[Football] England's best ever opponents?

[Lenny Rider]

One for the old fogies to debate, is the Group game vs Brazil in the 1970's World Cup in Mexico, the best team the Three Lions have ever played in a competitive fixture?

At the time eventual champions Brazil's boss Mario Zagallo described the game as 'football for grown ups', as at that time many believed, and still do, that the 1970 England squad was the strongest one ever picked, despite going out in the Quarters to West Germany.

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

Hungary 3-6, 1-7

 

[Mellor 3 Ward 4]

I saw Alan Mullery down at the local Co-Op recently, and we had a decent chat about this game.

What a game, what a tackle, what a save.

IMO (and those of others) our team was better in 70 than 66

 

[A1X]

I would humbly suggest the Brazil team in 2002 wasn’t bad, either

 

[Brovion]

One for the old fogies to debate, is the Group game vs Brazil in the 1970's World Cup in Mexico, the best team the Three Lions have ever played in a competitive fixture?

At the time eventual champions Brazil's boss Mario Zagallo described the game as 'football for grown ups', as at that time many believed, and still do, that the 1970 England squad was the strongest one ever picked, despite going out in the Quarters to West Germany.

That is still my personal all-time favourite England game - even though we lost. Not only was it a great match it produced three iconic moments: the tackle by Moore, the save by Banks, and the image at the end of Moore and Pele congratulating each other.

And yes, that team were the true 'Golden Generation'. ("We had the players, it was all the manager's fault!" How many times have we heard that over the decades!)

 

[Flounce]

IMO (and those of others) our team was better in 70 than 66

I watched that game against West (?) Germany in a bar in Ibiza and left when we were 2-0 up and coasting…..

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

Scotland, in the Billy Gilmour-inspired 0-0 victory at Wembley on 18th June 2021

 

[Javeaseagull]

Purely anecdotally but for years when referring to any great teams I have always referenced “Brazil 1970” as the benchmark, for what it’s worth.

 

[Lenny Rider]

I watched that game against West (?) Germany in a bar in Ibiza and left when we were 2-0 up and coasting…..

Have you watched the whole game since and what did you put it down to
A) Bonetti instead of Banks?
B) Charlton getting subbed with 20 mins left to save him for the semi?
C) England's poor defending?

Didn't we actually have goal chalked off at the start of extra time that would have put us 3-2 up?

 

[KZNSeagull]

Scotland, in the Billy Gilmour-inspired 0-0 victory at Wembley on 18th June 2021

Balls*
* This reply has been made taking into account the issues raised in the post length thread.

 

[Giraffe]

I watched that game against West (?) Germany in a bar in Ibiza and left when we were 2-0 up and coasting…..

Your fault then.

 

[Flounce]

Your fault then.

Sex, drugs and rock and roll waiting when the game was apparently won is my excuse

Early evening game on European time I think?

 

[Flounce]

Have you watched the whole game since and what did you put it down to
A) Bonetti instead of Banks?
B) Charlton getting subbed with 20 mins left to save him for the semi?
C) England's poor defending?

Didn't we actually have goal chalked off at the start of extra time that would have put us 3-2 up?

I haven’t and neither have I re watched the Cup Final replay defeat against United. Both too painful

I think, from memory, the blame was placed on Bonetti at the time?

 

[Lenny Rider]

Sex, drugs and rock and roll waiting when the game was apparently won is my excuse

Early evening game on European time I think?

6 hour time difference to Uk, 7 to mainland europe, whose respective broadcasters had paid the Lions share to FIFA for the broadcasting rights.

Lots of controversy as all the games kicked off at either 12 noon or 2pm local time (by far the hottest period of the day) to accomodate the European TV schedules, England had to have special shirts made to allow for extra sweat apparently.

 

[Nigella's Cream Pie]

1-5 v Brazil at Maracana in 64, Pele ran the show:

 

[MattBackHome]

Hungary 3-6, 1-7

100% correct

 

[peterward]

I would humbly suggest the Brazil team in 2002 wasn’t bad, either

Ronaldinho crossed it and fluked 'that' goal, Seaman shouldve saved it

 

[Sid and the Sharknados]

Ronaldinho crossed it and fluked 'that' goal, Seaman shouldve saved it

Can we not even claim we got knocked out by the first good team we met then?

 

[schmunk]

Germany 1940 gave us a good battle.

 

[Han Solo]

Always hard to compare isn't it?

Any team from Euro 2024 would beat the chain smokers and alcoholics playing in the 70s.