England played Columbia in Bogota to warm up for the 1970 World Cup Finals. The team’s time in Columbia is now remembered for Bobby Moore’s controversial arrest, which nearly sparked a minor diplomatic incident. On the pitch, the reigning world champions eased to a 4-0 win. Bobby Charlton scored England’s third with a rasping effort from outside the area, and this trademark effort would prove to be Charlton’s last at international level.
Charlton played at three World Cup finals in a sparkling international career spanning twelve years. He made 106 appearances for England, scoring a record 49 goals. When Gary Lineker ended his career one short of Charlton’s record, he modestly said the great United midfielder was the better player and deserved to keep the record. Charlton scored three goals in England’s 1966 campaign, including a brace against a much-fancied Portugal in the semi-finals.
The ability to score goals from midfield is a defining characteristic of Charlton’s career. In Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard, the current England team has two players capable of getting goals at any level.
Chelsea’s Frank Lampard boasts a remarkable record at club level. He has scored over 20 goals for the last five seasons, a record any striker would be proud of. England fans will hope Lampard can recapture the sparkling form he showed during Euro 2004, when he put in some star performances and scored three goals.
Steven Gerrard is another player who has a habit of scoring great goals. Gerrard’s stunning strike in England’s second group match against Trinidad and Tobago four years ago resembled the dozens of similar goals he has scored for Liverpool. Like Charlton and Lampard, the Reds midfielder can punish sides who allow him the luxury of time and space outside the box.
Frank Lampard enjoyed yet another prolific season for Chelsea, scoring 27 times in all competitions. Whereas Lampard will travel to South Africa looking to continue his club form, Gerrard will doubtless see the World Cup as a potential silver lining to a relatively gloomy season at Anfield.
Pundits often put the case for the importance of goals from midfield. The contribution of England’s attacking midfielders could make the difference between success and failure.
