Everton World Cup stars part 1

With the World Cup in Russia just a few weeks away we take a look back at some Everton players who have graced past tournaments for England and the other home nations.

Everton players have played their part in England’s World Cup history but the FA, surprise surprise, certainly didn’t take to the concept early on.

FIFA, which was founded in 1904, organised the first World Cup in 1930. It took place in Uruguay, who were then reigning Olympic champions.

But interest was limited and only 13 countries took part and England, Scotland , Wales or Northern Ireland weren’t one of them. In the end the hosts beat their fierce rivals and neighbours from across the River Plate, Argentina, to win the final.

The next two tournaments were held in Europe and Italy won them both. In doing so they  became the first country to win back-to-back competitions and the first to win it outside their own country when they beat Czechoslovakia in the Paris final of 1938.

But as that game finished and the Italians celebrated, the clouds of war were already beginning to descend on Europe and there were no more World Cups for twelve years.

England along with the other home nations didn’t though even enter the World Cup until the first post-war tournament in 1950. As usual the Football Association’s in Britain took a typically insular and dim view of the founding of any international competition like this.

Infamously England, who were one of the favourites to win the competition in Brazil, went out to a scratch USA team who beat them 1-0 in a game that still ranks as one of the great shocks in World Cup history. However it wouldn’t be the last of course.

But that wasn’t the only surprise in the tournament as Uruguay claimed their second title defeating hugely favoured hosts Brazil 2-1 in the last group match of the competition that effectively became a ‘final’.

It wasn’t until the 1966 World Cup that Everton had any representation in an England team. That competition was of course held in England and the Blues player was the left-back Ray Wilson. He was an excellent full-back, sound defensively and also able to get forward and play an effective pass.

Three other Everton players were part of the pre-tournament squads announced by manager Alf Ramsey but didn’t make the final cut. They were goalkeeper Gordon West, central defender Brian Labone and midfielder Fred Pickering.

Wilson played right through the tournament up to and including the famous final at Wembley when England beat West Germany 4-2 after extra time to win the country’s first and (so far!) only World Cup.

There was also another Everton connection in this World Cup, one of the first round group stages that included holders Brazil was played at Goodison Park. Younger football fans might like to note that it was the Blues ‘grand old lady’ that was chosen and not Liverpool’s Anfield.

This was a reflection of the fact that Everton were still seen as very much the senior team on Merseyside. The Blues had also won the FA Cup that year although Liverpool were league champions.

And so onto 1970 when the World Cup returned to South America and Mexico. England, the holders and Brazil, inevitably were the favourites.

This England team might well have been the country’s best ever at a major finals. It was full of talent and depth right thought the side.

There were what we would call ‘world class’ players in keeper Gordon Banks, central defender Bobby Moore, midfielders Alan Ball and Martin Peters and forwards Bobby Charlton and Geoff Hurst.

All these were key members of the ’66 winning side. But there were also emerging young talents like Alan Mullery, Francis Lee and the mercurial forward Peter Osgood.

Everton’s contribution to England’s squad was significant. The Blues had four representatives in Keith Newton, Brian Labone, Ball and Tommy Wright. This was not surprising as the Toffees were the newly crowned league champions in 1970.

Ball was recognised as one of the best players in the country, a tireless worker and creative force on the right side of midfield. While one-club-man Labone had emerged as one of the classiest and most consistent centre-backs in the game.

As it was Ball played in all four of England’s matches, Newton and Labone in three and Wright also played in two games.

Famously England and Brazil met in the group stages in a match most commentators thought was a preview of the final to come.

This game is of course remembered for Pele verses Moore and for Banks brilliant save from the Brazilian superstar. Brazil won 1-0 but it had been a terrific appetiser for the final…or so everyone thought.

But England went out in the quarter-finals falling to the West Germans in a game that they were leading 2-0 at one point. Much-debated substitutions and the Germans renowned powers of recovery combined to see England bundled out earlier than anyone expected.

Brazil of course brilliantly won the final against Italy 4-1 and claimed a record third World Cup.

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However despite the early exit very few people expected that this match in the heat and humidity of Mexico would be England’s last in a World Cup for 12 years.