It’s 44 years today since England’s 0-0 World Cup draw with West Germany.
The day after, ITV sent Jack Charlton to speak to Ron Greenwood and Don Howe about the match.
It’s not often the interviewer knows as much as the interviewees. Fascinating stuff.
30 years ago, England beat Spain to reach the Euro’s semifinals 🏴
And Reebok unveiled their “blockbuster” Football ad featuring Jarvis, Vic and Bob, Alf Garnett, Wallace and Gromit, Robbie, Anna Friel and many more… ⚽️
The 90s 👇🏼
👀 "He'll pick his moments for the team to be bold!"
🔥 "I like us to be the team people worry about"
Simon Jordan discusses how Thomas Tuchel's tactics can help England win the World Cup
The first thing Thomas Tuchel did after walking into the England dressing room at half-time was to sit down. His team had just conceded with the last kick of the first half, a second sloppy, preventable goal, and he knew the players would be on edge. He knew that what they needed first was a quiet moment to catch their breath.
Then Tuchel explained to the team that his perception of them and their work would not change if England lost their opening game to Croatia. And if they lost here in Dallas, so what, they would still have two games left to put it right. The only thing that mattered was to play in their way, the way they had been working on ever since Tuchel took over.
Brave, courageous, aggressive and proactive. To show the world who they are and what they can be.
@JackPittBrooke on one of the more decisive half-time interventions in English World Cup history.
🔗 https://t.co/MPSKdXLo2A
England 4 Croatia 2. Whistle report from Dallas. All aboard the England rollercoaster. Carnival and chaos. Showed their wealth of attacking options. Harry Kane scored twice, Jude Bellingham confirmed his world class (but occasionally needs to be tighter in possession)… 1/2
“Les habla Diego Armando Maradona, el hombre que le hizo dos goles a Inglaterra y uno de los pocos argentinos que saben cuánto pesa la Copa del Mundo”
Nos despedimos de los #10HilosDel10 con fragmentos del libro escrito por Diego junto a @daniarcucci
¡Gracias! ⚽️🔟
Absolutely right that Thomas Tuchel says Jude Bellingham has to fight for his starting place. Every player should. Sport is about *checks notes* competition. Bellingham is in competition with Morgan Rogers for the No 10 slot against Croatia in Dallas. Just as John Stones is in competition with Ezri Konsa for the right-sided centre-back slot. Just as Marcus Rashford is in competition with Anthony Gordon (possibly Rogers) to start on England’s left wing (as well as the Barcelona sub-plot).
Competition is good, performance-related, a sign of depth of resources. Tuchel is fortunate that club academies, PL and EFL, and England development teams have deepened the competition with good coaching, resources and facilities. They’ve given him some exceptional options. Whoever he picks, Tuchel has talent to attack this tournament. England are, rightly, far from favourites (I've never known such balanced expectations) but they do have talent.
Build-up to this World Cup has been quite low-key from an England perspective, partly the long lead-in time, concerns over the tournament, cost, climate, expansion, and usual distracted reflections on the club season. That will change when the tournament kicks off. As usual.
There's still inevitable debate about who could/should start. I spoke to England fans out here in Florida about who they’d pick. Small sample of opinion tbf but consensus of hoping Bellingham, Stones and Rashford win those fights (nb some support for Konsa over Stones).
Bellingham is a big-game player, a winner, and doesn’t give the ball away in sapping conditions (nb Dallas air-con). Stones brings experience, composure, and an ability to step into midfield to give England an extra dimension. Why take Stones if he’s not going to start? Rashford is flying, coming off a strong season, has experience, and his pace will scare opposing defences. One fan suggested Rogers off the left.
Tuchel still has two games to finalise XI for Dallas – Costa Rica in Orlando on Wednesday and the scrimmage game v Miami United. He has to assess fitness, partnerships and options. Dallas is still 9 days away. My XI would be: Pickford; James, Stones, Guehi, O’Reilly; Anderson, Rice; Saka, Bellingham, Rashford; Kane. But this is also the World Cup of back-ups, and subs will play a huge role. #ENG
At the 2010 Oscars, THE HURT LOCKER beat AVATAR for Best Picture.
Kathryn Bigelow became the first woman to win Best Director.
The director she beat was James Cameron, her ex-husband.