GREAVSIE IS ON TOP OF WORLD
England 2 Rest of the World 1 Paine 66 Law 82 Greaves 90 Friendly, October 23, 1963 Att: 100,000 at Wembley BY ENGLAND announced themselves as potential world champions in front of 100,000 fans at Wembley.
After becoming manager, Alf Ramsey said, “We will win the World Cup”, and, six months later, the Three Lions took on a squad with 16 of the world’s top players.
The match between England and a Rest of the World team was arranged to celebrate the centenary of the FA.
FIFA put together the strongest team possible to send to London and Real Madrid legend Alfredo Di Stefano captained a side that was missing Pele, but included European Cup winner Eusebio and the world’s best keeper, Lev Yashin from Russia.
The next day’s papers raved about “a magnificent festival of a game” and a man-of-the-match display by Spurs marksman Jimmy Greaves.
But, until the dying moments, it had not been Greavsie’s day.
Three times in the first half Yashin denied him and his luck did not change after the break.
The referee blew for a foul on Greaves a split-second before he found the back of the net in the 53rd minute after swapping passes with Spurs team mate Bobby Smith.
Greaves had a hand in England’s opener 13 minutes later.
Smith aimed a cross towards him and Terry Paine got to the ball before two defenders and substitute keeper Milutin Soskic to put England ahead.
Scotland striker Denis Law played as well as any of the Rest of the World stars and got the equaliser in the 82nd minute, after a pass from Hungary star Ferenc Puskas, coolly slotting past Gordon Banks.
Greaves and Bobby Charlton also hit the woodwork as England went looking for a winner, which came as England were down to 10 men.
Skipper Jimmy Armfield was off the pitch receiving treatment for cramp when Banks rolled a goal kick out to Charlton.
He surged up the pitch and drifted past several challenges before firing a shot that that Soskic couldn’t hold.
Greaves got to the rebound before Soskic and World Cup winner Djalma Santos to squeeze his shot into the net and win the match for England.
The following day the Daily Herald’s match report headline read: “Greaves The Greatest”.