18/11/1981 England v Hungary

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[@graemerobertson8730]

Probably the first England game I can clearly remember. Mariner scored a fair few important goals for England. Really sad to hear of his passing. Condolences to his family.

[@1987mrbenn]

I was at this match, i was 14 and the school took us on a trip to London to visit museums, but our metalwork teacher took us to Wembley while we were there. Unforgettable experience.

[@rayvonn2891]

This was a huge match, first time in my life England had qualified for a world cup. Was quite tense watching.

[@dimmykarras9287]

This England squad was great. It was a completely one-sided game. Although Hungary had already qualified at this point, this match showd their weaknesses. They couldn't take the pressure and England's physical game. Keegan was a small man but he won every ball inside the box. He was such a fighter. Georgie Best slagged him off but he was wrong. Keegan was a world class footballer. This England team went out unbeaten in Spain. If Keegan hadn't been injured, they could've gone further. I dare to say that this squad was England's second best after the WC winning team of 66. Better than the squads of 90 and 2018.

[@kailashpatel1706]

No, i don't think they were better than the 1990 squad...i think post 1966 its 1. 1970 2. 1990 3. 1982...the above team would been 30% better with Clough and Taylor managing who would also have beefed up the squad..did not rate the 2018 squad at all, Colombia with James would have beaten them..

[@bocjagne2878]

I miss this Wembley stadium where it was special for players when they got to play there. Sadly, for me, the new Wembley just doesn't have that.

[@tarrencappel427]

I totally agree. Well said.

[@fruitcake4t]

i also agree the old wembley was a true arena that looked so impressive esp on TV, the new one is just another stadia

[@hairynews1973]

Agree 👍

[@shellsbignumber2]

To think we hadn't qualified for a world cup since 1962, because we were host in 1966 and champions in 1970

[@seanbonella]

too many to pick from and revie picked too much....but some squads they had

[@CIMAmotor]

Brilliant atmosphere and loads of chances. Great to see Trevor Brooking and Alvin Martin. Trev really was magic.

[@CIMAmotor]

@@kingkane1051 I spoke to Alvin about why he didn't play the Argentina match in the WC, he said Bobby Robson said he was saving him for the semi-final. Strange.

[@AntonesPap]

Alvin Martin should have been a member of the England 1982 World Cup finals squad.

[@gwangi64]

@@CIMAmotor He probably picked Fenwick instead for his pace as he was worried about Maradona. Didn't work though!

[@ImYourHuckleberry_29]

RIP Paul Mariner.

[@jford1]

My first England game, age 10 and a bit, on a "school trip" - should've been 5-0, but I still remember Mariner falling over the ball as it hit him and our qualification secured....!

[@jamescorlett5272]

Yeah that 4 what it's worth is how I remember the Goal .

[@qualityman1965]

This game was like yesterday not 40 years ago. Blink and here I am 56 years old.

[@alancorbett1361]

I was 10 years old and remember watching this game. Bizarre thing was Hungary qualified with us through that group and had the biggest win at the World Cup the following year demolishing El Salvador 10.1

[@stg517]

Old times good times!Greet from hungary!

[@paulhirst7602]

I saw in a documentary that El Salvador only arrived literally days before their first match against Hungary at Spain 82, as their country was in a civil war at the time and they struggled to get a flight to the World Cup. In their remaining group matches they only lost 2-0 to Argentina and 1-0 to Belgium. The lack of preparation time for the Hungary game caused the thrashing.

[@AntonesPap]

@@paulhirst7602 You are right about the chaos that existed in the El Salvador camp. The following article suggests things were actually even worse: www.fourfourtwo.com/features/story-hungarys-10-0-rout-el-salvador-1982 (They have the score wrong in the title, but the article is worth reading)

[@elshadjafar2437]

Touched the like button. Many thanks. Country Azerbaijan

[@darrenstillwell9007]

I think this was the first game I ever watched.

[@nickreid9460]

we qualified from that game quite comfortably, but i say we have a life debt with the Swiss for turning their game round against Romania a month earlier. that was our lifeline after that infamous defeat against Norway

[@10Duser]

It didn't feel comfortable after losing to Norway - and (I think?) Hungary finished top, with their only 2 defeats against us? Heh, yep - still remember the Norwegian commentator - "Winston Churchill, Lady Diana, Clement Attlee...." (etc) !! :o)

[@raymondhenderson1436]

Yes there is no denying that if it was not for the swiss beating Romania a month earlier England would not of qualified for the 1982 world cup

[@raymondhenderson1436]

But Romania's goal goal difference was a lot more inferior to England's

[@chelsblue7370]

@@10Duser even a draw between Switzerland and Romania would have allowed England to qualify with any win over Hungary.

[@elshadjafar2437]

Have a nice day. Touched the like button. Many thanks. Country Azerbaijan

[@michaelmuldowney8]

After Norway defeat England looked dead and buried - but Romania somehow imploded and blew their huge advantage, allowing England to qualify despite losing three times in the campaign.

[@diptastik5651]

Great game . I remember this like it was yesterday .

[@kitswithkaren5003]

What a marvelous servant Trevor Brooking was for club and country.

[@duffymoony]

Aah, back in the day when the commentators could use the first person plural and say WE've qualified.

[@markhayes4149]

Paul Marriner R.I.P.

[@seanbonella]

i like jerseys...but as an irishman, that jersey is theeir best one....always reminds me of keegan...yes im scouse hahahaha. i remember listening to these matches here plus scots and welsh hearing the liverpool players etc on the radio...great days them when i was about 6 or 7

[@pauld677j9]

Yep I was there stuck behind a pillar... Lol still a great night though

[@gwangi64]

This qualifying campaign sticks in the mind as being a particularly tortuous one for England fans. Three away defeats out of four and it looked like all was lost. Then Romania imploded and failed to win any of their last three games, opening the door for England's lucky qualification.

[@michaelmuldowney8]

Ron Greenwood must have been loaded down with rabbit feet and silver charms… I remember the newspaper slaughtering him constantly and trying to run a campaign to get Brian Clough the job ! Even Graham Taylor didn’t lose 3 away games

[@mohsdef]

Remember there was a nasty tackle on Steve Coppell, in this match

[@zvikaperi4555]

Looks like they missed it out...sadly essentially ended his career.

[@mikescott213]

Paul Mariner RIP.

[@MrJonno85]

I don't remember Mariner's miss at 3:24 !

[@bascet1]

Should of been about 8-0!! Watching at the time and after missing loads of chances it looked like one of those games you end up drawing 1-1!! First time we'd qualified since 62' as we were host's 66' and holders in 70'...MCFC M20

[@ysgol3]

Wasn't this the game in which, following a vicious foul, Coppell got the injury which in the end destroyed his career ?

[@barnbersonol]

I remember that. He kept on playing for another year but he was never the same. How sad.

[@ysgol3]

@@kingkane1051 Hi, yes, have a look at wiki - a vicious over the top tackle - much like what happened to the great Colin Bell in 1975.

[@malvinasbasher]

This was the game that finished Steve Coppel

[@chelsblue7370]

What a shame England couldn't win that QF group in Spain the next year. Most people can't forgive Schumacher for that kungfu tackle on Batiston, I can't forgive him for the super save (can't remember whose shot it was, or if it was even a header) that gifted Germany an ill-deserved draw. France awaited in the semis, England having beaten them comfortably 3-1 in the group stages, it would've been anybody's game at the very least, if only...

[@HandleGF]

It was a Robson header

[@kailashpatel1706]

that save is forgotten...it was from a Coppell cross and Steve was carrying an injury from this match..that cost his career eventually..

[@AntonesPap]

After a cross from Francis, Mariner headed the ball to Robson. Then, Schumacher saved Robson's header: kzbin.info/www/bejne/oKGXZZ-YpK9gbc0

[@kailashpatel1706]

I think it was a Robson header..

[@kc8923]

How on earth was Phil Neil playing ahead of Viv Anderson at that time? Can only assume Viv was injured?!

[@kailashpatel1706]

Good point, It was Phil Neal's poor tackle in Euro 80 that let Tardelli in for the winner and he was just not up to inter standard..A better manager would have seen that..Greenwood wasted a good squad of players, misused Paul Mariner's hold up play along with Ray Kennedy and no Statham, Regis, Cowans, Morley, Devonshire in a true sense...Beattie's career had ended with injury in 1980 depriving England of a WC defender instead of Pil Thompson, some were brought in only ad hoc..Clough and Taylor would have seen the case for a clear out form the defence onwards..

[@jamescorlett5272]

I'm still not at all sure that the ball didn't hit Paul Marines boot - Anyway we had been to Italy know we were going to Spain - clear a path - please .

[@HandleGF]

Bassett Time ... the early Eighties when England's footballing fortunes turned from tragicomedy to pure farce. A hundred years of luck got pawned in getting out of that group.

[@markganus1085]

an england team full of english players on it. how i miss these times

[@qualityman1965]

So today's team has French players on it? Are you saying what I think you are saying

[@garyherrett6228]

I think this England team would have beaten the present day lot 2021 went out the 82 world Cup unbeaten and a dubious qualifying system to the semi finals that year , beat France in first game 3 to 1 considering they got to semis and should have made the final when the German keeper should have been sent off and a penalty given to France .

[@roberthowell6639]

Weirdly this was probably the worst qualifying campaign England have ever taken part in - and yet, thanks to Romania bottling it in the run-in, we still made it! ... Everyone remembers the campaigns for 74, 78 and 94 as terrible failures (which obviously they were in the grand scheme of things, as we didn't make it to the finals) - but there were actually more bad performances in the 82 campaign than any of those other ones! Just a hell of a lot more luck!

[@BMMO90]

jes

[@pjharper71]

RIP Paul Mariner