England Booed, But Now In Last Eight

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32322, 13 June 1970, Page 13

England Booed, But Now In Last Eight

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright)

MEXICO CITY.

The eight favourites have duly taken their appointed places in the World Cup quarter-finals, and all is now set for the build-up to a final battle between the best teams from Europe and Latin America in the giant Aztec Stadium on June 21.

After 24 group matches, ranging from wildly excitiiig to deadly dull in their football content, four European and four Latin American nations have reached the last eight.

The quarter-final draw (all matches to be played on Sunday, New Zealand time 6 a.m., Monday) is: Mexico or Russia v. Uruguay (Mexico City): Italy v. Mexico or Russia (Toluca); Brazil v. Peru (Guadalajara); West Germany v. England (Leon). Russia and Mexico were tied in group one, on points and goal differences, and a coin will be tossed today to decide which will play in Mexico City or which in Toluca.

Brazil, twice a former champion, and West Germany, winner in 1954 and the beaten finalist four years ago, have played the best football so far, but the present cupholder, England, remains a formidable foe, despite the drabness of its display against Czechoslovakia yesterday, when England won with a disputed penalty in the forty-ninth minute. The 55,000 crowd showed great hostility towards England, jeering and whistling every time an England player touched the ball.

Included in this treatment was Bobby Charlton, who in this game equalled Billy Wright’s record of 105 international The 31-year-old Charlton was booed off the field when he was replaced by Allan Ball in the 65th minute. The Czech players and the crowd angrily disputed the penalty decision given by the referee (Mr R. Machin).

The kick was awarded after Colin Bell had been tackled in the penalty area by the Czech, Vladimir Hagara, who handled the ball as he fell. Allan Clarke, the 23-year-old England striker, playing in his first full international match, scored from the spot. However, it was recalled that England was as unimpressive until the semi-final of the 1966 competition and then played at full power to demolish Portugal and West Germany. The Germans, top scorers in the competition so far, with 10 goals in three games, have the advantage of playing their quarter-final at Leon, where they played their group matches, but they also have the worrying knowledge that they have only beaten England once in half-a-century of matches between the two countries. Attacking Play

Equally interesting is the quarter-final between Brazil and Peru, which has been modelled on the Brazilian style and is the surprise team of the competition. The Peruvians have shown refreshing attacking ideas in their group four matches, but their defensive weaknesses were ruthlessly exposed by the Germans.

Brazil is in the happy position of having a fully-fiit squad. The key mid-field players, Gerson and Rivelino, have recovered from injuries and their presence is crucial for the supply of passes needed by the strikers Tostao, Pele and Jair.

The signs are that the eventual cup winners will come from the Guadalajara, or Leon quarter-finals, as these teams seem a class above their rivals from the other two centres.

Results of yesterday’s matches and the final group tables are: Group One.—Mexico 1 (G. Pena, penalty, 16 minutes), Belgium 0, half-time. 1-0.

Group Two. —Italy 0, Israel 0. Group Three.—England 1 (A. Clarke, penalty, 48). Czechoslovakia 0, half-time, 0-0.

Group Four.—Bulgaria 1 (D Jetchev, 40). Morocco 1 fMou hob Ghazouani 60». half-time

Group One

P W D L F A pts Russia .. 3 2 10 6 1 5 Mexico .. 3 2 10 5 0 5 Belgium .. 3 1 0 2 4 5 2 El Salvador 3 0 0 3 0 9 0 Grou Two Italy 3 12 0 1 0 4 Uruguay .. 3 1 1 1 2 1 3 Sweden .. 3 1 1 1 2 2 3 Israel .. 3 0 2 1 1 3 2

Group Three Brazil .. 3 3 0 0 8 3 6 England ..3 2 0 1 2 1 4 Rumania .3102 5 2 Czech. ..3 0 0 3 2 7 0

Group Four W. Germany 3 3 0 0 10 4 6 Peru .3 2 0 1 7 5 4 Bulgaria .. 3 0 1 2 5 9 1 Morocco 3 0 1 2 2 6 1