1966 – England - Hosts
England didn’t have to qualify, as hosts, but here’s a little tale you may have forgotten. The Jules Rimet World Cup Trophy itself was stolen from a stamp exhibition in Westminster Hall. Edward Bletchley, a 46-year-old ex-soldier attempted to blackmail Joe Mears, head of the FA, into paying £15,000 ransom for the return of the nine-inch statue. Going along with the ransom demand, Mears arranged a rendezvous in Battersea Park, but Mears became suspicious of a transit van (which was, indeed, full of police) and fled. He was arrested, however, and remanded to Brixton Prison. With the finals looming, the cup was still missing. Here legend may take over: Bletchley, it is said, wanted a 'lady friend' to visit him in jail, unobserved. Whether or not this happened is unknown, but days later Pickles found the trophy. Within weeks Joe Mears had died of a heart attack. Pickles, sadly, died after snagging his lead on a tree while chasing a cat and choking to death. Bletchley served two years and died of emphysema on his release.
1970 – Mexico - Champions
Again, England didn’t need to qualify, returning as Champions automatically. The 1970 World Cup is still rightly viewed as a classic, and the first ever World Cup to be televised in colour. There was controversy: to fit in with TV schedules in Europe many matches kicked off at noon in the severe Mexican heat. Another England controversy erupted when England Captain Bobby Moore was accused of the theft of a bracelet from a jeweller’s shop in Colombia, where the squad were preparing. All charges were eventually dropped. In the billed Clash of the Titans between England and Brazil in the Finals, Gordon Banks made his legendary save from a Pele header, flicking over the bar with gravity-defying skill. England lost 1-0. Brazil went on to win the cup – and, with their third victory, were allowed to keep the Trophy forever. It was stolen in 1982 in Rio, and never recovered.
1974 – West Germany – Did Not Qualify
The illusion was that England were still a footballing superpower. Qualifying for the 1974 Finals in West Germany was seen as a formality – even up to the final match of the qualifiers. England began the round beating Wales 1-0, with Colin Bell scoring the winner, but drew 1-1 in the return, with John Toshack and an unlikely Norman Hunter scoring. Against Poland things did not go to plan: England lost 2-0 away, but still expected to win the return match at Wembley and qualify. Poland only had to draw. Jan Tomaszewski, the Polish goalkeeper, played the game of his life, England drew 1-1, and were out of the cup. Norman Hunter made one sideline slip-up, allowing the Poland goal, and was ruined for it: even his young son later asked him if he lost England the World Cup! Alf Ramsey, the England manager, was sacked in 1974, replaced by Don Revie. England wouldn’t qualify for the World Cup Finals until 1982.
1978 – Argentina – Did Not Qualify
Remembered in the UK as the tournament that played host to Ally’s Army, as Scotland qualified under the stewardship of Ally McCloud, what is often forgotten is that England actually performed superbly during the qualifiers, and only lost out to group winners Italy on goal difference – and only lost one game. Group 2 contained England, Italy, Finland and Luxembourg. In the hot summer of 1976 England beat Finland twice, winning 4-1 and 2-1, with Kevin Keegan, Mick Channon, Dennis Tueart and Joe Royle all getting on the score sheet. Then came the loss – to Italy in Rome, 2-0. A 5-0 victory over Luxembourg, coupled with a 2-0 away win and a 2-0 revenge win against Italy at Wembley meant qualification came down to how many goals Italy beat Luxembourg by. They only needed one: they got three. England out.
1982 – Spain – Qualified
For the first time the qualifying groups were expanded, which meant a long, eight game stretch. England drew Hungary, Romania, Switzerland and Norway in Group 4. After comfortably seeing off Norway 4-0 with goals from Terry McDermott (2), Tony Woodcock and Paul Mariner, the wheels almost came off. A 2-1 defeat to Romania in Bucharest, followed by a home 0-0 draw, saw England go into an apparently easy game against Switzerland in Basle with a nervy squad. They lost 2-1. This shock seemed to pull the team together: they beat Norway 2-1, and had two good wins over Hungary to finish second in the group and book their tickets to Spain.
Here’s the squad that went to Spain: note Steve Foster in the group. That’s Steve 'Headband' Foster.
England squad: Goalkeepers: Ray Clemence (#1), Joe Corrigan (#13), Peter Shilton (#22); Defenders: Viv Anderson (#2), Trevor Brooking (#3), Terry Butcher (#4), Steve Foster (#6), Mick Mills (#12), Phil Neal (#14), Kenny Sansom (#17), Phil Thompson (#18); Midfielders: Steve Coppell (#5), Glenn Hoddle (#9), Terry McDermott (#10), Graham Rix (#15), Bryan Robson (#16), Ray Wilkins (#19); Forwards: Kevin Keegan (#7), Trevor Francis (#8), Paul Mariner (#11), Peter Withe (#20), Tony Woodcock (#21). Manager: Ron Greenwood.
1986 – Mexico – Qualified
Remember the Mexican Wave? In Mexico it is just called The Wave. And England were there to watch it. Just. Group 3 saw Bobby Robson's team pitted against Finland, Northern Ireland and Turkey, and was seen at the time as a nice, soft group. And so it started, as England caned Finland 5-0 at Wembley, with goals from Mark Hateley (2), Tony Woodcock, Bryan Robson and Kenny Sansom. This was followed by a nifty 8-0 hammering of Turkey in Istanbul, where John Barnes and Viv Anderson joined in the feeding frenzy started by a Bryan Robson hat-trick. Then Draw Hell kicked in. Romania: 0-0. Finland: 1-1. Romania again: 0-0. Luckily, all the other teams were equally cack, and a 5-0 win over Turkey with a Lineker hat-trick saw the side safe. And they only let in two goals in eight games. Here’s the squad that went to Mexico:
England squad: Goalkeepers: Peter Shilton (#1), Chris Woods (#13), Gary Bailey (#22); Defenders: Gary M Stevens (#2), Kenny Sansom (#3), Alvin Martin (#5), Terry Butcher (#6), Viv Anderson (#12), Terry Fenwick (#14), Gary A Steven (#15); Midfielders: Glenn Hoddle (#4), Bryan Robson (#7), Ray Wilkins (#8), Chris Waddle (#11), Peter Reid (#16), Trevor Steven (#17), Steve Hodge (#18); Forwards: Mark Hateley (#9), Gary Lineker (#10), John Barnes (#19), Peter Beardsley (#20), Kerry Dixon (#21). Coach: Bobby Robson.
1990 – Italy – Qualified
Bobby Robson’s squad for Group 2 were built around a very solid defense, and Stuart Pearce, Des Walker and Terry Butcher all played brilliantly against Sweden, Poland and Albania. After a tame 0-0 draw with Sweden at Wembley, England rolled off wins against Albania and Poland before closing the campaign with draws against Poland and Sweden. And that defence? It never let in a goal. The squad chosen for Italy:
Goalkeepers: Peter Shilton (#1), Chris Woods (#13), David Seaman (#22) became injured and was replaced by Chris Woods; Defenders: Stuart Pearce (#3), Des Walker (#5), Terry Butcher (#6), Paul Parker (#12), Mark Wright (#14), Gary M Stevens (#2), Tony Dorigo (#15); Midfielders: Neil Webb (#4), Bryan Robson (#7), Chris Waddle (#8), Steve McMahon (#16), David Platt (#17), Steve Hodge (#18), Paul Gascoigne (#19), Trevor Steven (#20); Forwards: Peter Beardsley (#9), Gary Lineker (#10), John Barnes (#11), Steve Bull (#21). Coach: Bobby Robson.
1994 – USA – Did Not Qualify
A six-team beast of a group saw England involved in ten matches, and is immortalised in the classic football documentary The Impossible Job. Group 2 was made up of Norway, Holland, England, Poland, Turkey and San Marino. In the first three games with a not-great squad, the side performed well: drew with Norway and beat Turkey and San Marino. A win against Poland and a credible draw against the Dutch saw the side in a reasonable position before a critical game with Norway. Graham Taylor’s side lost 2-0, and a 2-0 defeat to Holland three months later meant Holland only had to beat Poland to qualify with Norway. They did, 3-1. Taylor was pilloried for tactical naivety, but to be fair the squad were at times inept – something even bringing on Ian Wright at the end of every game couldn’t cover up.
1998 - France – Qualified
New manager Glenn Hoddle was appointed in after Euro 1996 and tasked with putting together the side that would go to France. And he did. Group 2 wasn’t the Group of Death, but it wasn’t a cakewalk: Italy, Poland, Georgia and Moldova. Hoddle mixed youth and experience to good effect: the side lost only one game, a 1-0 loss to Italy at Wembley, but made up for it by securing first place in the group with a memorable 0-0 draw against Italy in Rome.
The Hod Squad: Goalkeepers: David Seaman (#1), Nigel Martyn (#13), Tim Flowers (#22); Defenders: Sol Campbell (#2), Graeme Le Saux (#3), Tony Adams (#5), Gareth Southgate (#6), Gary Neville (#12), Martin Keown (#18), Rio Ferdinand (#21); Midfielders: Paul Ince (#4), David Beckham (#7), David Batty (#8), Steve McManaman (#11), Darren Anderton (#14), Paul Merson (#15), Paul Scholes (#16), Rob Lee (#17); Forwards: Alan Shearer (#9), Teddy Sheringham (#10), Les Ferdinand (#19), Michael Owen (#20). Coach: Glenn Hoddle.
2002 – South Korea/Japan – Qualified
What’s this? England drawn with Germany in the qualifiers? Oh Christ, that can only mean one thing. But it didn’t. Under Sven Goran Eriksson England played, at times, like Champions. Yes, they lost to Germany 1-0 to put the willies up the nation. But that was in the first of a long, eight game campaign. There was a worrying 0-0 draw against Finland, and then Sven’s side faced Germany again. September 1st, 2001. Started badly: Jancker getting an early goal for Germany in the 6th minute. What followed was joyous: a Michael Owen hat-trick with added gravy from Gerrard and Heskey saw England trot out 5-1 winners. An inspired David Beckham in a nervy 2-2 draw with Greece finally saw the side through.
The World Cup Squad: David Seaman #1 (Arsenal), Nigel Martyn #13 (Leeds United), David James #22 (West Ham United, Rio Ferdinand #5 (Leeds United), Sol Campbell #6 (Arsenal), Gareth Southgate #16 (Middlesbrough), Ashley Cole #3 (Arsenal), Wayne Bridge #14 (Southampton), Danny Mills #2 (Leeds United), Wes Brown #12 (Manchester United), Martin Keown #15 (Arsenal), David Beckham #7 (Manchester United), Paul Scholes #8 (Manchester United), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Kieran Dyer #23 (Newcastle United), Nicky Butt #21 (Manchester United), Owen Hargreaves #18 (Bayern Munich), Joe Cole #19 (West Ham United), Michael Owen #10 (Liverpool), Emile Heskey #11 (Liverpool), Darius Vassell #20 (Aston Villa), Robbie Fowler #9 (Leeds United), Teddy Sheringham #17 (Tottenham Hotspur). Standby: Danny Muprhy. Coach: Sven Goran Eriksson.
Withdrew due to injury: Gerrard, Murphy.
2006 – Germany – Qualified
A long hard slog, with ten games. Group 6 saw three British sides – England, Wales and Northern Ireland – matched against Poland, Austria and Azerbaijan. Along the way England had no real worries: they lost 1-0 to Northern Ireland, and drew 2-2 with Austria but qualification never looked in serious doubt. They won the group and were seeded 2nd for the World Cup.
The Squad: Paul Robinson (Tottenham Hotspur), David James (Manchester City), Robert Green (Norwich City) - replaced by Scott Carson (Liverpool), Gary Neville (Manchester United), Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United), John Terry (Chelsea), Ashley Cole (Arsenal), Sol Campbell (Arsenal), Jamie Carragher (Liverpool), Wayne Bridge (Chelsea), David Beckham (Real Madrid), Michael Carrick (Tottenham Hotspur), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Owen Hargreaves (Bayern Munich), Jermaine Jenas (Tottenham Hotspur), Stewart Downing (Middlesbrough), Joe Cole (Chelsea), Aaron Lennon (Tottenham Hotspur), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Michael Owen (Newcastle United), Peter Crouch (Liverpool), Theo Walcott (Arsenal). Coach: Sven Goran Eriksson.
Stand-by: Scott Carson (Liverpool), Luke Young (Charlton Athletic), Nigel Reo-Coker (West Ham United), Jermain Defoe (Tottenham Hotspur), Andy Johnson (Crystal Palace). Called up later: Michael Dawson (Tottenham Hotspur), Phil Neville (Everton), Ben Foster (Manchester United).
Players who withdrew due to injury: Young (stand-by list), Green, Reo-Coker (reason of departure not known).
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