England national football team

The England national football team is controlled by The Football Association, the governing body for football in England, and represents England (not the whole United Kingdom) in international football competitions like the World Cup and the European Championships. Because the IOC does not accept regional representative teams, the UK does not compete in Olympic football.

Early history

England played in the first ever "international" football match against Scotland at Hamilton Crescent in Partick (now part of Glasgow), Scotland in 1872. The teams drew 0–0.

Home Nations standing

England are by far the most successful of the Home Nations, and as well as being former World Champions, they won the British Home Championship outright thirty-four times, as many as the other three nations managed altogether.

1966 World Cup

England's greatest success came in 1966, when they won the World Cup. They were captained by Bobby Moore and managed by Alf Ramsey who was later knighted for the achievement. In the final England beat West Germany 4–2, with three goals from Geoff Hurst and one from Martin Peters. The game popularized the British catchphrase "They think it's all over... it is now!", which were Kenneth Wolstenholme's comments just before and after the final goal towards the end of full-time.

Most successful players

The goalkeeper Peter Shilton has played for England more times than anyone else. He gained his 125th and last cap in the 1990 World Cup. Sir Bobby Charlton is the top scorer with 49, with Gary Lineker second with 48.

First foreign manager

In 2001, the Swede Sven-Göran Eriksson became the first foreign national to become the manager of England. The team qualified for the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea after a tense final game on the 6 October, 2001 against Greece. The goal that gave them an essential draw against Greece was scored by David Beckham from a free kick in the last seconds of the game. This result ensured automatic qualification above Germany on goal difference. In the World Cup itself England reached the quarter-finals before being beaten by the eventual tournament winners Brazil 2–1.

Highlights of Eriksson's managership

So far the highlights of Eriksson's time in charge of England have been a 5–1 victory over Germany, during the World Cup 2002 qualification campaign — England came from behind, with goals from Emile Heskey, Steven Gerrard and a Michael Owen hat-trick; and a difficult 1–0 win over Argentina in the tournament itself.

Death of first manager

The first national manager, Walter Winterbottom, died in February 2002.

World Cup record

• 1930 to 1938 – Did not enter
• 1950 – Round 1
• 1954 – Quarter-finals
• 1958 – Round 1
• 1962 – Quarter-finals
• 1966 – Winners
• 1970 – Quarter-finals
• 1974 – Did not qualify
• 1978 – Did not qualify
• 1982 – Round 2
• 1986 – Quarter-finals
• 1990 – 4th place
• 1994 – Did not qualify
• 1998 – Round 2
• 2002 – Quarter-finals

European Championship record

• 1960 – Did not enter
• 1964 – Did not qualify
• 1968 – Third place
• 1972 – Did not qualify
• 1976 – Did not qualify
• 1980 – Round 1
• 1984 – Did not qualify
• 1988 – Round 1
• 1992 – Round 1
• 1996 – Semifinals
• 2000 – Round 1
• 2004 – Quarterfinals

Distinguished players

• Tony Adams central defender, 66 caps, 1986–2000 (20th=)
• Viv Anderson right back, 30 caps, 1978–1988
• Alan Ball midfielder, 72 caps, 1965–1975 (17th)
• Gordon Banks goalkeeper, 73 caps, 1963–1972 (16th)
• John Barnes left winger, 79 caps, 1983–1995 (10th)
• Peter Beardsley striker, 59 caps, 1986–1996
• David Beckham midfielder, 80* caps, 1996- (8th=)
• Steve Bloomer striker, 23 caps, 1895–1907
• Sir Trevor Brooking midfielder, 47 caps, 1974–1982
• Terry Butcher central defender, 77 caps, 1980–1990 (12th)
• Sol Campbell central defender, 64* caps, 1996-
• Sir Bobby Charlton striker/midfielder, 106 caps, 1958–1970 (3rd)
• Jack Charlton central defender, 35 caps, 1965–1970
• Ray Clemence goalkeeper, 61 caps, 1972–1983
• George Cohen right back, 37 caps, 1964–1967
• Duncan Edwards midfielder, 18 caps, 1955–1958
• Sir Tom Finney left winger, 76 caps, 1947–1959 (13th=)
• Tip Foster striker, 5 caps, 1900–1902 (the only man to captain England at both football and cricket)
• Trevor Francis striker, 52 caps, 1977–1986
• Paul Gascoigne midfielder, 59 caps, 1988–1998
• Jimmy Greaves striker, 57 caps, 1959–1967
• Glenn Hoddle midfielder, 53 caps, 1979–1988
• Emlyn Hughes central defender/left back, 62 caps, 1969–1980
• Roger Hunt striker, 34 caps, 1962–1969
• Sir Geoff Hurst striker, 49 caps, 1966–1972
• Kevin Keegan striker/midfielder, 63 caps, 1973–1982
• Gary Lineker striker, 80 caps, 1984–1992 (8th)
• Sir Stanley Matthews right winger, 54 caps, 1935–1957
• Bobby Moore central defender, 108 caps, 1962–1974 (2nd)
• Phil Neal right back, 50 caps, 1976–1984
• Gary Neville right back, 76 caps*, 1995- (13th=)
• Michael Owen striker, 69 caps*, 1998- (18th)
• Stuart Pearce left back, 78 caps, 1987–1999 (11th)
• Martin Peters midfielder, 67 caps, 1966–1974 (19th)
• David Platt midfielder, 62 caps, 1990–1996
• Bryan Robson midfielder, 90 caps, 1980–1992 (5th)
• Wayne Rooney striker, 25 caps*, 2003-
• Kenny Sansom left back, 86 caps, 1979–1988 (6th)
• Paul Scholes midfielder, 66 caps, 1997–2004 (20th=)
• David Seaman goalkeeper, 75 caps, 1989–2002 (15th)
• Alan Shearer striker, 63 caps, 1992–2000
• Peter Shilton goalkeeper, 125 caps, 1970–1990 (1st)
• Gareth Southgate central defender, 57 caps*, 1995-
• Gary Stevens right back, 46 caps, 1985–1992
• Nobby Stiles midfielder, 28 caps, 1965–1970
• Chris Waddle right winger, 62 caps, 1985–1992
• Des Walker central defender, 59 caps, 1989–1993
• Ray Wilkins midfielder, 84 caps, 1976–1987 (7th)
• Ray Wilson left back, 63 caps, 1960–1968
• Billy Wright midfielder/central defender, 105 caps, 1947–1959 (4th)

*denotes a player still playing for England or available for selection. Players in bold are those who won the 1966 World Cup. Bold figures in brackets denote a place in the Top 20 most capped players.

See also: List of English footballers

Top England goalscorers

England managers

See also

• England national football team records

External links

• Official website at the FA's website
• Archive of England national team results 1874-
• RSSSF archive of most capped players and highest goalscorers
• The England Fanzine
• Planet World Cup archive of results in the World Cup
• Planet World Cup archive of squads in the World Cup
• Planet World Cup archive of results in the World Cup qualifiers