England's chances in the World Cup ..

[wendigo100]

Re: early nineties

Don't be deflected snaw, you actually meant 1990. That's when Shilton, Butcher, Pearce, Gascoigne, Robson, Platt, Lineker played together and got to the world cup semi-final.

England were poor after that. They went out at the group stages in the Europeans in 1992 (when Lineker retired in a huff), and they didn't even qualify for the world cup in 1994.

The team has improved steadily from 1996, with the exception of the blip when Keegan was in charge.

[shaunbhoy]

Re: You were right first time

Surely the 1990 team has the best claim to be the best England team since 1966?

Why do they have that claim then? The 1986 team (admittedly many players overlapped both) might have won had they not been beaten by Diego (doffs cap!) Maradona, and the Euro 96 lot were not too bad really either. I would not have said the 1990 team were any better than either of them. To get back to the original point, the current England team do have a reasonable chance. However, so do about half a dozen others at least. It might well come down to the team that gets the largest slice of good fortune, and that is traditionally where England come unstuck. They are by tradition victims of bad luck, other than when the draw for who they would get as neighbours was being held obviously.

[HankWangford]

1996

The 1996 team was the best in my opinion. The balance of the midfield with Anderton and Mcmanaman wide, ince holding and gazza providing the craft for shearer.
Great team, maybe not packed full of the best quality individuals but a good international team never is.

[sasguru]

1990 team

SB

I only say that because the semi-final with Germany is imprinted on my brain. England played brilliantly against an excellent German team and were unlucky to lose. I believe that was the only time we were genuine World Cup contenders.

[WageSlave1]

Re: 1996

The 1996 team was the best in my opinion. The balance of the midfield with Anderton and Mcmanaman wide, ince holding and gazza providing the craft for shearer.

I think the 1990 side had the edge. Do you remember when Des Walker was actually good!? Waddle and Barnes gave the side flair on the flanks, with (an as yet unspoilt) Gazza providing creativity in the centre. Shilton was probably the best goalie we've ever had. Up front, Lineker the poacher partnered by the more thoughtful Beardsley.

[Mordac]

Re: 1996

Do you remember when Des Walker was actually good!?

No, but I have seen some Movietone footage...:lol

[wendigo100]

Re: 1996

1996 contained England's best match in a final tournament that I remember, against Holland, but I don't think the team were as good as 1990.

In 1990 they might have won it if their captain and best player had not got injured in the group stages. Germany were no better than England in that semi-final, and Robson might have made the difference.

He also got injured in 1986, but Maradona was brilliant that year and England would probably still have lost to that lot.

[WageSlave1]

Re: 1996

1996 contained England's best match in a final tournament that I remember, against Holland,

From what I remember, that result had more to do with Holland imploding than England being brilliant.

Maradona was brilliant that year and England would probably still have lost to that lot.

Quite. Maradona deserved to win the WC on his own. I know he cheated, but the other goal he scored against England was pure genius. I obviously wanted England to win that game, but when you witness something like that....

[shaunbhoy]

Re: 1996

I obviously wanted England to win that game, but when you witness something like that....

Quite possibly the best goal ever scored IMHO.

[sasguru]

..

I think Beardsley was seriously underrated. He basically performed the role Becks is supposed to perform now - what I call the vision thing, only much better. I still remember some of his inch-perfect long distance passes.