The FA's isn't the only organising commitee going into overdrive as Euro '96 approaches, as Philip Cornwall reports
Admirable though their attempts are, Glenn and Terry are not the only ones trying to bring English football closer to the rest of Europe. It is crucial that this summer as much is done to improve the English game’s image off the pitch as on it.
Dave Hill, the author of England's Glory: 1966 And All That, addresses some of the misconceptions that have developed around England's finest hour
Anyone with a healthy suspicion of nostalgia and a wholesome dislike for chest-beating patriots can be forgiven for feeling cynical about England’s triumph in the 1966 World Cup. After all, if you delve beneath the standard memories of the final against West Germany, of Kenneth Wolstenholme saying what Kenneth Wolstenholme said as Geoff Hurst completed his hat-trick, of Bobby Moore wiping his hands on his shorts before shaking hands with a laughing Liz Windsor, and of Nobby Stiles’ woodentops war dance during the lap of honour, what are the unvarnished facts?
The FA took their time didn't they? And even then Howard WIlkinson and Frank Clark were on standby. What a caper
The next couple of months will be an interesting time for Glenn Hoddle and Terry Venables, as they edge towards a handover date.
The media's double standards are plain to see in the build-up to Euro '96
So, let’s see if we’ve got this right. Geoff Hurst scored a hat trick in the 1966 World Cup Final (though some spoilsports still mutter darkly, in German, about his second goal). After the match the ball was spirited away to Germany by Helmut Haller, who had scored the opening goal. Geoff himself doesn’t seem to have been unduly bothered about getting his ball back until roughly a month ago when he endorsed rescue missions by the Sun and the Mirror, the latter able to make the Hallers the best offer (all money to charity, of course) after receiving help from Eurostar and the ubiquitous Richard Branson.
Tuesday 2 Sunderland go five points clear in Division One by drawing at Watford, while Derby lose at Ipswich and Palace are held by Port Vale, now within striking distance of the play-offs themselves. More trouble for Tomas Brolin who gave an April's Fool interview to Swedish TV claiming he was about to return home on loan, which in turn led to the Leeds' switchboard being jammed with press inquiries. "The chairman and managing director are finding it difficult to see the funny side of this," says Howard. Ulp.
Wednesday 3 Man Utd are the main beneficiaries of the Premiership's match of the season so far, Liverpool beating Newcastle 4-3. It goes: 1-0 (Fowler, 2nd minute); 1-2 by half-time (Ferdinand, Ginola); 2-2 (Fowler); 2-3 two minutes later (Asprilla), 3-3 (Collymore), 4-3 (Collymore, 92nd minute). "Nobody will win the championship defending like these teams did tonight," says Roy Evans. "We carry on playing like this or I go," says an unrepentant Kev. Sink The Tynetanic says the Mirror.
Friday 5 Man Utd win a momentous derby match 3-2 at City and maintain a three point lead over Newcastle who need late goals to defeat QPR 2-1. Liverpool look to be out of it after losing 1-0 at their bogey ground, Highfield Road. In Division One, Derby improve their chances of going straight up by winning at Oldham while third place Palace lose and Charlton, fourth with games in hand, draw. A 90th minute goal gives Hearts a 2-1 win over Aberdeen in the Scottish Cup Semi Final.