1990 (Italy)
Sharp Shooter: After drawing 0-0 with the Netherlands in Group F, England have two points along with the Dutch, the Republic of Ireland and Egypt. The night before the match, manager Bobby Robson radically alters the team's shape, employing Mark Wright as a sweeper and Terry Butcher at right back. Wright says: "It was a surprise and a brave decision because the manager knew what the consequences would have been if it hadn't come off. He would have been shot down." England now need to beat Egypt in the final group game to go through.
Why does it always rain? England captain Bryan Robson, a doubt for the match with a damaged Achilles tendon, flies in Olga Stringfellow, a 70-year old faith healer, at his own expense. Bobby Robson says: "It shows how badly he wants to play and how passionately he cares about the destiny of the nation. I don't know how it works but if it does we'll all jump in the air." But it doesn't work and Captain Marvel returns home. He says: "Somebody up there doesn't like me. Why is it always me?"
Bull's Eye: Bobby Robson then jettisons his sweeper system, drops Butcher, selects Steve Bull and plays with a flat back four. England perform poorly but Mark Wright scores with a header from a cross by Paul Gascoigne and England go through to meet Belgium in the second round.
* England fans continue to become embroiled in violence. On the eve of the Egypt match, police fire warning shots over the heads of two opposing factions – 25 England fans fighting some 500 Sardinians in northern port of Olbia. "It was a battle, even war," says a police spokesman.
1986 (Mexico)
Diego the Diplomat: England face Paraguay this week in a second round match. Paraguay's manager, Cayetano Re, predicts that England will 'melt'. In the event, England win 3-0 and Gary Lineker's two goals make him the highest scorer in the World Cup thus far. They now face Argentina for the first time since the Falklands war. When asked about the possible political overtones, Diego Maradona says: "I play football. About politics I know nothing. Nothing. The England players I'm worried about are Tottenham's man Hoddle and Lineker who has surprised us with his goal-scoring ability."
Diego the Devil: In the event, it is Maradona's finest moment as he scores the two goals that sink England. After his second wonder goal, Argentine supporters, known as the Barras Bravas, turn and face the England fans calling them 'Sons of Whores'. A chant goes up from the England side of 'What's it like to lose a war?' but before fighting can start plain clothes policemen defuse the situation.
Whiter than White: Afterwards, Bobby Robson says: "We were beaten by one goal that was dubious and another that was a miracle." And adds that he wished Gary Lineker had punched the ball into the net in the final moments 'but he wouldn't have thought of that, would he?'
* England and Wales apparently rose in unison at half time to make a cup of tea and rush to the loo. According to the Central Electricity Board 'the power needed was about the equivalent required if the whole of Merseyside switched on a one-bar fire at the same time'.
1954 (Switzerland)
Petty Cash: The Players' Union threatens to seek Ministerial intervention unless the England players' fees are raised for this World Cup. Their pay is £30 for players appearing in the first series, £20 for reserves; £40 and £25 for the quarter-finals; £50 and £30 for the semis – with unfixed 'sky's the limit' fees should England win. Sir Stanley Rous explains: "The usual international fee is £50 and £30 but this is a competition for which we do not arrange fees and from which we might even not make any profit after the expenses of the party are paid." He adds that, along with 'everything found', they get another £2 a day pocket money.
Short and Sweet: In the event, England's World Cup is all over in little more than a week! After drawing their first match against Belgium 4-4 with 'Ivor' Broadis and Nat Lofthouse scoring two each, England beat Switzerland 2-0 to top their group with goals from the Wolves pair Jimmy Mullen and Dennis Wilshaw. They then meet Uruguay in the quarter final some six days later. Stanley Matthews is passed fit the day before the game but England lose 4-2 with Nat Lofthouse and Tom Finney scoring.
Brazil Go Nuts: After Brazil are beaten 4-2 by Hungary in another quarter final (and have two men sent off by English referee, Arthur Ellis) police riot squads are called to quell fighting in the corridors and dressing rooms in which bottles and boots are used as weapons, dressing room doors broken down and windows smashed.
* This week, Turkey beat Korea 7-0, Hungary thrash West Germany 8-3, Scotland lose 7-0 to Uruguay while Austria beat Switzerland 7-5!
