England - Uruguay 60 years later.

 England - Uruguay, 60 years later. 

And so it was that 60 years ago that the England football team emerged from the old Wembley Stadium in their first and, sadly, only World Cup Finals on home soil. It was their greatest moment and their finest hour, that reference point in our lives when time stood still, frozen in posterity for ever more. Now there would be the most glorious coronation since a young, radiant Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth would make that memorable introduction speech before Sir Alf Ramsey's first game in the 1966 World Cup. It was just the loveliest of coincidences, an evening where royalty would come face to face with a football monarchy. 

In the tunnel before that first group match between England and Uruguay, the England players slowly made their way out of the tunnel and onto a sun kissed Wembley pitch, bathing in the glow of an early July evening. They were all ready and prepared and yet the electrifying atmosphere inside the ground would simply become too intimidating for words. But 1966 should have been perfectly designed for England because everybody was waiting and expecting. 

England were fighting fit and fine fettle but first night jitters would prove far too much to handle. Even Sir Alf Ramsey looked worried and deeply wary of one terrible anti climax. His worst fears were confirmed and England's opening group game against Uruguay finished in a sterile, dreadful goal- less draw. This was England's first tantalising glimpse of  South America's most expressive art gallery, football from the baroque and rococo era, football from the most educated finishing school. 

Four years later, Sir Alf Ramsey experienced the real article when the Brazil of Tostao, Gerson, Rivelino, Carlos Alberto and the incomparable Pele gave England its rudest awakening, a masterclass with the most impressionistic brushes. But in 1966, England were drawn in the same opening group including Uruguay, Portugal and France, a broad cross fertilisation of football's most thoughtful minds. It was a world summit of thinkers and studious footballing cultures and England had an unsettling bout of first night hiccups. 

Back in the tunnel, Jack Charlton, Roger Hunt, Bobby Charlton, skipper Bobby Moore, Martin Peters, Gordon Banks, Ray Wilson and Nobby Stiles were nervously bouncing their footballs repeatedly, nervously shading their eyes from the sinking evening sunshine. It had been reported in the weeks and months leading up to the World Cup Finals in England, that Sir Alf Ramsey had taken elocution lessons so unsure and self conscious had he become about his Dagenham East End accent. But Sir Alf had nothing to be ashamed itself at all because his team would do all the talking on the pitch. 

The universal language of football had been adopted and England were in their own back yard. But throughout their traumatic ordeal against Uruguay, England went no further than a series of bewildering cul de sacs before being turned back into their own half by a disciplined and well drilled Uruguayan side. The South Americans were well motivated for the occasion and knew exactly what was required of them. It had been a deeply frustrating evening but a mere blip on England's forward march to the World Cup Final against West Germany where a 4-2 victory ensures them immortality and legendary status. 

However, tomorrow night Thomas Tuchel's 2026 World Cup hopefuls will be hoping for rather more than panic attacks, fluffed lines but perhaps understandable anxieties. Once again England have qualified for another World Cup without a single blemish. Most of us though may well be lulled into a false sense of security because the limited and poor opposition that England have thus far encountered, may well be more of a hindrance than help. 

Then next week Japan visit Wembley Stadium in another odd if perhaps suitable choice considering the world class quality they may have to negotiate in USA, Canada and Mexico. Japan have made remarkable progress in international circles and while not really expected to upset England's apple cart , will still come with notable football credentials. Football in Japan is now a hugely marketable commodity and the Premier League is extensively shown in most of the bars, clubs and restaurants of this Oriental gem. 

But tomorrow we will think for a moment of that special period for English football. It was 1966 and the massive cultural revolution that spawned outlandish fashions can still be remembered with fond recollections by both the Kings Road and Carnaby Street set. England did win their only World Cup to date but were stopped in their tracks by a light blue shirted team who were determined to spoil the party on its first night. 

Uruguay had done what they had set out to achieve and their mission was promptly accomplished. As the white shirts of England trooped disconsolately away from the pitch 60 years ago, most of the nation could only have wondered what was going through the players minds that night. There can be no omens at all because football has never really done superstition. It is to be hoped that Thomas Tuchel will be reminded once again that you can leap off your seat with joy when the final whistle goes because poor Sir Alf Ramsey looked as if somebody had stolen his last fiver at the end of the 1966 World Cup Final. Oh England, England. We have faith in you and may football's purists be rewarded.