Corps, Tom Finney played in the England forward line wide or through the middle on occasions displaying his unbelievable talent that left all in amazement. Finney was also a member of the 10-0 win over Portugal, scoring one goal. His main job was to provide the incoming strikers such as Stan Mortensen, Jackie Milburn and Wilfred Mannion with ammunition.

Tom Finney OBE played in all of the 1950 World Cup games influencing in the win in the 2-0 victory over Chile, however the remaining games were not to be.

The wing wizard was part of the 1954 England World Cup squad in Switzerland and started all three games. Not only did he continue to provide the ammunition for the forwards, he chipped in with a goal, scoring in the 2-4 defeat against Uruguay.

The ‘Preston Plumber’ continued on for England in the 1958 World Cup in Sweden showing why he was such an incredible footballer, one of the best. Finney played in just one game due to a groin injury. He played the full 90 minutes in the 2-2 draw against the USSR scoring an equalizing penalty.

In 1958, against the USSR, Finney ran out for his last England appearance.

Many have commented on the talents on the England man including the immense Bill Shankly who had this to say; Tom Finney would have been great in any team, in any match and in any age ... even if he had been wearing an overcoat. (en.wikipedia.org 2011)