England faced the Netherlands for an important World Cup qualifier at Wembley on April 28th, 1993.
Just a year prior, no one
would have imagined that the two would be fighting it out for the second place
behind Norway in the race to qualify to the American World Cup in 1994.
England’s form under
Manager Graham Taylor had been unspectacular since the 1990 World Cup to say
the least, yet not qualifying to the World Cup would have been un-imaginable.
This calendar year would get
worse and worse for Taylor and this match would be the first step on the road
to dismissal at the end of the year.
This was a match at home
that England had to win to have an edge in qualification as they had lost a
lifeline with a home draw vs. Norway in October 1992. England could not afford
any more dropped points at home.
But worse was yet to come to another busy end
of season/summer for the National Team.
For the English, Alan
Shearer was out with a long-term injury, but Les Ferdinand had been called up to
deputize for these early 1993 matches. Despite not starting for Juventus as the
extra foreigner (pre-Bosman days remember), David Platt, had been exemplary for
England and the best avenue for goals. Paul Gascoigne had been back after an
entire year out injured and had been slowly finding his feet at Italian side
Lazio.
There were the customary
criticisms for the inclusion of far from fit John Barnes and the continual
selection of Carlton Palmer, that many believed was not International material.
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Photo From: World Soccer, June 1993
|
(John De Wolf and Les Ferdinand, April 28,
1993, World Cup Qualifier, England 2-Holland 2) |
The Dutch were missing
Ronald Koeman and Ballon d’or Winner Marco Van Basten. Ruud Gullit was also far
from ideal in a season, where he had also been the victim of the extra-foreign
player rule.
Holland’s new star was
Ajax’s Dennis Bergkamp, on his way to the Serie A himself the following season
to Internazionale Milano.
He had impressed in the
1992 Euros and was becoming a global star.
.jpg) |
Photo From: Soccer International,
Volume 4, Issue 8, August 1993
|
(Des Walker and Dennis Bergkamp, April 28,
1993, World Cup Qualifier, England 2-Holland 2) |
For the match itself,
given their predicament, England came out more determined. The much-criticized John Barnes scored
from a free kick in the very first minute.
In the 23rd minute, England doubled
the lead, with Platt knocking in a rebound after Ferdinand’s shot had hit the post.
England seemed headed for a win but an injury to Gascoigne
would perhaps change England’s fortunes in this match.
Jan Wouters elbowed the
Gascoigne and fractured his cheekbone. He would wear a face protective mask for
the rest of the first half before being substituted.
.jpg) |
Photo From: Het Nederlands Elftal, de
histoire van oranje, 1989-1995, Authors Matty Verkamman and Henk Mees
|
(Jan Wouters elbowing Paul Gascoigne, April
28, 1993, World Cup Qualifier, England 2-Holland 2) |
The Dutch would take advantage of this dis-array in England’s play by pulling a goal back in the 34th minute with a brilliant volley through Dennis Bergkamp.
This goal gave the
Dutch some hope as England went into the break somewhat dejected after the
goal.
England held onto to
this slim lead until Walker gave away a penalty as he was unable to keep up
with the pace of Dutch winger and future Gunner Marc Overmars.
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Photo From: World Soccer, September
1993
|
(Des Walker fouling Marc Overmars in the box,
April 28, 1993, World Cup Qualifier, England 2-Holland 2) |
Peter van Vossen scored
from the ensuing penalty kick to earn the Dutch an important away point and
perhaps the psychological edge in the battle for qualification.
A distraught Taylor
told the media afterwards that he had felt like crying after a win eluded them
in the closing stages.
An opportunity had
slipped by England, at the time it did not feel immediately catastrophic, but
was clearly the start of the end of the qualification hopes, even if many
matches still remained.
Note:
1-In the Italian Serie A that season (1992/93), clubs
could have as many foreign players as they liked, but only three would be
authorized to feature on the teamsheet for a given match.
Questions
and Analysis
I have asked my friend and podcast partner Mr. Paul
Whittle of https://the1888letter.com/, @1888letter for his memories of this match.
Link to Mr. Paul
Whittle’s book (Before the Premier League: A History of the Football League's Last
Decades):
https://the1888letter.com/book-before-the-premier-league/
http://www.wibblepublishing.com/bpl.html
Soccernostalgia Question: Going into this match, what was
your pre-match feeling for the result?
Mr. Paul Whittle
@1888letter Response: I was certainly not too
optimistic, as England had never really been convincing under Graham Taylor,
and the Dutch were obviously one of the best teams in Europe at the time.
Soccernostalgia Question: Do you remember watching the
match?
Mr. Paul Whittle
@1888letter Response: I can’t actually remember
where I watched it, not at home as it was on Sky. I still watched most England
games, and with it being an important qualifier I would have seen it somewhere.
It hasn’t remained in the memory as strongly as the return game in Rotterdam…
Soccernostalgia Question: It was a match of contrasting
fortunes. Did you believe England could hold on after a (2-0) start or
cautious?
Mr. Paul Whittle
@1888letter Response: It was definitely one of
the better, if not the best, performances by England under Taylor and got off
to a great start but always cautious, especially against such dangerous
opposition.
Soccernostalgia Question: I assume Ruud Gullit and Rijkaard
would have been well-known in England, do you remember if Dennis Bergkamp was
known in England at the time?
Mr. Paul Whittle
@1888letter Response: He didn’t yet have the
profile he would later on, but he was known from his impact on the 1992 Euros
and as another outstanding young player produced by Ajax.
Soccernostalgia Question: The sight of Paul Gascoigne
playing with a protective mask is another indelible image of this match. What
are your thoughts on the clash with Wouters and had VAR been in use at the
time?
Mr. Paul Whittle
@1888letter Response: The game between the
countries at the 1990 World Cup really established Gascoigne on the
international stage, the Dutch would have known he was England’s main (if not
only) creative force by this time. Wouters was the obvious player to mark him
and only he knows if the elbow was deliberate. It didn’t look good – VAR and a
sending-off might have changed this result, and the group.
Soccernostalgia Question: Des Walker losing his foot race
with Marc Overmars is often referenced. Did you feel as well that he was no
longer the same player?
Mr. Paul Whittle
@1888letter Response: Yes, he seemed to lose so
much confidence during the season in Italy and it was very unusual to see him
outpaced. In hindsight, he might have tried to bring down Overmars before he
got into the penalty area!
Soccernostalgia Question: Did you feel at the time, this
was the reference point that England’s WC qualification hopes crashed?
(Bearing in mind, the loss vs. Norway
would be in June)
Mr. Paul Whittle
@1888letter Response: Qualification got off to
a bad start with the draw at Wembley against Norway, who were really England’s
main rivals for the second qualifying place as I think the Dutch would have
been clear favourites. However, dropping points after being 2-0 up was another
blow, and winning this game would have been a big boost.
Soccernostalgia Question: Historically, the return fixture
in October is much referenced for obvious reasons, but do you think by then the
die was already cast with this match in April?
Mr. Paul Whittle
@1888letter Response: To some extent, as I
think the confidence from a win over Holland can’t be underestimated.
Gascoigne’s injury was a disruptive factor too, but qualification was still in
England’s hands at this point. They never played as well again under Taylor, the
remaining performances (especially in Norway) were more and more disjointed, I
don’t think Taylor knew his best team or tactics.
Soccernostalgia Question: From a historical standpoint what
was the takeaway for England, vis-à-vis Graham Taylor’s reign? As a follow-up,
was that your opinion at the time as well?
Mr. Paul Whittle
@1888letter Response: It was a missed
opportunity to beat a major rival and get some confidence ahead of the rest of
the qualifiers. Graham Taylor unfortunately never seemed to fit as England
manager, even when winning you always felt a bad result or performance was just
around the corner. My feeling was (and is) that even had results gone their way
in the key games and they somehow qualified for the World Cup, it could have
been embarrassing.
Date: April 28, 1993
Competition: FIFA World Cup Qualifier-Group 2
Result: England 2-Holland 2
Venue: London - Wembley
Attendance: 73,163
Referee: Peter Mikkelsen (Denmark)
Kick-off
time: -
Goalscorers:
(England): John Barnes 1, David Platt 23
(Holland): Dennis Bergkamp 34, Peter van
Vossen 85 pen
Summary of goals:
1:0 (1st minute, England): John Barnes scored
from a free kick
2:0 (23rd minute,
England): From the middle, Gascoigne advanced and attempted a
combination play with Platt, he received the ball back, but mis-kicked and the
ball reached Ferdinand on the right shot, his ground-level shot hit the post
and Platt knocked in the rebound.
2:1 (34th minute,
Holland): From the middle, Wouters lobbed a ball at the edge of the box
and Bergkamp volleyed it first time.
2:2 (85th minute,
Holland): On the right side, Overmars advanced into the box before
being pulled down by Walker. Peter van Vossen scored from the ensuing penalty kick.
Lineups:
England:
1- Christopher Charles Eric
Woods (Sheffield Wednesday Football Club)
2- Lee Michael Dixon
(Arsenal Football Club-London)
6- Anthony Alexander Adams (Arsenal
Football Club-London)
3- Martin Raymond Keown (Arsenal Football
Club-London)
5- Desmond Sinclair Walker (Unione Calcio
Sampdoria-Genova / Italy)
4- Carlton Lloyd Palmer (Sheffield
Wednesday Football Club)
11- Paul Emerson Carlyle Ince (Manchester
United Football Club)
10- John Charles Bryan Barnes (Liverpool
Football Club)
7- David Andrew Platt (Juventus Football
Club-Torino / Italy)
8- Paul John Gascoigne (Società Sportiva
Lazio-Roma / Italy) (14-Paul Charles Merson (Arsenal Football
Club-London) 46)
9- Leslie Ferdinand (Queens Park
Rangers Football Club-London)
Coach: Graham Taylor
Booked: Martin Keown 74
Other Substitutes:
12-Nigel Howard Clough (Nottingham
Forest Football Club)
13-David Andrew Seaman (Arsenal Football
Club-London)
15-Lee Stuart Sharpe (Manchester
United Football Club)
16-Edward Paul ‘Teddy’ Sheringham
(Tottenham Hotspur Football Club-London)
Team Captain: David Platt
Official Kit Supplier/Designer: Umbro
Uniform Colors: White Shirts, Navy
Blue Shorts, White Socks
Holland:
1- Eduard Franciscus ‘Ed’ de Goey
(Feyenoord Rotterdam)
2- Dirk Franciscus ‘Danny’ Blind
(Amsterdamse Football Club Ajax-Amsterdam)
3- Franciscus ‘Frank’ de Boer
(Amsterdamse Football Club Ajax-Amsterdam)
4- Jan Jacobus Wouters (Fußball-Club
Bayern München e.V. / Germany)
5- Robert ‘Rob’ Witschge (Feyenoord
Rotterdam)
6- Aron Mohamed Winter (Società Sportiva
Lazio-Roma / Italy)
8- Franklin Edmundo ‘Frank’
Rijkaard (Associazione Calcio Milan / Italy)
10- Rudi Dil ‘Ruud’
Gullit (Associazione Calcio Milan / Italy) (12-Peter Jacobus van
Vossen (Royal Sporting Club Anderlecht / Belgium) 70)
7- Dennis Nicolaas Maria Bergkamp
(Amsterdamse Football Club Ajax-Amsterdam)
11- Marc Overmars (Amsterdamse Football
Club Ajax-Amsterdam)
9- Johannes Jacobus ’John’ Bosman (Royal
Sporting Club Anderlecht / Belgium) (14-Johannes Hildebrand ‘John’ de Wolf
(Feyenoord Rotterdam) 46)
Coach: Dirk Nicolaas ‘Dick’ Advocaat
Booked: John de Wolf 66
Other Substitutes:
16-Theodorus Antonius Gerardus ‘Theo’
Snelders (Aberdeen Football Club / Scotland)
13-Jan Jacobus ‘Sonny’ Silooy (Amsterdamse
Football Club Ajax)
15-Marciano Carlos Alberto
Vink (Amsterdamse Football Club Ajax)
Team Captain: Jan Wouters
Official Kit Supplier/Designer: Lotto
Uniform Colors: Orange Shirts, White Shorts, Orange Socks
 |
Photo From: MagzinesHet Nederlands
Elftal, de histoire van oranje, 1989-1995, Authors Matty Verkamman and Henk
Mees
|
(Holland squad, April 28, 1993, World Cup
Qualifier, England 2-Holland 2) |
.jpg) |
Photo From: France
Football, Issue 2456, May 4, 1993 (April 28, 1993, World Cup Qualifier, England
2-Holland 2) |
