FiFA Files - 6

Continuing our look at England qualifying competitions we start with 2014 which started with Defore scoring his 17th goal for England in his 50th appearance in a 5-0 win over Moldova. Jermain made 4 appearances in the group scoring twice more both away to San Marino.  Kyle Walker played five times.

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Lennon and Parker both made one appearance, both from the bench while Andros Townsend played in two games, scoring in the 78 minute on debut at home to Montenegro.

The competition for 2010 saw the first Spurs involvement in game 2 when Jenas came off the bench against a Croatia side which included Modric and Corluka.  Kranjcar played in the return game.  The group saw Defoe come off the bench three times and score twice at home to Andorra. Lennon played three times. Peter Crouch who started  the group at Portsmouth returned to Spurs and score twice in the last match of the group V Belarus.

The previous competition for the 2006 event started with Ledley King being joined from the bench by Defoe as the national side draw in Austria. The away win in Poland saw Paul Robinson in goal alongside King and Defoe who scored in the 2-1 win.  The next game V Wales saw King come off the bench to join the other two whilst Ben Thatcher and Simon Davies for the Welsh.
The rest of the group saw Robinson play seven more times, Defoe five (four from the bench) and King three (once as a sub.) Jenas came on as a substitute in the dying minutes of the last match. The 1-0 home win with  Austria saw  David Beckham becoming the first England starting captain to be sent off and the first Englishman to go twice.

The first World Cup to be held in this century in 2002 saw England start qualifying with a 0-1 defeat at home to Germany,with only ex-Spur Barmby playing.  After a draw away to Finland Eriksson replaced Keegan as manager and he introduced Campbell back into the side for the 2-1 win over Finland game played in Liverpool.

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Campbell played one more game before moving to Arsenal. Teddy Sheringham (top) returned to Spurs and played and scored V Greece in the final qualifying game which ended 2-2.  The group included the 5-1 win away to Germany without a Spurs man playing.

Glenn Hoddle was the manager throughout the qualifying competition as England set out on the 1998 campaign.  The group started with a win in Moldova and ex-Spurs Nicky Barmby (opening goal) and Paul Gascoigne (second goal) appeared in a 3-0 win. Current England manager Gareth Southgate was also in the side. The game away to Georgia had Sol Campbell and Teddy Sheringham in the team,  Teddy scoring the first and future Spur Les Ferdinand the second. 

The home game with Italy saw us field two players. The only goal came when Campbell deflected a shot past Ian Walker in goal. Sheringham and Campbell played in the return with Georgia and Teddy again scored.

The pair were in the side that won in Poland Sheringham again scoring, in the last minute.

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When Moldova came to Wembley Ferdinand (above) had joined Spurs and lined up with Campbell. The game ended 0-0 in Italy as the group closed. It was enough for England to top the group by a point with Campbell in the side.

The 1994 competition and again a period which finds find little for Spurs fans to cheer. Paired with Norway, Erik Thorstvedt and Roger Nilsen appeared in both games. QPR’s Les Ferdinand scored his first England goal on his debut. Teddy Sheringham also made his debut in the Poland away game and made one other appearance. With England failing to qualify they ended the group away to San Marino, the game was actually played in Italy. With no Spurs men on show QPR’s Ferninard scored and Andy won his last cap. The ‘home’ side took the lead after just eight point three seconds and is the fastest recorded goal in the World Cup. The crowd recorded at least than three thousand was the lowest to watch England since the 1890’s. England did win 7-1 and the manager Graham Taylor resigned a few days later.

The 2018 and 1978 - 1990 are covered in FiFA Files 5 published yesterday.
The 1950 - 1974 period was previously reviewed at
http://www.indiaspurs.com/blog/flying-down-to-rio-flight-38

The Connections, Flying Down to Rio and FiFA Files can all be found @
http://www.indiaspurs.com/blog/hotspur-towers-the-international-index

COYS
Keith Harrison.
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