Match No. 517 - Wednesday, 16th November 1977, 7:45pm

  • Assist: Trevor Brooking. "In the 11th minute, Wilkins slipped a short pass the the West Ham player on the right. Brooking's cross was well flighted and caught Fachetti struggling to keep his balance and Keegan rose high to head into the far corner with Zoff stranded on his line." Kevin Keegan8th of 21 goals. Header from 11 yards., 11' 10:34
  • Assist: Kevin Keegan. "But with [eight] minutes to go Keegan, receiving the ball from [Coppell], found Brooking with a marvellous pass through a huge gap and with only Zoff to beat. Brooking could hardly miss." Trevor Brooking1st of 5 goals. Right-footed from 11 yards., 81' 80:56
    • 1
    • Ray ClemenceLiverpool, 33rd of 61 caps
      29 years, 3 months, 11 day
      Goalkeeper
    • 2
    • Phil NealLiverpool, 9th of 50 caps
      26 years, 8 months, 24 days
      Right Back
    • 3
    • Trevor CherryLeeds, 15th of 27 caps
      29 years, 8 months, 22 days
      Left Back
    • 4
    • Ray WilkinsChelsea, 10th of 84 caps
      21 years, 2 months, 2 days
      Midfield
    • 5
    • Dave WatsonMan City, 28th of 65 caps
      31 years, 1 month, 11 day
      Centre Back
    • 6
    • Emlyn HughesLiverpool, 50th of 62 caps
      30 years, 2 months, 19 days
      Centre Back
      (c)13th captaincy
    • 7
    • Kevin KeeganHamburg, 34th of 63 caps
      26 years, 9 months, 2 days
      Centre Forward
      41:03 "...Keegan was cautioned for reacting sharply to a tackle by Tardelli."
    • Off '8584:08
    • 8
    • Steve CoppellMan Utd, 1st of 42 caps
      22 years, 4 months, 7 days
      Right Midfield
    • 9
    • Bob LatchfordEverton, 1st of 12 caps
      26 years, 9 months, 29 days
      Centre Forward
    • Off '7574:41
    • 10
    • Trevor BrookingWest Ham, 19th of 47 caps
      29 years, 1 month, 14 days
      Midfield
    • 11
    • Peter BarnesMan City, 1st of 22 caps
      20 years, 5 months, 6 days
      Left Midfield
    • 15
    • Stuart PearsonMan Utd, 13th of 15 caps
      28 years, 4 months, 25 days
      Centre Forward
    • On '7574:41
    • 16
    • Trevor FrancisBirmingham, 7th of 52 caps
      23 years, 6 months, 27 days
      Centre Forward
    • On '8584:08
  •  
  •  
    • 1
    • Dino ZoffDino Zoff.
      Born 28th Feb 1942, Mariano del Friuli.
    • 2
    • Marco TardelliMarco Tardelli.
      Born 24th Sep 1954, Capanne di Careggine.
    • 3
    • Claudio GentileClaudio Gentile.
      Born 27th Sep 1953, Tripoli, Libya.
      44:32 Tackle from behind on Peter Barnes.
    • 4
    • Romeo BenettiRomeo Benetti.
      Born 20th Oct 1945, Albaredo d'Adige.
      31:24 Foul on Peter Barnes.
    • 5
    • Roberto MozziniRoberto Mozzini.
      Born 22nd Oct 1951, Sustinente.
    • 6
    • Giacinto FacchettiGiacinto Facchetti.
      Born 18th Jul 1942, Treviglio.
      (c)
    • Off '8584:48
    • 7
    • Franco CausioFranco Causio.
      Born 1st Feb 1949, Lecce.
    • 8
    • Renato ZaccarelliRenato Zaccarelli.
      Born 18th Jan 1951, Ancona.
    • 9
    • Francesco GrazianiFrancesco Graziani.
      Born 16th Dec 1952, Subiaco.
    • Off '4645:00
    • 10
    • Giancarlo AntognoniGiancarlo Antognoni.
      Born 1st Apr 1954, Marsciano.
    • 11
    • Roberto BettegaRoberto Bettega.
      Born 27th Dec 1950, Turin.
    • 15
    • Claudio SalaClaudio Sala.
      Born 8th Sep 1947, Macherio.
    • On '4645:00
    • 13
    • Antonello CuccuredduAntonello Cuccureddu.
      Born 4th Oct 1949, Alghero.
    • On '8584:48

Notes

  • Match InfoGoing into this match both Italy and England were level on points but the Italians were top due to a superior goal difference of four. This was England's last match of the qualifying campaign whilst the Italians had a game in hand against Luxembourg. The scoreline wiped out the goal difference but, Italy eventually beat Luxembourg 3-0. England had failed to qualify for the second successive World Cup Finals. They finish second behind Italy on goal difference.
  • Player InjuriesThe Italians were clearly targetted Keegan. Tardelli blatantly elbows Keegan in the face whilst they were both going for the ball [37:18], a crime the referee didn't see so Tardelli didn't even receive a caution. A few minutes later they both tangle again and Keegan pushes Tardelli [40:59], which ironically gets Keegan a yellow card [41:03]. Later in the build up to England's second goal, as Keegan makes the assist, Benetti follows through deliberately and takes Keegan out [80:54]. Keegan struggles on for another five minutes but is finally substituted. Meanwhile, Graziani gets a cut on his head in an innocuous challenege for a high ball [12:18]. He has to leave the field for several minutes whilst his head is bandaged. He is substituted at half time. Facchetti also succumbs to a hamstring injury late on and is replaced.
  • Player MilestoneEmlyn Hughes' 50th Cap
  • Player MilestoneSteve Coppell's 1st Cap
  • Player MilestoneBob Latchford's 1st Cap
  • Player MilestonePeter Barnes' 1st Cap
  • Goal MilestoneTrevor Brooking's 1st Goal

Sources

  • Wembley - The Complete Record 1923 - 2000 by Glen Isherwood (Sports Books 2006)
  • England - The Quest for the World Cup - A Complete Record by Clive Leatherdale (Two Heads Publishing 1994)
  • Official Match Programme
  • England: The Complete Post-War Record by Mike Payne (Breedon Books Publishing Company 1993)
  • soccernostalgia.blogspot.co.uk
  • YouTube
  • The Guardian "The art of the possible", Thursday 17th November 1977, page 22.

Managers

Referee

  • Hungary Karoly Palotai

Attendance

  • 92,500

Half Time Score

ELO Ratings

  • Up 5 places, gaining 28 ranking points to 1928 points England - 8th - 5
  • Italy - 6th

World Cup 1978 Q

(Group 2)

    •  
    • Pts
    • GD
    • L
    • D
    • W
    • P
    • Flag of Italy
    • Italy
    • 10
    • +14
    • 1
    • 0
    • 5
    • 6
    • Flag of England
    • England
    • 10
    • +11
    • 1
    • 0
    • 5
    • 6
    • Flag of Finland
    • Finland
    • 4
    • -5
    • 4
    • 0
    • 2
    • 6
    • Flag of Luxembourg
    • Luxembourg
    • 0
    • -20
    • 6
    • 0
    • 0
    • 6
    • Final Standings.