Group F. England,
Portugal, Poland, Morocco, playing mostly in Monterrey and one match
in Guadalajara. A tough group too, but with one undisputed leader.
England.
Third row from left:
Francis, Stevens, Dixon, Hoddle, Martin, Waddle, Watson, Fenwick,
Lineker.
Middle row: Edwards –
doctor, Strigg (?) - masseur, Anderson, Hateley, Shilton, Bailey,
Woodcock, Barnes, Howe – assistant coach, Madura (?) - masseur.
Sitting: Sansom, Wilkins,
Bryan Robson, Bobby Robson – coach, Wright (?), Steven, Brayswell
(?)
Head coach: Bobby
Robson| No. | Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1
|
18 September 1949 (aged 36)
|
81
|
|||
2
|
27 March 1963 (aged 23)
|
9
|
|||
3
|
26 September 1958 (aged 27)
|
65
|
|||
4
|
27 October 1957 (aged 28)
|
33
|
|||
5
|
29 July 1958 (aged 27)
|
15
|
|||
6
|
28 December 1958 (aged 27)
|
40
|
|||
7
|
11 January 1957 (aged 29)
|
51
|
|||
8
|
14 September 1956 (aged 29)
|
80
|
|||
9
|
7 November 1961 (aged 24)
|
18
|
|||
10
|
30 November 1960 (aged 25)
|
13
|
|||
11
|
14 December 1960 (aged 25)
|
16
|
|||
12
|
29 July 1956 (aged 29)
|
21
|
|||
13
|
14 November 1959 (aged 26)
|
4
|
|||
14
|
17 November 1959 (aged 26)
|
15
|
|||
15
|
30 March 1962 (aged 24)
|
5
|
|||
16
|
20 June 1956 (aged 29)
|
6
|
|||
17
|
21 September 1963 (aged 22)
|
10
|
|||
18
|
25 October 1962 (aged 23)
|
3
|
|||
19
|
7 November 1963 (aged 22)
|
27
|
|||
20
|
18 January 1961 (aged 25)
|
5
|
|||
21
|
24 July 1961 (aged 24)
|
6
|
|||
22
|
9 August 1958 (aged 27)
|
2
|
It should be said right away, that the photo is not the World Cup squad and not even from 1986. Strangely enough, the English magazines did not really decide on publishing actual photo of the squad and they were not alone: the record the national team cut also shows the wrong squad, the same photo. Why was that is anybody's guess: England was always a favourite, but there was special hope this time. Seemingly, Bobby Robson's England was bound to return to glory. There was departure of the old English ways, now it was more up to date and more European-playing team. The biggest change was in the relation between midfield and strikers: at last England had creative players – Robson, Hoddle, and Waddle – able to orchestrate the attacks, and in front was wonderful Lineker, not at all the typical burly English center-forward stationed in front of the gate and waiting for sweeping balls from the wings. It was no more kick and run, or so it looked like. England was expected to go far. The only problem was health – all midfielders were prone to injuries. Without one or two of them it was possible the team returning to old kick and run way, habits don's die in a day. Predictable English game would make the central defenders a liability for certain – Butcher and Fenwick were strong no nonsense fighters, but a bit dull and slow-turning – quick, imaginative strikers could beat them, especially if England lost the midfield. But, as a whole, England was the group favourite and expected to finish on top.
Portugal
Top row from left: ?,
Andre, ?, ?, Fernando Mendes, Morato, Mario Jorge, Jaime, Nunes, Jose
Antonio, Alvaro, Samuel, ?.
Middle row: ?, ?, ?, ?,
Damas, Bento, Vital, Jorge Martins, ?, Rui Aguas, ?, Jose Torres –
coach.
Sitting: Frederico,
Oliveira, Venancio, Inacio, Jaime Pacheco, Sousa, Gomes, Diamantino,
Joao Pinto, Futre, Veloso.
| No. | Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1
|
25 June 1948 (aged 37)
|
62
|
|||
2
|
21 November 1961 (aged 24)
|
22
|
|||
3
|
28 April 1957 (aged 29)
|
17
|
|||
4
|
2 November 1957 (aged 28)
|
2
|
|||
5
|
3 January 1961 (aged 25)
|
11
|
|||
6
|
15 January 1958 (aged 28)
|
39
|
|||
7
|
22 July 1958 (aged 27)
|
21
|
|||
8
|
6 April 1957 (aged 29)
|
5
|
|||
9
|
22 November 1956 (aged 29)
|
42
|
|||
10
|
28 February 1966 (aged 20)
|
10
|
|||
11
|
26 November 1962 (aged 23)
|
0
|
|||
12
|
22 August 1954 (aged 31)
|
0
|
|||
13
|
6 November 1964 (aged 21)
|
4
|
|||
14
|
10 July 1962 (aged 23)
|
7
|
|||
15
|
8 June 1958 (aged 27)
|
1
|
|||
16
|
29 October 1957 (aged 28)
|
2
|
|||
17
|
3 August 1959 (aged 26)
|
19
|
|||
18
|
5 May 1961 (aged 25)
|
0
|
|||
19
|
28 April 1960 (aged 26)
|
3
|
|||
20
|
1 February 1955 (aged 31)
|
22
|
|||
21
|
24 December 1957 (aged 28)
|
5
|
|||
22
|
8 October 1947 (aged 38)
|
22727 Sporting Lisbon | |||
Not
exactly a favourite, but the wonderful performance of Portugal at the
1984 European finals was supposed not to carry on to 1986 – it was
largely promising performance of bright, but not yet at its peak
team. Now the team was supposed to be peaking and it was talented
generation, especially in attack. Chalana's absence was severe
handicap, but new extremely talented boy popped up: Paulo Futre.
Portugal was the likeliest candidate for second place.
Poland
| No. | Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1
|
20 September 1953 (aged 32)
|
38
|
|||
2
|
11 July 1960 (aged 25)
|
9
|
|||
3
|
6 June 1954 (aged 31)
|
90
|
|||
4
|
22 November 1959 (aged 26)
|
26
|
|||
5
|
8 January 1958 (aged 28)
|
49
|
|||
6
|
27 September 1961 (aged 24)
|
42
|
|||
7
|
27 April 1962 (aged 24)
|
12
|
|||
8
|
14 May 1962 (aged 24)
|
13
|
|||
9
|
17 March 1959 (aged 27)
|
6
|
|||
10
|
31 January 1956 (aged 30)
|
36
|
|||
11
|
16 July 1957 (aged 28)
|
48
|
|||
12
|
17 August 1959 (aged 26)
|
16
|
|||
13
|
14 August 1959 (aged 26)
|
14
|
|||
14
|
6 June 1963 (aged 22)
|
11
|
|||
15
|
21 September 1959 (aged 26)
|
49
|
|||
16
|
22 July 1960 (aged 25)
|
34
|
|||
17
|
1 January 1958 (aged 28)
|
4
|
|||
18
|
12 February 1958 (aged 28)
|
22
|
|||
19
|
13 August 1963 (aged 22)
|
3
|
|||
20
|
3 March 1956 (aged 30)
|
74
|
|||
21
|
30 September 1962 (aged 23)
|
33
|
|||
22
|
9 March 1962 (aged 24)
|
4
|
Poland was not a favourite largely because the team developed little after the 1982 World Cup – Boniek and Smolarek were lethal duo, but most key players, Boniek included, aged and among the new crop only Jan Furtok was truly classy. Plenty of experience, but somewhat uninspired squad and then there was tradition... the pattern was already established: bronze medalists in 1974, mediocre in 1978, again surprise bronze in 1982 – now it was time for mediocrity. Poland was not to be outsider, of course, but third place was likelier than second. One important thing should be said: Wladyslaw Zmuda was coming to his 4th World Cup. Few players were members of this club and he was expected to really join them, for so far true membership meant not just making the roster, but actually playing at the finals – Zmuda was constant regular, so it was unlikely he would sit on the bench. And he was not even 32 years old yet – the way Poland was going, he had the chance to become the first player to appear at 5 World Cups, but that concerned the 1990 finals.
Morocco
First row from left:
Rakhji (?), Fidadi, Bidane, Barbori, Labied, Haidamou, Timoumi,
Lamriss, Kadani (?).
Standing: Souleimani,
Fadili, Bouyahyaoui, Sahil, Zaki, Moudani, Rhiati, Yakdani (?), El
Biyaz, Hcina El Ourdi.
Head coach: José
Faria| No. | Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1
|
2 April 1959 (aged 27)
|
N/A
|
|||
2
|
1 January 1955 (aged 31)
|
N/A
|
|||
3
|
12 February 1959 (aged 27)
|
N/A
|
|||
4
|
12 December 1960 (aged 25)
|
N/A
|
|||
5
|
7 January 1955 (aged 31)
|
N/A
|
|||
6
|
19 April 1953 (aged 33)
|
N/A
|
|||
7
|
28 July 1961 (aged 24)
|
N/A
|
|||
8
|
26 December 1960 (aged 25)
|
N/A
|
|||
9
|
13 January 1955 (aged 31)
|
N/A
|
|||
10
|
15 January 1960 (aged 26)
|
N/A
|
|||
11
|
21 April 1958 (aged 28)
|
N/A
|
|||
12
|
1 September 1961 (aged 24)
|
N/A
|
|||
13
|
25 February 1963 (aged 23)
|
N/A
|
|||
14
|
14 July 1959 (aged 26)
|
N/A
|
|||
15
|
21 October 1964 (aged 21)
|
N/A
|
|||
16
|
7 April 1956 (aged 30)
|
N/A
|
|||
17
|
20 November 1962 (aged 23)
|
N/A
|
|||
18
|
11 October 1963 (aged 22)
|
N/A
|
|||
19
|
4 March 1964 (aged 22)
|
N/A
|
|||
20
|
10 September 1965 (aged 20)
|
N/A
|
|||
21
|
30 April 1958 (aged 28)
|
N/A
|
|||
22
|
30 July 1956 (aged 29)
|
N/A
|
