RULERS OF THE WORLD-ONCE.

If England gave the World football, it took a long time for the FA to test out their teaching on the students of World foootball. It was not until 1908 that England toured eastern Europe, playing the Austrians (twice), Hungary and Bohemia. This was a June tour and England came away having taught the Europeans a few lessons with four wins and 28 goals for, 2 against.

Through the "19 teens" and into the 1920s, foreign football matches were few and far between, with Hungary, Austria and Belgium occasional opponents. France and Luxembourg soon appeared on the tour list, Spain was included in 1929 and Germany in 1930. Italy was played in 1933 along with Switzerland, Czechoslovakia the next year, Holland in 1935 and finally the Hungarians were allowed into Highbury on December 2nd 1936, the first time a foreign team visited. England won 6-2.

England went to Oslo to play Norway in 1937 and then took on the Rest Of Europe in 1938, again at Highbury. The next venue for a foreign side was Wembley (at last) and Norway had the privilege.

War got in the way, but before it started England played Yugoslavia and Romania on a tour in 1939.

Post war, the France came to Wembley in May 1945, there was a Victory International against Belgium in January 1946 and gradually our allies came to play more often to celebrate peace.

By the time the 1950s came round, England were still mainly successful in international matches including from the Home Internationals and then the 1950 World Cup failure hit home.

England were no longer the rulers of the World and by November 25th 1953, the Aranycsapat, the Hungarian "Golden team" came to town and thumped us 3-6.

The Magyars were Olympic champions (we never entered the tournament) and they had just drawn with Sweden 2-2, ten days before and apparently did not look dangerous.

Sweden were managed by George Raynor, who offered the FA tactical tips which the English officials refused to take on board. The Hungarians meanwhile trained at Lake Bulaton and used a machine that simulated fog, to prepare for the unusual weather conditions in London.

The English on watching the warm up prior to the match noticed that Hungarians "were not even wearing proper footwear" (they were wearing new lightweight boots) and the English regarded Ferenc Puskas as a "little fat chap". Little did they know that he would tear them apart, including one drag back and goal that sent captain Billy Wright (no 4) sliding "off the pitch" as he tried to tackle the Galloping Magyar. Geoffrey Green reported that Wright was "like a fire engine, heading to the wrong fire".
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wdW5p3jd2Y

Note that the Hungarians did not stay in their "allotted" positions and their deep lying centre forward (no 9) Hidegkuti caused all sorts of problems.

The press reported "The new conception of football" and "Like Agincourt reversed".
In May 1954, England went to Budapest on tour, had learned nothing, didn't tweak their tactics and lost 1-7!