Brian Glanville is arguably the finest football writer of his - or any other - generation. With remarkable longevity, Glanville has reported on the England team over five decades, travelling the world with Alf Ramsey, Walter Winterbottom and their successors and has attended every FA Cup Final bar three since 1951.

A true aficionado of the world game, the former Sunday Times Football Correspondent also lived in Italy for many years and was English Correspondent for Corriere Dello Sport.

This is the definitive list of his finest football moments - and you can bet your life that he was at every single occasion.

We reveal the first professional match he attended - and an occasion that makes his top 10 - was in 1942, aged 10. Bill Shankly and Matt Busby were wing halves for Scotland in a 3-0 defeat to England, led by Tommy Lawton, Stanley Matthews and Denis Compton.

Mrs Churchill did the pre-match glad-handing before rushing off to see her husband - just back from a meeting with Stalin in Moscow.

This is a list not to be missed - a roll call of the finest moments in football over the past 65 years and an insight into Brian's remarkable career.

Have we told you the one about Brian's taxi journey with a dehydrated Geoff Hurst in Guadalajara in 1970..?

50

August 1960 Olympic Games, Rome: Britain defy the young Italian pros

Great Britain’s all-amateur Olympic team face the full professional Italy Under-21 side including Gianni Rivera and Giovanni Trapattoni. The Italians having insisted that since none of their players under the age of 21 could legally turn professional, they must therefore be amateurs. But a gallant British team with Mike Pinner in goal and Laurie Brown defiant at centre half, made light of conceding an early offside goal and some callous fouling to force a 2-2 draw.

49

June 1992 Euro 1992, Stockholm: Lineker substituted by Taylor

Gary Lineker, on 48 goals and one behind Bobby Charlton’s England record, had announced that these European finals would feature his last game for England. In a bright first half against the Swedish hosts, it was his right-wing centre from which David Platt volleyed England ahead. But when Sweden in the second half went 2-1 up, Graham Taylor, the manager, inexplicably replaced Lineker with Alan Smith, to hold the ball up. And England lost.

48

June 1970 World Cup quarter-final, Leon. Hurst heroic and exhausted

After England’s 3-2 quarter-final defeat by West Germany, an exhausted Geoff Hurst, denied what looked a perfectly good goal, went back with myself and David Miller, a fellow journalist, in our taxi to Guadalajara. He was absolutely dehydrated. We stopped at a tiny village store. In the car boot I found a solitary salt pill in my jacket, bought a soft drink and gave them to him. Blessedly, it seemed to work.

47

June 1974 England tour: Keegan beaten up in Belgrade

When England arrived at Belgrade airport, there was no one from the Embassy or the Yugoslav Federation to meet them. Their travel agent hadn’t realised the one-hour difference. Keegan, after a difficult flight, sat quietly with a brown paper bag of purchases on his knee. A little man in a shiny brown suit tried to snatch the bag. Keegan angrily resisted. A huge jackbooted policeman picked him up at one end, the little man at the other and marched him off. He returned in tears; he’d been beaten up.

46

March 1957. Schoolboy international, Wembley: Stiles, the schoolboy star

Whenever I meet Nobby Stiles, I ask him to recall his two outstanding games at Wembley. “The 1966 World Cup final,” he inevitably replies. “And England v Wales schoolboys in 1957.” That was when I saw the 15-year-old Stiles, then such an adventurous rather than defensive right half, bestride the field for England with his dashing runs up the right. One of the smallest players there, he was notable for skill, energy and passing; the inspiration of England’s 2-0 win.

45

April 1973 European Cup semi-final, Turin: Juventus v Derby County

Brian Clough explodes. Juve had won 3-1, Peter Taylor, Derby’s assistant manager, has furiously tried to stop Helmut Haller, Juve’s German inside right, speaking to the German referee. Two Derby men had been controversially booked. Brian Clough emerged from Derby’s dressing-room, surveyed the waiting Italian journalists and snapped, “No cheating bastards will I talk to, I will not talk to any cheating bastards!” He shut the door, re-appeared to say, “Tell them what I said, Brian,” which I did to a predictable reaction.

44

June 2002 World Cup finals, Suwon. The US shock Portugal

Amazing to see the unfancied Americans surge into a 3-0 lead against powerful Portugal. They scored in four minutes when Brian McBride’s header was fumbled by Vitor Baia, the Portugal goalkeeper, and John O’Brien scored. Two more goals followed and though Portugal hit back twice, the US prevailed.

43

June 2002. World Cup finals, Busan. South Korea shock Poland

South Korea had not won a World Cup finals game since 1954, but now Guus Hiddink, the Dutch coach, had taken all his local players out of the Korean league for special training. Tomasz Waldoch, the Poland centre back, had boasted: “We’ll never lose a goal against an attack as weak as the Koreans.” They lost two and the match, run ragged by Korea’s quick attackers.

42

July 1998 World Cup final, Paris: Ronaldo sacrifice

France against Brazil in the final. Ronaldo, Brazil’s outstanding striker, wasn’t even on the original team-sheet. That afternoon, he had had a painful seizure, been rushed to hospital then released. Arriving at the Stade de France he insisted on playing and did so: in an evident daze, remaining throughout. The Brazilian specialist later declared he had risked a second, potentially fatal, convulsion.

41

June 1990 World Cup second round, Bologna: Platt’s volley beat Belgium

Discarded by Manchester United, revitalised at Crewe Alexandra, polished by Aston Villa, David Platt was on as a substitute for the third successive 1990 World Cup game. After a 119 hard fought minutes against Belgium, his acrobatically taken goal gave England victory. Paul Gascoigne took a free kick from the left, and Platt swivelled superbly to volley the winning goal.

40

June 1981 World Cup qualifier, Budapest: Brooking’s brace

One of the mysteries of Ron Greenwood’s spell as England manager was his treatment of Trevor Brooking, whom he had nurtured at West Ham United. He dropped him from the first team he picked for England: later after a four-game absence he restored him to midfield in Budapest in a vital World Cup qualifier against Hungary, unbeaten there by England since 1909. Brooking responded with two goals in a 3-1 win: the second a thundering drive, the ball sticking in the top left-hand corner of the goal net.

39

January 1949 FA Cup, Highbury: Jimmy Logie inspires Arsenal’s derby win

Jimmy Logie, the little Scottish inside right, was the inspiration of Arsenal’s attack in the immediate postwar years, immensely quick of feet and mind, an exceptional passer of the ball to the right wing or centre forward. In this North London FA Cup third-round derby against Tottenham, he was given fatal freedom by Ronnie Burgess, Spurs' Welsh captain and left-half, always dangerously eager to attack. So Logie tore Tottenham apart and Arsenal won 3-0. Alas he'd been discarded later by a pompous chairman after refusing to shakes hand with an errant Russian referee, and was reduced to running a paper stall in Piccadilly.

38

May 21 1983. FA Cup Final, Wembley: Smith fails for Brighton

Clear underdogs, doomed to relegation from the top division, Brighton & Hove Albion astonished Manchester United at Wembley. They took the game to extra time and with a minute left Gordon Smith, their Scottish attacker, who had already scored, was through alone. Jimmy Case had found Michael Robinson, the big centre forward released Smith. Advancing on Gary Bailey, the goalkeeper, Smith seemed to have abundant time. Alas, he shot straight at Bailey and Brighton’s chance was gone. They lost the replay, 4-0.

37

May 1955. Rome: How Rous offered Carver the England job

“I’m meeting Stanley Rous at the Quirinale Hotel,” Jesse Carver, Roma’s successful Liverpudlian manager told me. “Come along, it might do you some good.” In the hotel foyer, Rous, all powerful FA secretary, towered above us. “Did you have a good journey, Sir Stanley,” I asked. “Yes, yes, yes, who are you?” he replied. Then he astonished me by offering in front of me Walter Winterbottom’s England’s managership to Carver. “It’s about time we brought Walter back into the office.” But Carver didn’t accept, Walter stayed on until 1962. I kept the secret for many years.

36

May 1985. European Cup final, Brussels: The Heysel Disaster

Sitting in the press box at the dilapidated Heysel Stadium when Liverpool met Juventus. It was hard to know at first what horrors were happening. Why that vast empty space on the terraces where Italian fans had stood? Why the constant calling over the tannoy for Italian names? Then an English photographer stood beneath the press box, held up the fingers of both hands denoting numbers, and drew his finger ominously across his throat to show that fans had died. Only later did one know how easily the carnage might have been avoided by braver police and a decent stadium.

35

June 2006, World Cup finals, Dortmund. Shaka Hislop defies Sweden

Sheer science-fiction. Thirty-seven year old Shaka Hislop was down as goalkeeper substitute for Trinidad & Tobago, underdogs against a powerful Sweden. But Kelvin Jack, the first choice, was injured in the warm-up so Hislop played: quite gloriously.

Sweden simply couldn’t beat him, even when Trindad went down to 10 men right after half-time. Hislop stopped everything, high and low. Three saves from Zlatan Ibrahimovic, one from Christian Wilhelmsson, the winger, and a last superb one from Marcus Allbäck. So it ended goalless.

34

May 1956 FA Cup Final, Wembley: The Revie Final

A coruscating display by Don Revie as Manchester City’s deep lying centre forward inspired his team’s 3-1 conquest of Birmingham City. Some consolation for his deep disappointment seven years earlier when, after engineering Second Division’s Leicester City’s semi-final conquest of Portsmouth, the soon-to-be-crowned champions, at Highbury, he missed the Final after taking a violent blow on the nose and losing pints of blood. At Wembley, he had elegant support from such players as Roy Paul, Roy Clarke, Bobby Johnstone.

33

April 1951 FA Cup Final, Wembley: Milburn’s goals

Ever the speedster, “Wor Jackie” Milburn, local-born idol of Newcastle United’s fans, collected a ball near the halfway line, accelerated irresistibly through a square and scattered Blackpool defence, to score with an unerring left-foot shot. Later in the half he scored a second with that same left foot from the edge of the box, exploiting a clever back-heel from little Ernie Taylor.

32

July 1966 World Cup, Wembley: England v Mexico

A frustrated Wembley crowd were chanting, “We want goals!” and Bobby Charlton obliged them. Seven minutes from half-time, well outside the box at an acute angle he let fly a tremendous right-footed shot that tore across Ignacio Calderón, the Mexico keeper, to end in the opposite corner of the net.

31

June 1958 World Cup quarter-final, Gothenburg: Brazil v Wales

Wales may have sneaked in by the back door after being eliminated but they surpassed themselves in Sweden. Brazil could only squeak through 1-0 against them with a deflected goal by Pelé. Jack Kelsey in goal, Mel Hopkins at left back and Mel Charles at centre half were heroic. Had big John Charles been fit to play centre forward, he might well have exploited several early Welsh crosses with his famous head.

30

May 1953 Rome: Hungary crush Italy

My first sight of that dazzling Hungary team at the belated inauguration of Rome’s Olympic Stadium. The Italy team largely composed of Roma and Lazio men were outplayed by Hungary, with Ferenc Puskas’s deadly left foot, Sandor Kocsis’s “Golden head”, Nandor Hidegkuti, operating behind them and Jozsef Bozsik bursting through from right half. 3-0 was the score.

29

October 1961: Matthews returns to Stoke

After 14½ years at Blackpool, Matthews, aged 46, returned to his local club, Stoke City, then in the Second Division. “You must have butterflies!”, he told me. “Everybody has.” In the tiny Stoke dressing-room before his comeback game, it was impossible to talk to him. “I’m not really with you at the moment, Brian,” he said. Then he pulled on the red-and-white striped shirt and went out to play with the skill and exuberance of much earlier days.

28

June 1994. World Cup finals, Giants Stadium, New Jersey: An Irish triumph

The first surprise was that while where the Italians had been expected to throng the stadium, Ireland fans had taken it over. For Italy, the surprise was that the only goal would be scored in the first half by Ray Houghton. When both Italian centre backs failed to head the ball fully clear, Houghton swooped to hit the ball with the outside of his weaker left foot, sending it in a diabolic parabola over the head of the poorly positioned Gianluca Pagliuca, Italy’s goalkeeper, and into the net.

27

Christmas Day 1942: Chelsea beat weakened Arsenal

I’d never seen my favourite Arsenal lose before, and watching them go down 5-2 to Chelsea reduced me, age 11, to tears. Half-a-dozen Arsenal stars watched from the stands, kept back for the Army v RAF game at Cardiff on Boxing Day. Walter Winterbottom, the future England manager, was Chelsea’s guest right back. Bernard Bryant, an amateur Walthamstow Avenue centre forward scored four. Noel Watson-Smith, Yorkshire Amateurs, Arsenal’s guest goalkeeper was overwhelmed.

26

September 1951 First Division, White Hart Lane: Tommy Harmer’s extraordinary debut

Tommy Harmer, a tiny, fragile-looking inside left, largely unknown, made a glorious debut for Tottenham Hotspur at home to Bolton Wanderers, whose hefty players were ridiculed by his supreme ball control and cool command, much to the crowd’s delight. A shuffle, a quick wriggle of the hips, a mock kick at the ball, a back-heel volley, and he’d escape. Alas, it would take him six years to win a regular Tottenham place.

25

June 1970, World Cup quarter-final, Leon, Mexico: Mullery’s marvellous goal

England took on West Germany in the fierce noon heat and at the breathless height of Leon. Known as a ball-winning wing-half, Alan Mullery, on the half-hour, exchanged passes with Francis Lee then sent a long ball out to Keith Newton, the right back who overlapped. Mullery then raced diagonally across field reaching the right-hand post exactly in time to drive Newton’s centre past Sepp Maier to put England a goal up.

24

June 2006 World Cup finals, Leipzig: Maxi’s rocket

Eight minutes into extra time of a splendidly contested second round game between Argentina and Mexico, with the score 1-1, Juan Pablo Sorín on the Argentina left, sent over a long accurate cross field ball to Maxi Rodríguez, his right winger. Twenty yards from goal, Rodríguez coolly chested the ball down and struck a fulminating volley past Oswaldo Sanchez, the goalkeeper, into the opposite corner of the Mexico net. Arguably the best goal of the tournament.

23

June 1966. World Cup quarter-final, Wembley: Alf and the animals

England had won a bitter quarter-final against Argentina, coming up from the dressing-rooms where, it transpired, Argentina players have been urinating on the walls and trying to break into England’s dressing-room, the quietly infuriated Alf Ramsey, England’s manager, told the assembled press that he hoped in the semi-finals that England would meet a team that wanted to play football: “And not act as animals,” words that would haunt him.

22

June 1988. European Championship final, Munich. Van Basten’s volley for Holland

Holland V USSR. Marco van Basten, the striker, ankles kicked to pieces playing for Milan, hadn’t even started Holland’s opening game. Now, he was in full flight as a superbly versatile centre forward, all power and finesse. When a high cross came over from the left, he met it on the far post with a stunning volley, which ripped past Rinat Dasaev, the Soviet Union’s goalkeeper. Holland would at last win a leading tournament.

21

October 1971 First Division, Old Trafford: George Best scores against Sheffield United

George Best scored one of his most spectacular solo goals at Old Trafford against previously unbeaten Sheffield United. After 84 minutes, taking a high ball immaculately with his back to goal, surrounded by defenders, he twisted away from them, moved right, outside one man, outside another, and suddenly and devastatingly accelerated for goal. His eventual right-footed shot tore across the goalkeeper, hit the far left post and rebounded into the opposite corner of the net.

20

June 1996 Euro 96, Wembley: A Gascoigne gem

England v Scotland. Paul Gascoigne, who had twice put himself out of action with reckless challenges, the first in a Wembley Cup Final, now scored in the second half a goal of sublime technique and initiative, now praised even by Gordon Brown! Hooking a high ball, left-footed over the head of Colin Hendry, the big Scotland centre back, he met before it could hit the ground with a tremendous right-foot volley to put England 2-0 ahead.

19

June 1978 World Cup final, Bueno Aires: Kempes triumphant

Whether Argentina deserved to reach the final at all after Peru collapsed against them was debatable. But in the final, Mario Kempes was undeniably their hero. On 38 minutes, receiving from Leopoldo Luque, he brushed past a formidable Arie Haan to score with his renowned left foot. In extra time, receiving a pass from Daniel Bertoni, the right winger, he forced his way through to score again, then made the third Argentina goal for Bertoni himself.

18

June 1990 World Cup finals, Naples: Milla beats Colombia in the second round

At the age of 40, possibly more, Roger Milla, the centre forward, would come on for Cameroon at half-time to score goals a youngster might have envied. In Naples, his first, after 106 minutes, saw him sprint past one defender, hurdle another then shoot home. His unusual second came when René Higuita, the erratic Colombia keeper, recklessly came far out of his area with the ball and tried to beat Milla; who robbed him and ran on to find the open goal.

17

June 1986 World Cup quarter-final, Mexico City: John Barnes’s quarter hour at the Azteca

Seventy-four minutes of England’s World Cup quarter-final against Argentina had gone and they were two goals down when Bobby Robson sent on the gifted, unpredictable John Barnes at outside left. The scorer two years earlier of a marvellous goal in Rio de Janeiro, he now showed up the weaknesses of Argentina’s five in the middle system, running circles round Ricardo Giusti, who operated on the right flank. Within five minutes, Barnes raced past him, delivering a cross that Gary Lineker headed in. On 87 minutes Barnes did it again, but this time Lineker narrowly missed contact and England were out.

16

May 1968 European Cup final, Wembley: Best turns the tables

Manchester United v Benfica. Extra time had just begun. United looked tired. Then Alex Stepney, the United keeper, booted up field. Young Brian Kidd nodded the ball on, Best controlled it in a flash and whipped past Jacinto Santos. The defence square and dead, Best dodged round José Henrique, the goalkeeper, to the left, turned again and scored as Henrique dashed fruitlessly back into goal. United won 4-1.

15

July 1966 World Cup final, Wembley: England v West Germany

When Nobby Stiles slung a long pass out to the right, Alan Ball told himself he couldn’t get it, he was finished. But get it he gallantly did, pulling the ball back into the goalmouth. There, Geoff Hurst, who’d already scored once and would do again met the ball with a fierce right-foot drive against the underside of the bar. Had the ball crossed the line? Herr Dienst, the Swiss referee, looked to his Azerbaijan linesman, Tofik Bakhramov, who pointed his flag firmly towards the middle. England led again; the controversy endures.

14

July 1966 World Cup finals, Goodison Park: Hungary v Brazil

With the score 1-1 and Hungary dominant, Florian Albert, their inspiration, sent little Ferenc Bene flying down the right. He pulled back a fast, low cross that Janos Farkas at the near post met with a ferocious right-footed volley, restoring Hungary’s lead. They went on to beat Brazil 3-1.

13

May 1973 FA Cup Final, Wembley: Jim Montgomery saves for Sunderland

Sunderland, Second Division underdogs against mighty Leeds United, seemed sure to be pegged back 20 minutes after half-time. Not least because Jim Montgomery, their goalkeeper, had looked so fallible. But when Trevor Cherry met a cross from Paul Reaney, the right back, in the goalmouth with a strong header, Montgomery blocked it. The ball fell to the explosive right foot of Peter Lorimer, the winger. But somehow, when he shot, Montgomery acrobatically turned the ball on to the underside of the bar and safety. Sunderland went on to win the Cup.

12

June 1962 World Cup semi-final, Santiago: Garrincha scores against Chile

In the absence of the injured Pelé, Garrincha became the motivator of Brazil’s attack. He’d already headed a remarkable goal against England in the quarter-final from a corner, though barely 5ft 8in outjumping Maurice Norman, England’s towering centre half. Against Chile, he struck home a powerful shot from a central position outside the penalty box with his supposedly weaker left foot.

11

July 1974 World Cup finals, Dortmund: Holland’s perfect goal

Playing a bruising Brazil team under heavy rain, Holland’s maestro, Johan Cruyff, worked out a goal of exquisite economy with his invaluable lieutenant, Johan Neeskens. Neeskens raced down the middle, passing to Cruyff on the right. Then lobbing his instant return over Leão, the Brazil goalkeeper. Cruyff’s superb volley from Rudi Krol’s left-wing cross made it 2-0.

10

June 1970 World Cup finals, Guadalajara: Brazil v Czechoslovakia

Seeing Viktor, the Czech goalkeeper, well off his line, Pelé essayed a huge right-footed shot from the centre circle which flew over Viktor’s head, and bounced narrowly wide of the post. Later, on the same ground against Uruguay, Pelé played the ball one side of the opposing keeper, Ladislao Mazurkiewiecz, ran around the other side and only just missed turning it into the net.

9

June 1958 World Cup final, Stockholm: Garrincha’s raids

Sweden had taken an early lead against Brazil when Garrincha on the right-wing swooped twice. Receiving from Zito, he took the ball up to two burly Sweden defenders, wrong-footed them with his amazing swerve, tore on at the outside to pull the ball back for Vava’s equaliser. On 32 minutes, he did it again and Vava made it 2-1. Brazil would win their first World Cup.

8

May 1956 Wembley: Matthews humiliates Nilton Santos

Aged 41, Stanley Matthews, prince of outside rights, with his magical swerves, in and out of England teams since 1934, was recalled to the colours at Wembley against Brazil. Nilton Santos, supposedly the best left back in the world, could do nothing with him. England missing two penalties but won 4-2. In the dressing-room, Matthews complained of being deemed too old: "There’s times I want to tear the paper across."

7

January 1942 Wembley: England 3 Scotland 0

The first pro match I ever saw, aged 10. Bill Shankly and Matt Busby were Scotland’s wing halves, but they were outplayed. A Scottish soldier and sailor joined in their team’s pre-match kick-in, unchallenged. Mrs Churchill inspected the teams, then rushed off to greet Winston, back from seeing Stalin in Moscow. Tommy Lawton scored twice for England. Stanley Matthews and Denis Compton were on the wings.

6

May 1962 European Cup final, Amsterdam: The triumph of Eusebio

Though Puskas, shrewdly abetted by Di Stefano scored a fine, first-class hat-trick, Benfica beat Real Madrid 5-3. The long legged 20-year-old Eusebio, with his dynamic right foot, his electric pace and skilled control, was the hero of the game. Fouled by Pachin, he banged home the penalty to put Benfica 4-3 ahead and when Mario Coluna flipped him a free kick, his thundering right-footer took a deflection and sped home.

5

June 1974 World Cup final, Munich: Cruyff’s great solo, Holland v Germany

The Dutch kicked off playing almost insolent possession football until Johan Cruyff, who had dropped just behind the attack, set off on a long extraordinary sustained run. He went round Berti Vogts, surged into the penalty box and was felled by Uli Höness. Johan Neeskens put in the penalty, but Holland would eventually lose 2-1.

4

May 1960 European Cup final, Glasgow: Real Madrid 7 Eintracht Frankfurt 3

Alfredo di Stefano, of Argentina, and Ferenc Puskas, the Hungary forward, combined irresistibly to score all seven of Real’s goals; four for Puskas, three for Di Stefano. Puskas’s devastating left foot accounted for three of them; he untypically headed another goal. The tireless ubiquitous Di Stefano surged from one penalty area to the other, perpetual motion incarnate.

3

June 1970 World Cup, Guadalajara: England v Brazil

Gordon Banks’s sensational save. When Jairzinho, Brazil’s outside right, beat Terry Cooper, England’s left back, Pelé met the ball with a bouncing header and was actually shouting “goal!” when Gordon Banks, England’s goalkeeper, flung himself acrobatically across his goal, got his right hand to the ball and turned it over the bar. “He got up like a salmon out of bright water!” Banks said afterwards.

2

June 1986 World Cup semi-final, Mexico City: Maradona’s goal solo v Belgium

There was some slight doubt about the astounding goal Diego Maradona scored for Argentina against England in the Azteca Stadium, Mexico; some thought England’s defence still in a state of shock after he’d punched his notorious “Hand of God” goal against them. But he scored just as amazingly in the next game and at the same end against Belgium, whirling past man after man. With still less space than against England, he alluded four defenders before shooting home.

1

June 1958 World Cup final, Stockholm: Brazil v Sweden

Pelé’s first marvellous goal. At 17, the phenomenal Pelé had already scored a hat-trick against France in the semi-final. In the second half of the World Cup final against Sweden, surrounded in the penalty box by hefty Swedish defenders, he coolly caught a high ball on his thigh, hooked it over his head, and smashed it home with his right foot.

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