FOUL PLAY AGAINST ENGLAND, SINCE THE 1970 WORLD CUP.

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Everything was beautiful and perfect for England to repeat its previous success on home turf. The head of FIFA was English, Sir Stanley Rause, though this did not incur any direct back-handed fiduciary benefit to the English team. There was also the small matter of self-assurance that the game originated from England, 1170-1863, the long period of evolution.

Finally, there was the dream team, the once in an epoch, when lucky nations possess a great team of players in perfect coordination, melding individual genius with teamwork:

Goalkeepers: Gordon Banks, Peter Bonetti, Alex Stepney
Defenders: Keith Newton, Terry Cooper, Bobby Moore, Brian Labone, Tommy Wright, Jack Charlton
Midfielders: Alan Ball, Martin Peters, Nobby Stiles, Bobby Charlton, Alan Mullery, Emlyn Hughes, Peter Storey
Forwards: Francis Lee, Geoff Hurst, Jeff Astle, Allan Clarke, Peter Osgood