International Head-to-Head –Part Nine, England and USA (with a video Interview with Mr. Davey Naylor of https://englandstats.com/ )

 

The World Cup is nearly here with England facing USA in the First Round. This will be the third time the sides will have met in a World Cup setting.

 

In anticipation, or this Blog Presentation with an interview, I look back at the past encounters between the Nations.

The Interview will be as a video link companion, while the Blog will be a presentation of the events.

 

The Interviewee is:

Mr. Davey Naylor of https://englandstats.com/ 

 

Mr. Naylor’s contact info:

Website: www.Englandstats.com

Email: support@englandstats.com
Twitter: @gingerdaveski

Twitter: @englandstats

 

 

My contact information:

on twitter @sp1873 and on facebook under Soccernostalgia.

https://linktr.ee/sp1873

 

1950s

The very first match between the nations took place at the 1950 World Cup and it is the most memorable match between the Nations. The match took place at Belo Horizonte in Brazil on June 29^th, 1950.

USA’s (1-0) win is considered one of the greatest upsets in the history of the game. At the time, USA were underdogs and England were very much considered as one of the best teams in the world.

Joseph Gaetjens’ goal in the 38^th minute is one of the most referenced goals in USA’s World Cup history. At the end of the match, the jubilant Brazilian crowd entered the field and held the American players on their shoulders.

England Manager Winterbottom had wanted to select Stanley Matthews for this match, however the selection committee refused his request.

The sides would meet twice more in the decade and by then the natural order of things in Football terms was established. The English would defeat the USA twice in high scoring matches. On June 8^th, 1953, at the Yankee Stadium in New York City, England won (6-3) in a match featuring three doubles. Otto Decker for the hosts and Tom Finney and Nat Lofthouse for the English.

On May 28^th, 1959, at Wrigley Field in Los Angeles, England won (8-1) with Bobby Charlton scoring a hat trick. It was also England Captain Billy Wright’s final match for his Nation.

Photo From: IV. Fussball Weltmeisterschaft 1950 in Brasilien, Author Robert Franta

(June 29, 1950, World Cup, USA 1-England 0)

Photo From : L’Equipe-La Coupe Du Monde, Volume 1, 1930-1970

(June 29, 1950, World Cup, USA 1-England 0)

Photo From : L’Equipe-La Coupe Du Monde, Volume 1, 1930-1970

(June 29, 1950, World Cup, USA 1-England 0)

Photo From: World Soccer, October 1996

(June 29, 1950, World Cup, USA 1-England 0)

 

1960s

The nations would only meet once in this decade. On May 27^th, 1964, at New York’s Downing Stadium, England routed the USA (10-0). Roger Hunt scored four goals with Frederick Pickering notching a hat trick, Terry Paine scoring a double and Bobby Charlton scoring once.

 

1980s

It would be another two decades before the sides met. England were on Tour in the June of 1985 to play in the Ciudad de Mexico Cup / Azteca 2000 Tournament in Mexico. After the Tournament, they stopped over at Los Angeles at the Memorial Coliseum to face the United States on June 16^th, 1985. It would be another comfortable win for the English (5-0) with Gary Lineker and Kerry Dixon each scoring twice and Trevor Steven scoring once.

 

Photo From: World Soccer, June 1989

(June 16, 1985, USA 0-England 5)

1990s

By this decade things were changing. USA were to host the 1994 World Cup. There would be slow improvement with the Americans. They would no longer suffer the type of heavy defeats suffered in the previous decades.

The sides met in the US Cup on June 9^th, 1993, at Boston, Massachusetts. The US Cup was a Tournament to act as a dress rehearsal, one year ahead of the actual World Cup. This match would be the second most memorable match between the Nations as USA once again defeated England (2-0) in an upset. Thomas Dooley and Alexi Lalas scored the winning goals. This was the absolute lowest point of England Manager Graham Taylor’s era. He would be mercilessly attacked by the media and resign by the end of the year after England had failed to qualify for the 1994 World Cup.

More than a year later, the sides met at Wembley on September7th, 1994. This was the first ever match between the Nations on English soil.

USA were visiting after a relatively successful World Cup at home. The English team and the Press had revenge on their mind against a less than match-fit American side. Alan Shearer was the star of the match, he scored twice in a (2-0) win. The Americans were lethargic in a disappointing display. The English Press were very critical of the display of the American Team. There appeared to be residual anger from the defeat from the previous year.

 

Photo From: Soccer America, Vol. 44, No. 24, Issue 1114, June 28, 1993

(June 9, 1993, US Cup, USA 2-England 0)

Photo From: Soccer America, Vol. 44, No. 24, Issue 1114, June 28, 1993

(June 9, 1993, US Cup, USA 2-England 0)

Photo From:  Soccer International, Volume 4, Issue 8, August 1993

(June 9, 1993, US Cup, USA 2-England 0)

Photo From:  Soccer International, Volume 4, Issue 8, August 1993

(June 9, 1993, US Cup, USA 2-England 0)

Photo From: World Soccer, October 1994

(September 7, 1994, England 2-USA 0)

Photo From: Soccer America, Vol. 47, No. 10, Issue 1174, September 26, 1994

(Quotes about this match, September 7, 1994, England 2-USA 0)

2000s

The sides met twice in this decade in rather low-key end of season friendlies. On May 28^th, 2005, at Chicago’s Soldier Field, England defeated USA (2-1) with a double strike from Kieran Richardson (Clint Dempsey replying for the Americans).

On May 28^th, 2008, at Wembley, England defeated USA (2-0) with goals by John Terry and Steven Gerrard.

2010s

For the first time since 1950, the sides met in a World Cup. On June 12^th, 2010, at Rustenburg in South Africa, the sides faced off in a Group match. The match ended as a (1-1) tie. It would be forever remembered for the error of English goalkeeper Robert Green, who let slip from his grasp, Clint Dempsey’s long-range shot. Steven Gerrard had opened the scoring for England.

The last match in the series between the Nations was on November 15^th, 2018, at Wembley. In a match billed as Wayne Rooney’s Farewell Appearance, England defeated the Americans (3-0) with goals from Jesse Lingard, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Callum Wilson.

Photo From: France Football, Issue 3349, June 15, 2010

(June 12, 2010, World Cup, England 1-USA 1)

Photo From: World Soccer, July 2010

(June 12, 2010, World Cup, England 1-USA 1)

 

Conclusion

On balance, England holds an edge, as for decades USA was not a Soccer Nation and suffered heavy defeats against a top Football Nation like England.

However, USA’s wins in 1950 and 1993 are more significant. The former is as previously mentioned one of the greatest upsets in World Cup History. While the latter win (in 1993) marked the renewal and signaled a brighter future for the game in America.

The matches from this century have relatively been uneventful, and not even the World Cup match in 2010 is memorable (only as an excuse to reference Green’s error).

The upcoming match at the World Cup in Qatar will be on November 25^th, 2022, at Al Khor. This will be the second match in the Group and chances are much will be riding in this match.

 

Note:

1-Please refer to the video link at the top of this blog upload for the interview.