Alf Ramsey’s England travelled to the 1970 World Cup as defending champions and warmed up for the tournament with a friendly against Columbia in Bogota. The team’s time in Columbia is now remembered for Bobby Moore’s controversial arrest, which nearly sparked a minor diplomatic incident. In a footballing sense alone, the visit was a success with England running out 4-nil winners. England’s third on the day was a twenty-yard thunderbolt from Bobby Charlton, the Manchester United midfielders last goal at international level.
Charlton played at three World Cup finals and will always be remembered for his role in England’s 1966 success. 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. It was Charlton’s brace against Portugal that took England to the final in 1966.
Charlton is arguably England’s most famous goal scoring midfielder. In Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard, the current England team has two players capable of getting goals at any level.
Lampard’s form for Chelsea has established him as one of Europe’s top midfielders. He has scored over 20 goals for the last five seasons, a record any striker would be proud of. Lampard announced his arrival on the international stage with three goals during Euro 2004.
Steven Gerrard got off to a great start in South Africa by scoring England’s first goal of the tournament. Gerrard’s long-range strike against Trinidad and Tobago four years ago was a mirror image of 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. England fans will look to Gerrard and Lampard to weigh in with some more goals to propel England to success in South Africa.
