GOLDEN OLDIES, GOLDEN FUTURE
England’s 1,000th match was celebrated by a rare union of past greats and new generation
IT was a night for the kids at Wembley with the youngest team England had ever put out for a European Championship or World Cup match on show, but it was also one for the wrinklies with some of the greats of yesteryear looking on.
England’s 1,000th international provided the excuse for the FA to reassemble some of the cast from the past and they were treated to a sight of the youngest since England played Wales in October 1959 – the game in which Brian Clough made his debut.
With an average age of just 23 years and 255 days, some of Gareth Southgate’s coltish line-up would not have had a clue over the identities of plenty of the legends on parade at half-time. Paul Gascoigne – definitely, Trevor Francis – maybe, but Gerry Francis? This squad’s reference points are the goals of Wayne Rooney, who was at Wembley, and the free-kicks of David Beckham, who was not because of business commitments in the Far East. The pull of a November rout of Montenegro only extends so far evidently.
Nevertheless, the link across the ages is one Southgate is keen to strengthen. England, thanks to a one-off dispensation from FIFA, wore specially commissioned shirts with their international number printed under the crest last night.
James Maddison became number 1,245 to wear the jersey when he was introduced off the bench. In future, the number will be hidden under the collar but it will serve as a reminder of the elite band of men to which they belong. Playing for England should be sufficient motivation for any player but, by underscoring the lineage and the history, they represent the intention for this current squad to have an even stronger attachment to the shirt.
As the giant banner unfurled across the North Stand pointed out, this is a show that has been running since 1872. Not always smoothly, as England’s 1966-heavy record of international achievement shows, but running all the same. England are the first international team to reach four figures and the landmark provided an excuse for the FA to invite every living former captain, player with more than 50 caps and members of the 1966 World Cup-winning squad along as well all Southgate’s predecessors as managers.
Those who made the journey were presented with a speciallycommissioned silver dish in the Wembley Suite before kick-off which, given the evening represented a rare reunion chance, might not all have made it home. As members of the 50-cap club, Raheem Sterling and Jordan Henderson received theirs pitch-side from FA chairman Greg Clarke during the warm-up. Not how Sterling imagined his only involvement at the start of the week.
He missed out on an opportunity to improve his goal tally for England against an off-duty defence, which another of last night’s guests, Sir Geoff Hurst, might have fancied his chances against at 77. Certainly, Rooney, who played his last game for England a year ago to the day, could still have caused Montenegro trouble had he have trotted out for the second half in his suit and slip-ons. All those best England all-time XIs that have been doing the rounds this week? Assemble a worst all-time England XI and they would still have put away the red and gold shower, who compliantly helped to turn an evening of celebration into a victory parade.
The oldies shivering in the stands, arthritic knees and ankles aching in the cold, would have been forgiven for reflecting that international football is a lot easier now than in their day. With qualification secured, the European Championship finals await for Southgate’s side. History, as most of the old guard know, advises caution but England have set themselves up for a shot next summer at making memories that will last a lifetime.