England: What is Three Lions' greatest performance since 1966?

This Forum is the main messageboard to discuss all things Claret and Blue and beyond
Post Reply
tiger76
Posts: 25697
Joined: Sat Jun 24, 2017 9:43 pm
Been Liked: 4644 times
Has Liked: 9849 times
Location: Glasgow

England: What is Three Lions' greatest performance since 1966?

Post by tiger76 » Sat Jun 13, 2020 12:58 pm

Got this from McNulty on the BBC, there is far too little footy content on this forum just now, so that's needs remedying ASAP.

His 10 to select from are as follows.

England 5-1 Scotland - Wembley (24 May 1975)

Hungary 1-3 England - Budapest (6 June 1981)

England 3-1 France - Bilbao (16 June 1982)

Brazil 0-2 England - Rio de Janeiro (10 June 1984)

England 3-0 Poland - Monterrey (11 June 1986)

Netherlands 1-4 England - Wembley (18 June 1996)

Germany 1-5 England - Munich (1 September 2001)

Croatia 2-4 England - Lisbon (21 June 2004)

Colombia 1-1 England - Moscow (3 July 2018)

Spain 2-3 England - Sevilla (15 October 2018)

I'd rank them as follows

1)Netherlands(Euro 96) England were outstanding that night, and ripped the Dutch to shreds.
2)Germany(Munich 01) It's always sweet to beat the Germans, but to do it in their own backyard, and so comprehensively will live long in the memory.
3)Brazil(Rio 84) That goal from John Barnes, and he assisted the 2nd, must have been an easy call for the MOTM award that day.
4)Croatia(Euro 04) Rooney was sensational in this game, and if he hadn't have gone off injured in the QF who knows.
5)Poland(86) England's tournament hopes hung in the balance, before a chap called Lineker emerged, whatever happened to him.
6)France(82) This was a top quality French side that England beat, but it didn't help us get through the group stages.
7)Colombia(18) This ranks so highly mainly due to the fact England won a penalty shoot-out for a change, and of course went on to reach the last 4, could have been so different, but for Pickford that night.
8)Spain(18) England hadn't beaten a top nation for some while, until this victory, we blew them away in the 1st half, and managed to see out the inevitable onslaught after the break.
9)Hungary(81) Slightly before my time, but it was a vital result to ensure England made it to Spain the following summer.
10)Scotland(75) A year before my birth, so i can only go off the match report, but this was a surprising result at the time, as Scotland were a decent outfit in those days, and unlike England they'd actually qualified for the 74 WC.

Any that you think have been omitted? the obvious one that springs to my mind is Argentina 2002, and Beckham's penalty, that was effectively KO football in that group of death, and this moment erased all Goldenballs demons from 4 years previous.

And the 4-1 success away to Croatia in 2008 with a Theo Walcott hat-trick also deserves a mention, especially in light of the fact the Croats had won at Wembley just 10 months prior, and denied England a place at Euro 2008.

Anybody got any contributions, was anyone even at the games, and got any memories they wish to reveal good or bad.

bodge
Posts: 1576
Joined: Sun Jan 03, 2016 6:04 pm
Been Liked: 725 times
Has Liked: 474 times

Re: England: What is Three Lions' greatest performance since 1966?

Post by bodge » Sat Jun 13, 2020 1:04 pm

Cheers tiger, we need more footy threads.

The Germany game stands out but they were below par by their standards.
This user liked this post: Stayingup

bfcjg
Posts: 13160
Joined: Fri Jan 22, 2016 8:17 pm
Been Liked: 5005 times
Has Liked: 6722 times

Re: England: What is Three Lions' greatest performance since 1966?

Post by bfcjg » Sat Jun 13, 2020 1:06 pm

The 4-1 victory against Holland was sheer world class by the team, the victory in Germany though just shades it.

huw.Y.WattfromWare
Posts: 3393
Joined: Fri May 08, 2020 7:04 pm
Been Liked: 1004 times
Has Liked: 905 times

Re: England: What is Three Lions' greatest performance since 1966?

Post by huw.Y.WattfromWare » Sat Jun 13, 2020 2:31 pm

Watched a re-run of the 1-5 Germany win a few weeks back. They had a shocking side out for that game. One of them you can look back with hindsight and think no surprise there.
Holland 4-1 was a fantastic performance.

kritichris
Posts: 608
Joined: Sat Jan 23, 2016 9:01 am
Been Liked: 135 times
Has Liked: 179 times
Location: France

Re: England: What is Three Lions' greatest performance since 1966?

Post by kritichris » Sun Jun 14, 2020 11:57 am

The 5 goal tonking of Germany is my favourite. I was on holiday in Crete and watched it in a bar with a Scots friend which made it more enjoyable. One English guy jumped up after Germany got the opener and said I'm not stopping to watch this rubbish, I'm going back to the hotel. Not his night though it was Michael Owen's.

Rowls
Posts: 13163
Joined: Wed Jan 20, 2016 11:00 pm
Been Liked: 5065 times
Has Liked: 5124 times
Location: Montpellier, France

Re: England: What is Three Lions' greatest performance since 1966?

Post by Rowls » Sun Jun 14, 2020 12:05 pm

I'm only old enough to comment on the last five matches. Of those, the standout performances are Holland, Germany and Croatia.

Against Holland we faced a side who had formed several cliques inside their squad and a they were essentially in a state of civil war so with hindsight it's easy to see how our unified squad tore them apart.

As has been noted, the Germany team at the time we faced them were remarkable weak. Unbelievably so. That takes nothing away from the scoreline but it's a truth that needs acknowledging.

The Croatia team however, were a very good side, were playing well as a team and were ready to take the fight to us. And we blew them apart.

I'm fully of the belief that if Rooney hadn't been injured we'd have won that tournament.

Quickenthetempo
Posts: 17930
Joined: Thu Jan 21, 2016 10:35 am
Been Liked: 3845 times
Has Liked: 2066 times

Re: England: What is Three Lions' greatest performance since 1966?

Post by Quickenthetempo » Sun Jun 14, 2020 12:22 pm

Why, as a nation do we always look for excuses for the opposition when we have success?

Do you think the Aussies start giving excuses for England when they tub us in the ashes? Or the Germans when they beat us on penalties?

You take on what is put in front of you and try and beat it. No excuses.

tiger76
Posts: 25697
Joined: Sat Jun 24, 2017 9:43 pm
Been Liked: 4644 times
Has Liked: 9849 times
Location: Glasgow

Re: England: What is Three Lions' greatest performance since 1966?

Post by tiger76 » Sun Jun 14, 2020 12:50 pm

To all those stating that German side of 2001 was weak, can you please explain how they reached the WC final just 9 months later in that case.

I'd settle for England being that weak, that's for sure.

Rowls
Posts: 13163
Joined: Wed Jan 20, 2016 11:00 pm
Been Liked: 5065 times
Has Liked: 5124 times
Location: Montpellier, France

Re: England: What is Three Lions' greatest performance since 1966?

Post by Rowls » Sun Jun 14, 2020 12:56 pm

tiger76 wrote:
Sun Jun 14, 2020 12:50 pm
To all those stating that German side of 2001 was weak, can you please explain how they reached the WC final just 9 months later in that case.

I'd settle for England being that weak, that's for sure.
Well it's all down to opinions isn't it? They were certainly a team in flux at that point.

But of those who thought the German team at that point was weak you can include Franz Beckenbauer. He was quoted at the time as saying he could wake up his side from 10-11 years previously at midnight and even thought they were all in their 40s and 50s that they would still beat what was the current German side whilst wearing flipflops. Or words to that effect.

Blackrod
Posts: 5114
Joined: Tue Jan 26, 2016 12:41 pm
Been Liked: 1348 times
Has Liked: 608 times

Re: England: What is Three Lions' greatest performance since 1966?

Post by Blackrod » Sun Jun 14, 2020 1:00 pm

4-1 v Holland 1996
1-5 away v Germany 2001
Without question in my mind

tiger76
Posts: 25697
Joined: Sat Jun 24, 2017 9:43 pm
Been Liked: 4644 times
Has Liked: 9849 times
Location: Glasgow

Re: England: What is Three Lions' greatest performance since 1966?

Post by tiger76 » Sun Jun 14, 2020 1:10 pm

Rowls wrote:
Sun Jun 14, 2020 12:56 pm
Well it's all down to opinions isn't it? They were certainly a team in flux at that point.

But of those who thought the German team at that point was weak you can include Franz Beckenbauer. He was quoted at the time as saying he could wake up his side from 10-11 years previously at midnight and even thought they were all in their 40s and 50s that they would still beat what was the current German side whilst wearing flipflops. Or words to that effect.
I don't disagree that German side was certainly not one of their best, it probably speaks a lot about the standard of world football at the time, that they reached the final, they also arguably had a lucky draw meeting Paraguay, USA, and South Korea in the KO rounds, Whereas England for our sins encountered Brazil earlier in the tournament.

But the history books will only show that they reached the final, not who they beat to get there.

They also possessed a genuine world-class player in Michael Ballack, who preformed out of his skin at that tournament, and you could say he dragged a mediocre squad up by his bootlaces.
This user liked this post: Rowls

FactualFrank
Posts: 25445
Joined: Sat Mar 26, 2016 12:46 am
Been Liked: 6930 times
Has Liked: 11660 times
Location: Leeds

Re: England: What is Three Lions' greatest performance since 1966?

Post by FactualFrank » Sun Jun 14, 2020 1:10 pm

There's not been many over the last 30 years in my opinion.

The 2-1 win over Croatia in November 2018 is one of the best defensive and closing down England performances I've seen.

Bordeauxclaret
Posts: 10273
Joined: Mon Jan 25, 2016 10:36 pm
Been Liked: 3327 times
Has Liked: 1942 times

Re: England: What is Three Lions' greatest performance since 1966?

Post by Bordeauxclaret » Sun Jun 14, 2020 1:15 pm

I can’t believe the Germany game was nearly 20 years ago.

The Holland game wins it for me, especially as the consolation goal knocked Scotland out.

Colburn_Claret
Posts: 8069
Joined: Thu Jan 21, 2016 4:30 pm
Been Liked: 3060 times
Has Liked: 5023 times
Location: Catterick N.Yorks

Re: England: What is Three Lions' greatest performance since 1966?

Post by Colburn_Claret » Sun Jun 14, 2020 1:15 pm

Germany away 5 1 had to be.
Despite only drawing 0 0, the away qualifying match in Italy, when under Hoddle, made me feel proud. Men v boys in a very tough fixture.

taio
Posts: 11520
Joined: Thu Jan 21, 2016 9:17 am
Been Liked: 3220 times
Has Liked: 340 times

Re: England: What is Three Lions' greatest performance since 1966?

Post by taio » Sun Jun 14, 2020 1:16 pm

Germany for me just ahead of Holland.

tiger76
Posts: 25697
Joined: Sat Jun 24, 2017 9:43 pm
Been Liked: 4644 times
Has Liked: 9849 times
Location: Glasgow

Re: England: What is Three Lions' greatest performance since 1966?

Post by tiger76 » Sun Jun 14, 2020 1:17 pm

Bordeauxclaret wrote:
Sun Jun 14, 2020 1:15 pm
I can’t believe the Germany game was nearly 20 years ago.

The Holland game wins it for me, especially as the consolation goal knocked Scotland out.
Yeah! that was the icing on the cake, surely you're not suggesting we shipped a late goal to send the Scots home to think again are you. :lol:
This user liked this post: Bordeauxclaret

ClaretTony
Posts: 67438
Joined: Thu Dec 24, 2015 3:07 pm
Been Liked: 32243 times
Has Liked: 5255 times
Location: Burnley
Contact:

Re: England: What is Three Lions' greatest performance since 1966?

Post by ClaretTony » Sun Jun 14, 2020 1:20 pm

Netherlands at Euro 96 for me - watched it again the other week. We were superb that day.

The other one is Germany in Munich but the Germans were really poor that day. I remember it most for being the weekend we went top of the league after winning at Valley Parade.

Rowls
Posts: 13163
Joined: Wed Jan 20, 2016 11:00 pm
Been Liked: 5065 times
Has Liked: 5124 times
Location: Montpellier, France

Re: England: What is Three Lions' greatest performance since 1966?

Post by Rowls » Sun Jun 14, 2020 1:25 pm

Bordeauxclaret wrote:
Sun Jun 14, 2020 1:15 pm
The Holland game wins it for me, especially as the consolation goal knocked Scotland out.
I'd forgotten that element of it! :lol:

tiger76
Posts: 25697
Joined: Sat Jun 24, 2017 9:43 pm
Been Liked: 4644 times
Has Liked: 9849 times
Location: Glasgow

Re: England: What is Three Lions' greatest performance since 1966?

Post by tiger76 » Sun Jun 14, 2020 1:27 pm

Colburn_Claret wrote:
Sun Jun 14, 2020 1:15 pm
Germany away 5 1 had to be.
Despite only drawing 0 0, the away qualifying match in Italy, when under Hoddle, made me feel proud. Men v boys in a very tough fixture.
Blimey! forgot about that defensive masterclass in Turin, we out Italy'ed the Italians that night, that was one of Hoddle's best tactical matches.

And England played with their heads and their hearts that night, and didn't go gung ho chasing a victory when we didn't need to. Very mature display for a relatively inexperienced international line-up, only Gazza had over 50 caps in the team that night.
This user liked this post: Colburn_Claret

beddie
Posts: 5139
Joined: Thu Jan 21, 2016 12:10 pm
Been Liked: 1384 times
Has Liked: 512 times

Re: England: What is Three Lions' greatest performance since 1966?

Post by beddie » Sun Jun 14, 2020 1:28 pm

Another one for the Netherlands game at Euro 96. Brilliant from back to front.

Bordeauxclaret
Posts: 10273
Joined: Mon Jan 25, 2016 10:36 pm
Been Liked: 3327 times
Has Liked: 1942 times

Re: England: What is Three Lions' greatest performance since 1966?

Post by Bordeauxclaret » Sun Jun 14, 2020 1:28 pm

ClaretTony wrote:
Sun Jun 14, 2020 1:20 pm
Netherlands at Euro 96 for me - watched it again the other week. We were superb that day.

The other one is Germany in Munich but the Germans were really poor that day. I remember it most for being the weekend we went top of the league after winning at Valley Parade.
Some weekend that. A very hungover trip to Valley Parade. We looked like we were going to score every time Little got the ball.

beddie
Posts: 5139
Joined: Thu Jan 21, 2016 12:10 pm
Been Liked: 1384 times
Has Liked: 512 times

Re: England: What is Three Lions' greatest performance since 1966?

Post by beddie » Sun Jun 14, 2020 1:45 pm

Bordeauxclaret wrote:
Sun Jun 14, 2020 1:28 pm
Some weekend that. A very hungover trip to Valley Parade. We looked like we were going to score every time Little got the ball.
Glen was unstoppable that day, I'm fairly certain he scored a goal that wasn't given, sure it crossed the line but came back out and play just continued. Was this the same game that a certain Mr Blake scored an absolute rocket, much to the displeasure of his old Bradford fans.

Sorry to distract from the title. My second choice was the German game.

Bordeauxclaret
Posts: 10273
Joined: Mon Jan 25, 2016 10:36 pm
Been Liked: 3327 times
Has Liked: 1942 times

Re: England: What is Three Lions' greatest performance since 1966?

Post by Bordeauxclaret » Sun Jun 14, 2020 1:55 pm

Blake was playing for Bradford that day. He came on as a sub if I remember.

ClaretTony
Posts: 67438
Joined: Thu Dec 24, 2015 3:07 pm
Been Liked: 32243 times
Has Liked: 5255 times
Location: Burnley
Contact:

Re: England: What is Three Lions' greatest performance since 1966?

Post by ClaretTony » Sun Jun 14, 2020 1:57 pm

Bordeauxclaret wrote:
Sun Jun 14, 2020 1:55 pm
Blake was playing for Bradford that day. He came on as a sub if I remember.
He did, around ten minutes from the end for Gunnar Halle and they immediately equalised although I don't think he was involved in the goal.

HB Claret
Posts: 639
Joined: Fri Jan 22, 2016 12:09 am
Been Liked: 171 times
Has Liked: 81 times

Re: England: What is Three Lions' greatest performance since 1966?

Post by HB Claret » Sun Jun 14, 2020 2:17 pm

The German 5:1 was the one for me - we had two coaches of German students arriving during the game and the first question I was asked as I met the group leader was “how is the score” ..... so I said 2:1 - and he replied “oh good so we are winning yah?” - he couldn’t actually imagine that England might be ahead - as more and more host families arrived the situation got worse for our friends ! The next morning they took the students for a walk on the beach and were very surprised that everybody was so friendly towards them - well they kept reminding them of the score !!

paulatky
Posts: 1441
Joined: Wed Dec 07, 2016 10:25 am
Been Liked: 220 times
Has Liked: 772 times

Re: England: What is Three Lions' greatest performance since 1966?

Post by paulatky » Sun Jun 14, 2020 4:25 pm

I enjoyed watching the Italia 90 MOTD edition last night with Lineker, Butcher and Parker.

2 nights before the 1st game some of the squad broke curfew to go drinking on after they returned to the hotel Gazzs later tipped Bryan Robson out of bed and in the chaos Robson toe nail was completely ripped off.

MrTopTier
Posts: 2927
Joined: Thu Jan 21, 2016 9:20 am
Been Liked: 1036 times
Has Liked: 965 times
Location: The Moon, Outer Space.

Re: England: What is Three Lions' greatest performance since 1966?

Post by MrTopTier » Sun Jun 14, 2020 7:18 pm

Not qualifying for either the Euros or The World Cup is England’s best achievement, saves a load of embarrassment.

It’s a national disgrace that no England team has got a major final in 54 years never mind won anything. The performances in the above list ultimately counted for nothing and just led to more inglorious failure.

As someone famously said “ you need to put all your medals in the bin, because you didn’t win them fairly”.
The same applies to that list, put it the bin, just play the 1966 final if you want a proper England performance, That’s the only one that counts for anything.

timshorts
Posts: 2534
Joined: Sat Feb 04, 2017 8:52 pm
Been Liked: 410 times
Has Liked: 307 times

Re: England: What is Three Lions' greatest performance since 1966?

Post by timshorts » Sun Jun 14, 2020 10:26 pm

I enjoyed the Germany game. Obviously, not as much as the Iceland one, or the first minute of the San Marino game or the Germans tonking Brazil in the world cup semi for that matter, but it was enjoyable nonetheless.

Dyched
Posts: 5939
Joined: Thu Aug 11, 2016 12:34 am
Been Liked: 1922 times
Has Liked: 446 times

Re: England: What is Three Lions' greatest performance since 1966?

Post by Dyched » Sun Jun 14, 2020 10:35 pm

Quickenthetempo wrote:
Sun Jun 14, 2020 12:22 pm
Why, as a nation do we always look for excuses for the opposition when we have success?

Do you think the Aussies start giving excuses for England when they tub us in the ashes? Or the Germans when they beat us on penalties?

You take on what is put in front of you and try and beat it. No excuses.
I agree, it’s odd.

A lot of football fans in this country are must as bad as what the press are when it comes to giving the national team grief. You only need to take a look at the match threads on here when England play. International games seem to bring other nations together where with us there’s some kind of jealousy that players at other clubs get picked over others that play for the club that fans support.

wilks_bfc
Posts: 11412
Joined: Thu Jan 21, 2016 12:33 pm
Been Liked: 3171 times
Has Liked: 1848 times
Contact:

Re: England: What is Three Lions' greatest performance since 1966?

Post by wilks_bfc » Mon Jun 15, 2020 11:05 am

tiger76 wrote:
Sun Jun 14, 2020 1:27 pm
Blimey! forgot about that defensive masterclass in Turin, we out Italy'ed the Italians that night, that was one of Hoddle's best tactical matches.

And England played with their heads and their hearts that night, and didn't go gung ho chasing a victory when we didn't need to. Very mature display for a relatively inexperienced international line-up, only Gazza had over 50 caps in the team that night.
We nearly won/lost it in the last minute as well, when Wright hit the post then Italy hit us on the break and Vieri headed wide

Rubstuds
Posts: 175
Joined: Fri Jan 22, 2016 2:52 pm
Been Liked: 45 times
Has Liked: 57 times

Re: England: What is Three Lions' greatest performance since 1966?

Post by Rubstuds » Mon Jun 15, 2020 11:28 am

V Cameroon. England odds on favourites,but as the game panned out it was drama all the way. That day our discipline stood firm, where as Cameroon started to loose theirs. I remember feeling drained after watching it. Its the best England match I've watched.

SammyBoy
Posts: 1452
Joined: Fri Jan 22, 2016 11:41 pm
Been Liked: 469 times
Has Liked: 434 times
Location: Sector 7G

Re: England: What is Three Lions' greatest performance since 1966?

Post by SammyBoy » Mon Jun 15, 2020 11:30 am

Not the most impressive as it was only the nations league but that first half vs Spain was sensational, some outstanding attacking football that could barely have been imagined just a year or two prior.

Post Reply