David Platt's winner against Belgium in 1990 has been voted in top ten England goals
David Platt's match-winning volley against Belgium at Italia 90 has been voted into the fans' top ten best England goals.
Late last year we asked fans via our
official England Facebook page to choose their favourite Three Lions strikes. The Aston Villa midfielder's extra-time effort beyond Michel Preud'homme has been voted in at number seven.
After topping their group thanks to a victory over Egypt, England travelled to Bologna for their knock-out meeting with Belgium.
The game would produce some iconic moments that the Three Lions faithful clearly remember 23 years later.
In the first half, Peter Shilton and Mark Wright had to be sharp to deny Bruno Versavel and Marc De Grijse on the follow-up, then Jan Ceulemans struck the woodwork with a left foot drive.
Belgium's Enzo Scifo was probing and worked Shilton again, while at the other end John Barnes tucked away a volley from Gary Lineker's cross, but the goal was ruled out.
With 20 minutes remaining Platt came on to replace Steve McMahon, but he couldn't prevent the game going into extra-time.
There was just a minute on the clock, with penalties around the corner, when Paul Gascoigne collected the ball deep in England's half. Despite the 119 minutes of high-pressure football that preceded, Gazza surged forward looking for the breakthrough.
PSV Eindhoven defender Eric Gerets was in hot pursuit of the Tottenham maestro, who just couldn't shrug him off until he was pulled down 40 yards from goal.
Gazza brushed himself down to take the free-kick as England piled into the area.
The nation held their breath when the 23-year-old clipped in a sublime pass behind the Belgian defence. Platt's movement was perfect to lose both markers as he swivelled on the corner of the six-yard box.
He connected sweetly with the ball, guiding across Preud'homme's dive and into the far corner of the net. Platt, arms open wide and sliding on his knees in celebration, was mobbed by his team mates.
The elated ITV commentator Brain Moore summed it up: "Agony for Preud'homme," he cried, as the Belgian 'keeper knelt, hands on hips, in despair.
The Three Lions held on for the last minute and, with their travelling fans cheering and dancing in the stands, Stuart Pearce's clearance up field was met with the shrill of the Danish referee's whistle.
England were through to the quarter finals where two Lineker penalites saw them past Cameroon. However, spot-kicks would be their ultimate downfall in the last four as Bobby Robson's men missed agonisingly out on a place in the Final to eventual winners West Germany.
The top ten, so far...
7. David Platt, v Belgium (June 1990)
8.
Geoff Hurst's second, v West Germany (July 1966)
9.
Steven Gerrard, v Germany (September 2001)
10.
Danny Welbeck, v Sweden (June 2012)
Next week we'll unveil which goal you voted for as no.6 in England's best.