Today, March 28th, in 2001, the 3-1 thumping of that well known footballing power, Albania, sent a vibration through the European fraternity, as the "Manchester United" squad provided 7 England players, to take part in the World Cup qualifier.Gary Neville, Nicky Butt, David Beckham, Paul Scholes, Andy Cole and used subs Teddy Sheringham and Wes Brown. Scholes, Cole and Owen scored.
This equalled Arsenal's provision of "SEVEN international caps in one England game from one club".
Arsenal had "lent" 7 of their 1934 squad to England in a friendly international against Italy at Highbury. (Moss, Male, Hapgood, Copping, Bowden, Drake, Bastin).
Eric Brook missed a penalty and therefore a hat trick! England won 3-2.
A game that was notorious for its violence. Worth a read!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Highbury
The Albanian win followed the devastation of Finland 2-1 at Anfield on March 24th, another massive hurdle jumped, towards World Cup Qualification 2001. Beckham and Owen scored.
Having flopped in June 2000 (note a recent blog) , the England team had lost its first World Cup qualifier to Germany 0-1 at Wembley on October 7th and forced a 0-0 draw with the Fins in Helsinki 4 days later. There was not a lot of confidence building in England; things looked bleak.
In the previous November (2000) in a friendly, Italy beat England 0-1 in Turin. It was all experimental of course (16 players used), so once the friendlies had been dealt with, in February, England beat Spain in a friendly, 3-0 in Villa Park with goals from Barmby, Ehiogu and Heskey.
The World Cup qualifiers continued at home with Finland winning 2-1 and Albania 3-1. On a roll England beat Mexico in a friendly 4-0 at Derby and then full of confidence beat Greece 2-0 in Athens, Beckham and Scholes scored. Another friendly against Holland in August ended 0-2. It was very much experimental, using 22 players!
The World Cup Qualifiers continued with that remarkable beating of Germany, IN MUNICH, 5-1! Owen, Heskey and Gerrard scored. Everyone knows where they were that day...don't you!
The next international results (Qualifiers and friendlies) were P8 W2 D5 L1.
Michael Owen became the youngest England captain since Bobby Moore, at 22 years 124 days, chosen against Paraguay; he led a 4-0 win and scored. Owen had been the youngest England goalscorer when he scored against Morocco (1-0) at 18 years and 164 days, on May 27th 1998 in Casablanca in the King Hasan II Cup.
England got to Japan for the World Cup Finals...the rest is history!
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