England do not have the best of records against Norway, but 34 years ago the Three Lions were dominant as they blew away their opponents.
Liverpool’s 29-year-old midfielder was at the heart of the victory netting two of England’s four goals as Ron Greenwood’s men got their 1982 World Cup qualifying campaign off to the best possible start.
England v Norway
International Match
8pm, Wednesday 3 September 2014
Wembley Stadium connected by EE
www.TheFA.com/Tickets
McDermott had never scored for his country before that night but his first half volley got England on their way to a vital victory and set the Reds' man on course for an evening he’d never forget.
“Scoring for your country is what you dream of,” McDermott said. “I never dreamed I’d play for Liverpool, my home town club, and then to play at Wembley was a great thrill.
“But to score for your country in a World Cup Qualifier, let alone two, well, it’s just what dreams are made of.”
McDermott admits discussing that game against Norway at Wembley brings fond memories flooding back.
But talk of the whole of the 1982 World Cup qualifying campaign causes a wry smile to form on his face.
The ex-England man describes a campaign where England sneaked on to the plane to Spain with victory over Hungary in the Three Lions' final game as, "up and down".
One night from that campaign, which England would rather forget, will live in infamy.
And McDermott says he can laugh about the 9 September 1981 now, although at the time it was not so funny.
“If you’re wearing an England jersey and you’re playing in a friendly you treat it like it’s a World Cup game, there are no friendlies when you play for England”
Terry McDermott
“We made that qualifying campaign very difficult for ourselves. We were beaten by Norway, beaten by Switzerland and we only drew at home to Romania,” he recalls.
“I was pleased with that campaign because I scored three goals but I also remember the Norway away game vividly.
“I played a bad pass, gave their player the ball and they scored the winner.
“Basically, I caused the ‘Maggie Thatcher are you listening’ stuff,” he says with a chuckle.
McDermott is more than happy to joke about that night knowing, as he does now, that England eventually qualified regardless.
But, as the conversation turns toward playing for England it becomes instantly clear how serious a matter he believes representing the Three Lions is.
“If you’re wearing an England jersey and you’re playing in a friendly you treat it like it’s a World Cup game, there are no friendlies when you play for England,” McDermott passionately declares.
“You are playing for the entire country because everyone in the nation wants England to win.
“When you walk out for England at Wembley it’s something different and something special because you’re representing your country.”
McDermott reckons the fans will see plenty of Three Lions passion against Norway on Wednesday night.
But he feels that national pride is not the only motivating factor for the players.
“Roy Hodgson will send them out there with a simple message, ‘persuade me pick you against Switzerland’.
“It’s a great honour to represent England against Norway but it’s also a chance to cement their place for the Switzerland game.”
Tickets for England's meeting with Norway at Wembley on Wednesday 3 September are still available, click here to buy online.
