My greatest ever England XI

Monday, 22 September, 2003

The Rolls Royce of England's midfield in the late 1970s and ear

The Rolls Royce of England's midfield in the late 1970s and early 80s Trevor Brooking picks his team as TheFA.com continues to search for the ultimate all-time England line-up...

Any England fan over the age of 35 will remember Trevor Brooking's 25-yard shot sticking in the goal stantion in Budapest.

It was the highlight of Brooking's international career, with his two goals against Hungary saving England's World Cup qualifying campaign after defeats against Romania, Switzerland and Norway.

Brooking was a virtuoso performer in England's midfield for a decade and formed a fantastic partnership with Kevin Keegan. The pair destroyed Hungary that afternoon in 1981 and memorably tore Scotland apart on one occasion at Wembley in 1979.

Not surprisingly, Keegan is selected in Brooking's team. "He was a key figure in my era," says Gentleman Trev, who has done a sterling job standing in as West Ham's temporary manager until Alan Pardew arrives.

The other talking point is the selection of current England skipper David Beckham - with no Stanley Matthews in the team.

"There are a few more I would like to have chosen but I had to restrict the team to 4-4-2," he says.

"From the Matthews era I have chosen Tom Finney and I also went for Duncan Edwards. I was a youngster when he was killed in the Munich Air Crash - he could have gone on to do really great things for England."

Brooking won 47 caps and was unlucky that England qualified for the World Cup only once during his peak, in 1982. He was injured though before the tournament started and, like his pal Keegan, was restricted to playing just 20 minutes of England's final game against Spain.

TREVOR BROOKING'S ULTIMATE ENGLAND XI

Goalkeeper - Peter Shilton (1970-90) 125 caps, 0 goals
His England career spanned 20 years, becoming England's most-capped international along the way. Shilton had to share the No1 jersey with Ray Clemence during the 1970s but became first choice to play in three World Cups, retiring from international football at the age of 40 after Italia 90.

Defender - Duncan Edwards (1955-57) 18 caps, 5 goals
One of the biggest tragedies of all-time was the death of Edwards in the Munich air crash at the age of 21. By that stage, he was already an England regular and part of the Busby Babes side tipped to dominate club football. Phenomenally strong and skilful, Edwards could fill a number of positions.

Defender - Bobby Moore (1962-73) 108 caps, 2 goals
Moore was treated like a pop star in the 1960s when he captained England to the World Cup. A true gent, Moore led by example and tamed many of the game's superstars quiet including Pele. Only played for two English clubs, West Ham and Fulham, and reached FA Cup finals for both teams.

Defender - Billy Wright (1947-59) 105 caps, 3 goals
His marriage to 1950s pop star Joy Beverley made him national tabloid fodder like Beckham. During the 1958 World Cup in Sweden both of them were besieged by reporters and photographers. The first man to play 100 times for England, Wright was the team's skipper 90 times - still a record.

Defender - Kenny Sansom (1979-88) 86 caps, 1 goal
Sansom was the ideal left-back, equally able to mark and tackle as well overlap and join in the attacking play. Played in the 1982 and 1986 World Cups while an Arsenal player, he amused team-mates in Mexico by bringing along his Mum when players were allowed to invite partners to join them in World Cup preparations.

Midfielder - David Beckham (1996- ) 63 caps, 13 goals
England's captain, he recovered from being sent off in the 1998 World Cup against Argentina to score the goal against Greece which took his side to the 2002 Finals in Korea and Japan. The world's most famous player, Beckham won six Premiership titles and the 1999 Treble with Man Utd before joining Real Madrid in the summer.

Midfielder - Bobby Charlton (1958-70) 106 caps, 49 goals
The only Englishman who was as popular worldwide as The Beatles in the 1960s. Everyone loved Bobby from his combover hairstyle to his unfeasibly hard shot. The Survived the Manchester United Munich air crash to have a glittering career, winning the World Cup and finishing with a record 49 goals for England.

Midfield - Bryan Robson (1980-91) 90 caps, 26 goals
Almost reached a hundred caps despite being injured at key times during his career. Bobby Robson believes England would have won the 1986 World Cup if his skipper hadn't injured a shoulder in the group stages. Captain Marvel led his country 65 times.

Winger - Tom Finney (1947-59) 76 caps, 30 goals
No lesser an authority than Bill Shankly regarded Finney as the best player he had ever seen. For a wide player, his goalscoring record was phenomenal. Nicknamed The Preston Plumber, he was twice voted Footballer of the Year in 1954 and 1957.

Striker - Kevin Keegan (1972-82) 63 caps, 21 goals
Keegan was European player of the Year twice in the late 1970s after leaving Liverpool for Hamburg. Formed a telepathic understanding with Trevor Brooking in the England side and scored goals against Brazil, Italy and Argentina. Injury restricted him to just 20 minutes action in the 1982 World Cup.

Striker - Gary Lineker (1984-92) 80 caps, 48 goals
Younger supporters should know Lineker was once more than a TV presenter. He was the leading scorer at the 1986 World Cup, beating even Maradona, and his goals took England to the semi-finals at Italia 90. His famously cool temperament meant he was never booked in his career.

TOTAL VOTES SO FAR (after 6 nominations)

6 votes - Bobby Moore

5 - Bobby Charlton, Tom Finney, Stanley Matthews, Bryan Robson

4 - Duncan Edwards

3 - Gordon Banks, Jimmy Greaves, Peter Shilton, Billy Wright

2 - Jimmy Armfield, George Cohen, Paul Gascoigne, Johnny Haynes, Gary Lineker, Kenny Sansom, Alan Shearer, Ray Wilson

1 - David Beckham, Roger Byrne, Neil Franklin, Geoff Hurst, Kevin Keegan, Michael Owen, Stuart Pearce, Des Walker

Trevor was talking to Joe Bernstein

My greatest ever England XI

The Rolls Royce of England's midfield in the late 1970s and ear

What Do You Think?