England played Columbia in Bogota to warm up for the 1970 World Cup Finals. England’s visit to Bogota is chiefly remembered for the furore that surrounded the arrest of West Ham legend Bobby Moore. From a footballing point of view, the trip was a successful one as England beat Columbia 4-0. England’s third on the day was a twenty-yard thunderbolt from Bobby Charlton, the Manchester United midfielders last goal at international level.
Charlton played at three World Cup finals in a sparkling international career spanning twelve years. He made 106 appearances for England, scoring a record 49 goals. When Gary Lineker ended his career one short of Charlton’s record, he modestly said the great United midfielder was the better player and deserved to keep the record. He helped England reach the final with three crucial goals, including his famous wonder strike against Mexico.
The ability to score goals from midfield is a defining characteristic of Charlton’s career. In Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard, the current England team has two players capable of getting goals at any level.
Lampard’s form for Chelsea has established him as one of Europe’s top midfielders. He has scored over 20 goals for the last five seasons, a record any striker would be proud of. Lampard came into his own at international level during Euro 2004, with goals against France, Croatia and Portugal.
Steven Gerrard got off to a great start in South Africa by scoring England’s first goal of the tournament. When Gerrard put a sweetly struck drive past the right hand of the Trinidad and Tobago goalkeeper during the last World Cup, he was recreating something rehearsed dozens of times for Liverpool. Like Charlton and Lampard, the Reds midfielder can punish sides who allow him the luxury of time and space outside the box.
Frank Lampard enjoyed yet another prolific season for Chelsea, scoring 27 times in all competitions. Whereas Lampard will travel to South Africa looking to continue his club form, Gerrard will doubtless see the World Cup as a potential silver lining to a relatively gloomy season at Anfield.
Pundits often put the case for the importance of goals from midfield. England fans will look to Gerrard and Lampard to weigh in with some more goals to propel England to success in South Africa.
