ON THIS DAY...

November 25, 1953

IN A GAME often described as the match of the century, England were soundly beaten by Hungary at Wembley by six goals to three. It was the first time the team had been beaten on home soil by a Continental team.

The mentality and attitude at the time was to assume that as the inventors of the game, England were techically and physically superior to all challengers. They believed their tactics and ability would make them unbeatable.

They failed to heed the warning signs from the World Cup three years before when, despite being tournament favourites, they were beaten 1-0 by a team of amateurs from the USA.

So when it came to Wembley, the magnificent Magyars ran rings around a ponderous England. They scored six world-class goals. England were then thrashed 7-1 in a return game in Hungary, a result that remains their worst away defeat.

It was a shock result at Wembley, but the experience helped set up the team’s greatest ever triumph. They had to rethink their tactics. One of the Three Lions’ goalscorers that day had paid particular attention. In 1963 Alf Ramsey was appointed England manager. He said: “In three years time, we will win the World Cup.” He was true to his word.

Hungary had taught England that resting on your laurels wasn’t enough. That inventing the game and creating the rules didn’t give you a divine right to be the best team in the world.

At the last World Cup, Croatia mocked the England team and its anthem of “Football’s coming home”. England may have lost that semi-final, but our young team have just beaten Croatia at Wembley.

We have a great manager in Gareth Southgate, someone not caught up in the hype that England should be winning just for being England. He knows you have to fight to win. In 2013, Greg Dyke, then head of the FA, said England should win the 2022 World Cup. Who knows? He may be right...

Last week I asked which iconic New Zealand rugby union player died on November 18, 2015? The answer is Jonah Lomu. This week: Which baseball player, considered one of the greatest in history, was born on this day in 1914?

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