Things Retro

Now that England have successfully qualified for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, I thought I would take a look at some of the past England shirts worn in previous world cups. The most famous iconic shirt worn in any world cup for England has to be the all red with white numbers on the back shirt worn in 1966 final at Wembley which England won 4-2 against West Germany.

The next world cup ended with England losing to eventual winners Brazil in 1970, although most people think England had a better team than they did four years earlier.

Then there was a bit of a barren spell with England not qualifying until Spain 1982, after a good start we went out in the second group stage where are forwards couldn’t score for toffee.

Then it was off to Mexico for the 1986 World Cup and that game against Argentina and the hand of god incident which knocked us out of the quarter finals losing 2-1.

Four years later it was Italia 90 where we would go one round further getting knocked out of the semi finals to West Germany on penalties, this game is best known with Gazza crying in extra time after receiving a second yellow card with the realisation he wouldn’t be playing in the final if England won the game. After missing 1994 in the States, France 98 was the next destination and another meeting with Argentina, that wonder goal by a young Michael Owen wasn’t enough though and we went out on penalties.

2002 was Korea and Japan’s turn to host the World Cup with England going out to Brazil in the quarter finals, although revenge on Argentina in the earlier stages put a stop to there further progress in the competition. The last World Cup in 2006 was another quarter final penalty shootout against those winkers Portugal, Wayne Rooney was sent off after his Manchester Utd team mate Ronaldo seemed to play a part in his sending off, and then winking to his bench in a gesture of glee. So now were off again to South Africa in our retro looking white shirts hoping for more luck than in previous years. C’mon ENGLAND