Football In England
The English national football team represents England in international football and is controlled by The Football Association, the governing body for football in England. Although most national teams worldwide represent an independent state, the four constituent countries which form the United Kingdom are each represented separately in most international tournaments.
England is one of the more successful footballing teams, being one of only seven countries to ever win the FIFA World Cup, which they did in 1966 when they hosted the finals. They defeated West Germany 4-2 in extra time in the Final. England share with France the record of having one World Cup victory and this being achieved on home soil (the other winners have all won the trophy at least twice and at least once on foreign soil). Since then they have only reached the semi-finals once, losing to West Germany on penalties. Nevertheless, they remain a prominent team on the global stage, rarely dropping outside of the top ten rankings of both FIFA and Elo. England also reached the semi-finals of the UEFA European Championship in 1968 and 1996 (again played in England). They were the most successful of the Home Nations in the British Home Championship with 54 wins (including 20 shared wins) before the competition was suspended in 1984.
Traditionally, England's greatest rivals have been Scotland, who were their opponents in the first-ever international football match in 1870. Since regular fixtures against Scotland came to an end in the late 1980s, other rivalries have become more prominent. Matches with Argentina and Germany have produced particularly eventful encounters. England's home ground is Wembley Stadium in London.
England's traditional home colours are white shirts, navy shorts and white socks.
The traditional England away colour is red, although England did not need an away kit until they played against a non-British side. From 1945 to 1952, England wore a blue away kit. In 1996 England's away kit was changed to grey shirts, shorts and socks. This kit was worn against Bulgaria, Germany and Georgia but the deviation from traditional red was unpopular with supporters and since then the England away kit has remained red.
Third kit
England have occasionally had a third kit as well. At the 1970 World Cup England wore a third kit with light blue shirt, shorts and socks against Czechoslovakia.
They had a strip similar to Brazil's kit, with a yellow shirt and blue shorts in 1973, worn against Czechoslovakia, Poland and Italy.
Between 1986 and 1992 England had pale blue third kits which were rarely worn.
Fixtures & results 2008–09
2010 FIFA World Cup qualification - UEFA Group 6
Friendly matches
Recent call-ups
The following players have also been called up to the England squad within the last twelve months:
European Championship record
Most capped players
As of 15 October 2008, the players with the most caps for England are:
See also
- England national under-21 football team
- England national under-19 football team
- England national under-17 football team
- England national youth football team (U17 squad only)
- List of England national football team captains
- Argentina and England football rivalry
- England and Germany football rivalry
- England and Scotland football rivalry
- United Kingdom national football team
- Three Lions
- Coat of Arms of England
- Origins of the Three Lions emblem
- Football in England
- National Football Centre
- England national football team results
References
- ^ http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/991601.cms
- ^ "Who Are England’s Biggest Rivals Now? Still Germany? Portugal? Argentina?". caughtoffside . Retrieved on 15 November 2007.
- ^ http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/991601.cms
- ^ "England football on-line". englandfootballonline .
- ^ http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/71d78840-f256-11da-b78e-0000779e2340.html
- ^ "Hall of Fame". National Football Museum. Retrieved on 2008-07-25.
- ^ a b c d Still available for selection
Even more about Football In England
Football In England
Football is the national sport of England and plays a significant role in English culture.
Football in England - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The English national football team represents England in international football and is controlled by The Football Association, the governing body for football in England.
