CAPTAINS OF ENGLAND

Here's a reference to past Blogs and I found this one relating to Captains of England. I hope you find it interesting. In the early days, the captain was chosen due mainly to his "behaviour" and diplomacy; the Football Association could not have a leader who didn't want to do what they said!!

Bobby Crompton of Blackburn Rovers, captained the England football team between 1903 and 1914, when war intervened. He won 22 caps.

Bobby Crompton of Blackburn Rovers, captained the England football team between 1903 and 1914, when war intervened. He won 22 caps.

Cuthbert Ottoway was England's first international captain the the first international ever against Scotland on November 30th 1872. He was also an MCC cricketer.

While we are in far history I shall also throw in Gilbert Oswald Smith, an Old Carthusian, an old boy of Charterhouse (School), in Godalming, Surrey, which was one of the "nurseries" of English football. He was regarded as the "first centre-forward" and a gent! Diplomacy was very important.

On December 4th 1935, at White Hart Lane, London, in the "heart" of Jewish London, the English played Germany in a friendly international despite the demonstrations by the local Jewish Trade Unions against the Hitler's attitude and aggressive policies. The game went ahead, nevertheless!! England won 3-0 with two goals from Camsell and one from Cliff Bastin. Over 54,000 attended this match.

The next time the two met was in May 1938, in a famous international against Germany in Berlin, just before the Second World War. The English team was told by the Football Association, the "Selectors"  to "honour" their hosts by giving the Nazi Salute as part of the pre-match ceremony on the pitch. In a previous meeting at the Berlin Olympics, the England team did not give the salute and this didn't go down very well with Hitler and his mates.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jlbLHviSTPc
The English players were livid but Eddie Hapgood, their captain, made sure they did what they were told, which was "right" for the occasion according to the FA and diplomats. England made their point however and won 6-3! From May 1939 until May 1945 England only played "home countries and the next time they met a German international side, was in December 1954 against West  Germany at Wembley; a 3-1 win in front of 100,000.

The longest serving England football captains include Billy Wright who won 105 caps and was captain in 90 matches from 1948-59.
Bobby Moore's reign was from 1962-73 with 90 caps as captain.
Other long serving captains include:
Bryan Robson 1980-91 (65 times as captain), David Beckham 1996-2007 (59 as capt)

Cuthbert Ottoway was England's first international captain, of course in the first international ever,  against Scotland, on November 30th 1872.He was also an MCC cricketer.

While we are in "far" history I shall also throw in Gilbert Oswald Smith, an Old Carthusian, an old boy of Charterhouse (School), in Godalming, Surrey, one of the "nurseries" of English football. He was regarded as the "first centre-forward".

In 1935 at White Hart Lane, London, in the "heart" of Jewish London, the England team played Germany in a friendly international, despite the demonstrations by the local Jewish Trade Unions against the Hitler's attitude and aggressive policies. The game went ahead.

Another famous international against Germany occurred just before the Second World War, on May 14th 1938, in Berlin, as part of an international tour. The English team was told by the FA to "honour" their hosts by giving the Nazi Salute, as part of the pre-match ceremony on the pitch. In a previous meeting at the Berlin Olympics, the England team did not give the salute and this didn't go down very well with Hitler and his mates.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jlbLHviSTPc
The English players were livid but Eddie Hapgood, their captain, made sure they did what they were told, which was "right" for the occasion according to the FA and diplomats. England won 6-3! On the tour, the next match was against Switzerland, 5 days later, in Zurich (lost 1-2) and 5 more days later in Paris, a 4-2 win.

The longest serving England football captains include Billy Wright who won 105 caps and was captain in 90 matches from 1948-59.

Bobby Moore's reign was from 1962-73 with 90 caps as captain.
Other long serving captains include:
Bryan Robson 1980-91 (65 times as captain), David Beckham 1996-2007 (59 as capt) and for more FUN try this link....who is the present captain??

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_England_national_football_team_captains

7th of the 7th

On this day in 1957, how many years ago? Edson Arantes do Nascimento played the first match for his country, Brazil. We would be surprised if anybody remembered this name, so let's call him Pele!! At the age of 16, Pele was not concerned about such mundane stuff, since he was more interested in representing his country and making a good show of it. By chance, the match was against Argentina, Brazil greatest rivals, which unfortunately for Pele was a defeat 2-1. Pele, unsurprisingly, scored on his debut, though we wouldn't know that this was going to be "unsurprising" until a few matches later, once he established his presence in his country, and he was beginning to make a name for himself. 33 years later, another well lnown name, Peter Shilton, one of England's best ever goalkeepers, played his final match, his 126th cap, for his country and was made Captain for the day. It was a Third Place match in the 1990 FIFA World Cup against Italy which did not finish well for the Captain and his team, the Italians winning 1-2. England manager Bobby Robson, retired after this match. The match was played in Bari, Italy. Roberto Baggio scored for Italy in the 71st minute, David Platt equalized for England in the 81st minute, and Salvatore Schillaci (played for Inter Milan and Juventus) converted a penalty in the 86th minute, to secure the victory for Italy and the award to him of The Golden Boot. 

Italian football icon, Salvatore Schillaci, who was top scorer at the 1990 World Cup, died recently  at the age of 59. Also known as Toto, he scored six goals during the tournament on his country's soil.The striker, despite his brilliant form, could not guide the Azzurri to victory, who were knocked out in the semi-finals by Argentina. However, he became a national icon regardless, earning not only the World Cup Golden Boot award as top scorer but also the Golden Ball Award for best overall player, beating the likes of Argentina's Diego Maradona and Germany's Lothar Matthaus. Schillaci (below) died in a hospital in Palermo after being admitted following treatment for colon cancer. He was in hospital for 11 days before he died. “A football icon is leaving us, a man who has entered the hearts of Italians and sports fans around the world,” Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni posted on X on Wednesday. "Salvatore Schillaci, known by everyone as Toto, the striker from the magic nights of Italia ’90 with our national team."

FAROES CAN PLAY-FAIR ENOUGH!!

The Faroe Islands national football team represents the Faroe Islands in men's international football, and is governed by the Faroe Islands FA (FSF). The FSF became a member of FIFA in 1988 and UEFA in 1990 and represents the fourth-smallest UEFA country by population (54,900 approx).

The team has never advanced to the finals of the major international tournaments. They took part in the Island Games in 1989 and 1991 and won both tournaments. The team also took part in the Nordic Football Championships for the first time in 2000-1, the last time the competition was played. In 2024, they made their debut in the Baltic Cup as a guest entrant and placed fourth. In the Faroe Islands, the team is known as the landsliðið. Home matches are played at Torsvoller.

Faroe Islands

Nickname(s)	Landsliðið (The National Team)
Association	Fótbóltssamband Føroya
Confederation	UEFA
Head coach	Eyðun Klakstein
Captain	Hallur Hansson
Most caps	Frooi Benjaminsen (96)
Top scorer	Rogvi Jacobson Klaemint Olsen (10)
Home stadium	Tórsvøllur

The Island Games was intended to be just a one off  event between the British Islands abroad as part of the 1985 Isle of Man soprting jambouree. Casually asking Greenland, The Faroe Islands and Saint Helena if they were interested in joining in, a proper tournament began with 15 islands which was agreed would become a biennial event. By the time of its third staging, football was added and at the time the only FIFA affiliated country was allowed to take part, the hosts, The Faroes which beat Anglesey 6-0. They went on to win all four matches to win gold and Anglesey took silver and Aland bronze. This competition allowed teams not invited to FIFA events, to engage in a meaningful footballing competition. The Faroes held on to their title until 1991, the last time they competed because they had bigger fish to "fry" !!!! as they had gained membership of FIFA and UEFA in 1988. On September 12th, 1990 came their first international and in front of 1,544 people they beat Toni Polster's Austria, who had just played in the 1990 World Cup! A 61st minute goal by timber shop worker, Torkil Nielsen created history and Austria chief coach Josef Hickersberger resigned his post!

The Faroes, to be fair(os!!) have struggle since having only a population of 54,900, but from time to time they have caused upset. Two draws with Scotland (near nighbours!) and draws with Lithuania, Slovenia and Bosnia in 2007, is evidence of their progress. 

In the Island Games, Guernsey, Jersey have achieved similar success of two golds whilst tiny Sark ended up in 2003 having lost 0-19, 0-20, 0-16 and 0-15 over five days! But its the TAKING PART that counts! The Island's keeper, Leon Burletson, did save two penalties in the 0-20 defeat!! 

The Faroe Islands won its first ever competitive match, defeating Austria 1–0 in a UEFA Euro 1992 qualifying tie.

The nation's biggest success in football came in 2014 after defeating Greece 1–0, a result that was considered "the biggest shock of all time" in football thanks to a 169-place distance between the teams in the FIFA Rankings when the match was played. The team climbed 82 places to 105 on the FIFA ranking after the 1–0 win against Greece. The team went on to defeat Greece again on 13 June 2015 by a score of 2–1. On 9 July 2015, the national football team of the Faroes climbed another 28 places on the FIFA ranking. Recently, Faroe Islands achieved another famous victory by beating Turkey 2–1 in the 2022-3 European Nations League C.

NEVER DOUBT A GERMAN COACH!!

On this day, in 1954, the World Cup was held in Switzerland and the favourites were the Mighty Magyars, Hungary. The Magyars were hot from an 8-3 victory over West Germany (in those days there were two "German" sides-East and West!) in a Group match.  The odds of them becoming World Champions were shortened. On July 4th Hungary met West Germany in the Final played in the Wankdorf Stadium in Berne. The injured Ferenc Puskas and Zoltan Czibor gave Hungary an early lead but the Germans fought back culminating in an 84th minute winner from Hehmut Rahn. West Germany had won their first World Cup Final in the match named the "Miracle of Berne".The weather was terrible, with rain and wind, but both nations displayed no fear and played some of the best football in World Cup history. 

The two nations had met before, in Pool Two, which Hungary won 8-3! BUT the German coach, Sepp Herberger (left), fielded a weakened side for this tie. The German coach was much criticised!! Hungary expected to win the trophy overall, and the Germans were not even seeded! The Magyars started confidently bouyed by their "pool" victory. Puskas, carrying an injury, was known as the Galloping Major (also probably the Galloping Magyar!?) but insisted on playing and he scored in the early minutes. Czibor then followed up a mistake back pass, by the German Kohlmeyer, so The Magyars were two up after only eight minutes. Ten minutes later, the German, Morlock reduced the gap following a pass from Schafer and then the Hungarian keeper, Grosics fumbled in the 18th minute which allowed Rahn to equalise from a corner. Hungarian, Hidegkuti hit the post, Kocsis (who totalled 11 goals in the tournament including a hat trick against South Korea) hit the bar and Kohlmeyer cleared a shot off the line with the German, Turek making amzing saves in the goal. Six minutes from the end, Rahn picked up a half-hearted clearance by the Hungarian defender, Lantos. Rahn raced down the line and on the edge of the penalty area, shot low past the diving keeper. Two minutes left, Puskas received a Toth pass and put the ball into the German net, but the Welsh Linesman, Mervyn Griffiths held his flag up for offside, against Puskas! It was close call by all accounts and a decision much debated after! At full time the hot favourites, Hungary, lost their first international in 30 matches, dating back to May 1950. West Germany became the first "unseeded" nation to win the World Cup and German coach, Sepp Herberger, received much praise for his guidance! (see reference to him earlier!!)

IS FOOTBALL A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH?

This Blog comes from a few years back, but was published on this day and month. If you need a cup of coffee after a penalty shoot-out, then there is a chance that the coffee has come from Colombia. If not, go buy some Colombian coffee anyway, from your local supermarket, just to help the nation's economy!!  It is a national federation founded in 1924, joining FIFA in 1936.  During a World Cup tournament, the Colombian nation stated that their football team should be a "sign of national pride, nationalism and passion". Well they certainly showed that enthusiasm...... surrounding the referee at every opportunity and finally failing to win at the last minute. All credit to them for giving it a go......but it wasn't enough; the ref was poor. Los Cafeteros, as they are known, flew home to South America and had to wait another year or so to qualify for the next World Stage event. Up to date.....

FIFA ranking
Current	14  2 (3 April 2025)
Highest	3 (July–August 2013, September 2014 – March 2015, June–Aug 2016)
Lowest	54 (June 2011)
First international
Colombia 4–1 Costa Rica  (Barranquilla, Colombia; 17 February 1926)
Biggest win
Bahrain 0–6 Colombia  (Riffa, Bahrain; 26 March 2015)
Biggest defeat
Brazil 9–0 Colombia  (Lima, Peru; 24 March 1957)

We remember Rene Higuita, El Loco, their crazy goalkeeper 
who performed the famous scorpion kick in 1995 at Wembley in a friendly....try these links!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-flTPSSvCw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRj3dKKp9tI

and Andres Escobar who lost his life to an assassination for scoring an own goal in a crucial match in a 1994 World Cup match against the USA, when he deflected a shot from John Harkes, creating a 1-2 defeat. The story goes......Escobar was shot and killed in Medellín aged 27. It is believed that he was murdered because he scored an own goal against his team in the 1994 FIFA World Cup which caused the USA to win 2 – 1 and caused gambling losses to a lot of powerful drugs' lord.

After a night out, Escobar was cornered in a car park on July 1st and shot six times by a killer who shouted out "Gol!" after every shot...mimicking the TV commentator who was reporting the match. Humberto Munzo was found guilty of the murder. He was a hit man for a drug cartel whose top man had lost a lot of money gambled on the game.
Needless to say, Escobar's family set up a trust to raise money to help poor young Colombians enjoy football.
Two days later Alan Hansen commentated in a match that an Argentina defender in  match against Romania "needed shooting"...the BBC apologised!!!
And let's not forget Carlos Valderrama (below), the country's most capped player; 111 caps-11 goals.
Carlos Alberto Valderrama Palacio born 2 September 1961), also known as "El Pibe" ("The Kid"), is a Colombian former professional footballer and sports' commontator, who played as an midfielder. Valderrama is considered by many to be one of the greatest South American players in history and one of the best players of his era. In 2004, he was named by Pele in the FIFA 100 list of the world's greatest living players.

URUGUAY AND MEDELLIN

Bit of Geography here, as I tell you about some World Cup History. Uruguay footballers won their second World Cup Final victory, on this day in 1950, hosted by "friends" Brazil. A post war party!

This fourth World Cup Finals, included a Pool One of Brazil, Yugoslavia, Switzerland and Mexico. Pool Two included England who were runners up and top Spain, Chile and the USA. Pool Three involved only three nations, Sweden (top), Italy and Paraguay.  

On July 2nd, Pool Four had ONE match, in which Uruguay beat Bolivia 8-0. Uruguay did not need to play any qualifying matches, when Peru and Ecuador withdrew from Group 8. This was their only group qualifier as Scotland and Turkey had pulled out of the Final competition. It was post war and not entirely reliable or suitable for northern hemisphere nations......apparently. 

England went and started well beating Chile 2-0, but then lost to the USA in their group and then Spain! 1-0 in front of over 74,000 in the Maracana, Rio de Janeiro.

Oscar Miguez, below, scored a Hat Trick in the match and proves to be Uruguay's World Cup record scorer with eight goals. He played in all four ties While Uruguay ultimately won the tournament, the match against Brazil, often referred to as the "Maracanazo," is the most famous game from that World Cup. Míguez did not score in the final game against Brazil, but his goals in the final group stage were crucial in Uruguay reaching that match. 

The Final was played as a Pool, Brazil beat Sweden 7-1 on July 3rd. The England referee, Arthur Ellis took charge, his biggest achievement, apart from "adjudicating" BBC TV's, It's a Knockout! Spain and Uruguay drew 2-2. Brazil thumped Spain 6-1 at the Maracana in front of over 152,000. Uruguay then beat Sweden 3-2 (7,987 watched this!) Sweden beat Spain 3-1 and Uruguay beat Brazil 2-1 (att:199,854) at the Maracana. So: Uruguay 5pts 1st, Brazil 4pts 2nd, Sweden 2pts 3rd, Spain 1pt 4th.

ON THIS DAY

1904 121 years ago today, Bayer 04 Leverkusen was formed. The German club has won ONE domestic championship title. Also, they were the winner of UEFA Cup in 1987/88.

On this day in 1906, is the Foundation day of Sporting CP Lisboa. They were winners of Portugal football championship 20 times. Also the club won the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup in 1963/64.

On the 1st of July 1965, Dutch football club, Twent Enschede was formed.

AND Patrick Kluivert was born in 1976 in the Netherlands. He played 79 matches for the Netherlands and scored 40 international goals.

Another Dutch man, Ruud van Nistelrooy, was born on this day also. He made his debut for the Dutch national team in 1998 and earned 70 caps, scoring 35 goals. Most recently he has been manager of then Premier League club, Leicester City. Widely regarded as one of the best strikers of his generation, Van Nistelrooy has been the top scorer in three UEFA Champions' League seasons, and is the sixth-highest goalscorer in the competition's history, with 56 goals. He has also been the top scorer in three European domestic leagues. In 2004, he was listed in the FIFA 100, of the world's greatest living players. 

The two Dutchmen were born about 50 miles apart.

In 1974 former Netherlands international, aptly named, Kick Smith, died on this day aged 62. He won 29 caps and scored 40 goals.

In 1976 on this day, it was the birthday of Hannu Tihinen, a Finnish international playing from 1999-2009, who won 76 caps and scored 5 goals for his country!!  

In 2001	he went on loan to West Ham United played	8 matches	(0 goals)

Birmingham City will be celebrating its 150th anniversary during the 2025-26 season, with the unveiling of their new home kit on July 3rd. 

To kick off their 150th Anniversary celebration this summer, Hibernian FC will be hosting German club Rot-Weiss Essen on July 9th, recreating the inaugural European Cup fixture from 1955!

1st July 2015 Some own goals are farcical and some are tragic and one of the tragic ones came on 1st July 2015 at the Women's World Cup Finals played in Canada. In the 92nd minute of the semi-final between England and Japan, England's Laura Bassett scored an own-goal which gave holders Japan a place in the final. To be fair though she had the courage (and skill) to make the interception and that ball could have gone anywhere - but sadly it went into the net.....