England 2-2 Argentina (1991)

In their first meeting since their infamous World Cup quarter-final five years earlier, England and Argentina draw 2-2 at Wembley in May 1991. The result wins England the England Challenge Cup (also contested for with USSR) but there is disappointment after throwing away a 2-0 lead to set-piece goals. Earlier Gary Lineker and David Platt score for England. Includes the post-match comments of Gary Lineker, Graham Taylor and Jimmy Hill.

[@klondike8174]

I was at this game. First visit to Wembley. I still have the programme in the loft.

[@thecatbeast1]

Well get it out of the loft!

[@goonerandre8993]

My dad took me to this game when I was 11... Wow the memories.

[@freespirit4706]

Something magical about Motson & Brooking doing the commentary. Maybe it's nostalgia & the care free memories of being a kid.

[@nickycotton6137]

Aye, + Des and Jimmy ''in the Studio' 👏👍🔥

[@GiveMeAnOKUsername]

Amazing to think this was less than a year since Italia 90. It feels like a completely different team.

[@MerrickWells]

Oh.. David Batty, I had almost erased the pain of that from my memory. Nice to hear Motson make reference to the cheeky disruption of the wall for the Forest goal in the FA Cup Final early that month. It all went downhill for Taylro after that Platt goal in this game really

[@baljitdhillon5523]

I remember going to this match at Wembley, hoping to catch Diego Maradona and Claudio Canniggia, but they weren't there.

[@RandysRacingPlace633]

I believe Maradona was serving his doping ban when this game occurred.

[@danielr3522]

Always thought Pearce looked a bit silly with his shirt buttoned up like that. Not that I'd have dreamt of telling him, obviously, I don't fancy intensive care.

[@NoName-jq7tj]

It maybe part of his overzealous patriotism and love of the country. He may have seen his jersey as a uniform. I noticed this in Italia 90 as well. Backing hot and he’s buttoned up.

[@NoName-jq7tj]

What was interesting in May 1991 was that this friendly was the first match Argentina played since they had lost the 1990 final in early July. Almost a year had gone by before playing a game. They took a massive restructuring in between. If you like at the Argentinian line up in this game it is a completely a new look side when compared to the team of Italia 90.

[@FernandoBenitez979]

Indeed, Argentina was a completely different side, the post Maradona era was called at that time. Only Goycochea and Ruggeri were from the "1990 guard", Caniggia was called but Atalanta didn't release him. Batistuta was not released by Boca (he had to wait one month to have his national team debut against Brazil (1-1 in Curitiba I think, goal - again - by Caniggia), Leo Rodriguez (no 10) was not released by San Lorenzo...and River Plate asked for some of their names to come back after USSR game for domestic league. This Basualdo was not the same from1990, this was Fabian Basualdo, defender from River Plate...Two months later, Argentina would take by storm the Copa America 1991 in Chile (there is an interesting report by Saint and Greavsie availabe on YT). Those were exciting times indeed, i was 11 years old and I remember that vividly, as well at this game...unluckily the main objective, USA 1994, was a well known story

[@NoName-jq7tj]

They had in fact played Hungary in a friendly earlier in 1991 in Argentina before embarking on this European tour. The match against the Hungarians was in February I believe. Argentina went more then 7 months without playing a match. I think that 1990 final defeat was a incredible turning point for them.

[@FernandoBenitez979]

@@NoName-jq7tj yes, that new era started in feb 1991, seven months after 1990 Final, and they played a few matches before may 1991, all with players of domestic league...against hungary, mexico, usa and brazil...and of course USSR and england in this tournament

[@ppate8]

@@FernandoBenitez979 Ruggeri now works for ESPN Argentina

[@FernandoBenitez979]

@@ppate8 Yes, indeed, Ruggeri now works for ESPN and he is doing well in there actually.

[@goldenboy06]

Great headers...real power and accuracy from the Argies.

[@trifulquita15]

Nah... Those Third World players were just lucky

[@SM-zm5xt]

@@trifulquita15 You have it inside

[@naranjacrunch]

I'm from Argentina, but Lineker is a legend. We were very lucky that Match. The team had only two players that were in Italia 90. The rest were usually substitutes.

[@lordsummerisle3139]

I was going to ask about Basualdo but I see it was a different Basualdo to the one in ‘90

[@wilheimkeitel1224]

Inglaterra vs Argentina 25 de de mayo de de 1991 15:00 Inglaterra 2 - 2 Argentina Lineker Gol 15 ' Platt Gol 51' García Gol 66 ' Franco Gol 72' Estadio de Wembley , Londres Asistencia: 44.497 Árbitro: Zoran Petrovic ( Yugoslavia ) INGLATERRA: GK 1 David Seaman ( Arsenal ) RB 2 Lee Dixon ( Arsenal ) CB 6 Mark Wright ( Derby County ) CB 4 Des Walker ( Nottingham Forest ) LB 3 Stuart Pearce ( Nottingham Forest ) MF 8 David Batty ( Leeds United ) MF 11 John Barnes ( Liverpool ) sustituido off 63 ' MF 7 David Platt ( Aston Villa ) MF 5 Geoff Thomas ( Crystal Palace ) FW 9 Alan Smith ( Arsenal ) FW 10 Gary Lineker ( Tottenham Hotspur ) ( c ) sustitutos: DF 13 Paul Parker ( Queen Park Rangers ) GK 12 Chris Woods, ( Rangers ) MF 14 Lee Sharpe ( Manchester United ) FW 15 Peter Beardsley ( Liverpool ) MF dieciséis Nigel Clough ( Nottingham Forest ) sustituido en 63 ' Gerente: Graham Taylor ARGENTINA: GK 1 Sergio Goycochea ( Racing Club ) RB 4 Fabián Basualdo ( River Plate ) CB 2 Sergio Vázquez ( Ferro Carril Oeste ) CB 6 Oscar Ruggeri ( Vélez Sársfield ) ( c ) LB 7 Carlos Enrique ( River Plate ) MF 8 Diego Simeone ( Pisa ) MF 5 Darío Franco ( Old Boys de Newell ) MF 3 Fernando Gamboa ( Old Boys de Newell ) MF 10 Germán Martellotto ( Monterrey ) sustituido off 60 ' FW 7 Claudio García ( Racing Club ) YC 90 ' FW 9 Ariel Boldrini ( Old Boys de Newell ) sustitutos: GK 12 Alejandro Lanari ( Rosario Central ) DF 14 Ricardo Altamirano ( Independiente ) DF 15 Néstor Fabbri ( Racing Club ) MF dieciséis Gustavo Zapata ( River Plate ) FW 17 Antonio Mohamed ( Huracán ) sustituido en 60 ' Gerente: Alfio Basile Árbitros asistentes: Peter Mikkelsen ( Dinamarca ) Emilio Soriano Aladrén ( España )

[@hamala7437]

Can you kindly make a video on Antonio Mohamad from Huracan

[@michaelkinch9702]

Mike kinch Paul. Gascogne.

[@michaelkinch9702]

Mike kinch Paul Goscgone paying England

[@chrisninety1]

All four goals were headers, not often you can say that.

[@thewomble1509]

You'll never beat Des Walker ... apart from when he decides to jump backwards ten feet as though he's just stepped on a landmine!

[@0898007]

I think he'll do well this Taylor.

[@abbaszaidi8371]

Chortle chortle sir..

[@killgreen2004]

que golazo de franco por favor, alla la puso con la cabeza, a todo el rincon!

[@hernancobo883]

Buen partido, Gary Lineker una leyenda viviente.

[@marjohntarache1301]

could you upload this full match

[@numsig]

Did Taylor describe Argentina as "continental" opposition?

[@abbaszaidi8371]

I remember thinking this was the World Cup final that should've been 12 months previously. But no Gazza (injured), Shilts (retired), or Waddle (too old?? Shame on you Taylor)

[@brandonwilson2732]

Abbas Zaidi just thinking the same thing. Chris Waddle was still in his prime he was on fire at Marseille and even Bryan Robson at 32 could do a better job than Carlton Parmer. Shocking from Taylor!

[@martinodoni8943]

Waddle was restored to the England team about four months later against Turkey and had an absolute stinker of a match. In truth, Waddle had seldom played all that well for England, and people were only saying how much better the team would play with him if he was recalled precisely BECAUSE they weren't seeing the reality of him playing.

[@NuisanceMan]

First Argentine goal: "Oh, were we supposed to be defending?"

[@Nately22]

I was there, near the corner flag. A young Simeone.

[@reyjusuf]

No Maradona?

[@lucasm3879]

drugs ban

[@fernandoenriquepluis238]

Don't cry for my england

[@Kiwisamurai]

Que equipazo tenia el coco basile ahí, fenomenal !

[@trifulquita15]

No. Los ingleses eran muy malos. No clasificaron al mundial. Ambos equipos malisimos

[@marcosmuhlmann5199]

@@trifulquita15 equipo malísimo? Dos meses después gana la copa América 🤔

[@trifulquita15]

@@marcosmuhlmann5199 con otros jugadores

[@marcosmuhlmann5199]

@@trifulquita15 faltaba Caniggia y Batistuta todos los demás estaban.

[@FernandoBenitez979]

@@trifulquita15 no eran muy malos! Era casi el mismo equipo del 90, apenas un año antes, salvo Gascoigne q estaba lesionado...diferente a Argentina que eran todas caras nuevas, salvo Ruggeri y Goyco

[@cuggyboysmith81]

Basualdo was also in the 1990 argentine squad

[@juanjatt]

nope ..!

[@cuggyboysmith81]

@@juanjatt Is it a different Basualdo then? I distinctly remember Basualdo playing in the 1990 squad. In fact i've just looked it up and he was number 4

[@FernandoBenitez979]

No, in 1990 was Jose Basualdo, who played in Stuttgart at that time...in this 1991 that Basualdo was Fabian Basualdo, df from River Plate. Same surnames but not relatives

[@ellalangellier151]

But most of those Argentine players did not play at USA 1994

[@Alex-966]

It makes me laugh that all Argentines had women's haircuts 😂😂😂

[@langkukahok7565]

By us friendly match in Wembley stadium

[@Naren8797]

Where were the Liverpool players?

[@johnoshea470]

Barnes played

[@waynegordon4975]

This was the first meeting between the sides 5 years after the Maradona infamous hand of God and it could of been a repeat of the world cup final from italia 90 if we had of beat the Germans in turin. The what ifs eh

[@andrewyoung1652]

Who prefers the old Wembley?

[@Mister.Beagle_8-8]

Este equipo Argentino....fue el q gano la Copa America en Chile 1991 ...2 meses mas tarde.con Batistuta, Caniggia, Leo Rodriguez, y era el mejor equipo que a existido después de el que salio campeon en Mexico 86

[@Martin958]

Batty and and Geoff Thomas instead of Waddle and numerous other choices? Presuming Gascoigne was injured here. Alan Smith?? A young Alan Shearer would have been interesting, or at least the ever dependable Beardsley. And the formerly wonderful Des Walker was a fading force having a nightmare in Italy. So what about Pallister, Adams, Bould....you could name a dozen more. Team selection was always questionable with Graham Taylor.

[@leebush4053]

Gascoigne got injured week before. Pallister wasnt in best form at this point. Adams wasnt available. Smith won golden boot. His inclusion made sense. Overall Taylor was an awful manager. out of his depth with players way above his own ability levels. I think it was the Norway manager who was later quoted about saying not afraid of England as they have Carlton Palmer. Taylor was not good enough for England. He was treated abysmally in the written press.

[@Martin958]

@@leebush4053 Yes Smith was prolific for Arsenal but never looked effective to me in an England shirt. Beardsley was proven. You are right about Carlton Palmer too. He was a Taylor sort of player and would look good in the domestic league, but we had better. Plenty of other centre halves to pick in place of Walker at this time, even an off form Pallister might have done better.

[@FernandoBenitez979]

This was the same Batty who would miss the penalty in France 1998?

[@FernandoBenitez979]

@@Martin958 thank you for your answer!

[@mickjagger8354]

Jjaajajajajajajajajs

[@user-bn6ex4lh9y]

Pearse two assists

[@harrynewiss4630]

Very dubious hair on show here

[@hamala7437]

Even the visitors had a player named Mohamed

[@NuisanceMan]

Who gives a fuck?

[@chardenouxsylvie8167]

Les anglais ne savent pas garder un résultat.

[@jesusbermudez6775]

These stereotypes about not conceding goals from corners!!!!!!! Pure rubbish

[@NuisanceMan]

"Particularly to Continental teams"... apparently referring to the South American continent.

[@madmax5144]

Thallasocracy bias.

[@juanmanuelochoaizpuro2059]

que mal atajaba goycochea, que arquero malo

[@MrJeepsters]

Qui marque pour l'argentine ? Sans "star" , je parle des argentin, ils font nul et auraient peut être gagné.

[@reylatino10]

Garcia y Franco. Ils ont uniquement montré les highlights cote anglais

[@chriswest1632]

Crap longball stuff

[@iurilindenbaum9794]

England Falklands. The best

[@ihateyoumother-fucker3204]

Stupid and immature comment!!!!!

[@ihateyoumother-fucker3204]

Stupid and immature comment!!!!!

[@Indio20Cambalache]

you only have a head and a poor soul, my country has passion and joy! stay submerged in your hate, stay with your island baby