Match No. 505 - Wednesday, 13th October 1976

  • "In the fourth minute the last of a series of corners on the left, enough to give Brooking his line and length, found Thompson ducking into the goalmouth to gain the crucial touch; the ball flew off Royle, Heikkinen used his hands to stop the header going in, but Tuert followed up to score." Dennis Tueart1st of 2 goals. Header from 3 yards., 4' 3:53
  • Assist: Mick Channon. "Five minutes later Channon at last decided to take on defenders and sent the ball in low into the goalmouth where Royle touched it in." Joe Royle2nd of 2 goals. Header from 3 yards., 52'
    • 1
    • Ray ClemenceLiverpool, 23rd of 61 caps
      28 years, 2 months, 8 days
      Goalkeeper
      38:42 "...the nadir of England's performace came five minutes before half-time when, with Nieminen clean through and no defender in sight, Clemence raced beyond his penalty area to bring down the Finnish centre-forward..."
    • 2
    • Colin ToddDerby, 25th of 27 caps
      27 years, 10 months, 1 day
      Right Back
    • 3
    • Kevin BeattieIpswich, 6th of 9 caps
      22 years, 9 months, 26 days
      Left Back
    • 4
    • Phil ThompsonLiverpool, 8th of 42 caps
      22 years, 8 months, 23 days
      Centre Back
    • 5
    • Brian GreenhoffMan Utd, 4th of 18 caps
      23 years, 5 months, 15 days
      Centre Back
    • 6
    • Ray WilkinsChelsea, 3rd of 84 caps
      20 years, 0 months, 29 days
      Defensive Midfield
    • 7
    • Kevin KeeganLiverpool, 25th of 63 caps
      25 years, 7 months, 27 days
      Attacking Midfield
      (c)3rd captaincy
    • 8
    • Mick ChannonSouthampton, 37th of 46 caps
      27 years, 10 months, 15 days
      Centre Forward
    • 9
    • Joe RoyleMan City, 5th of 6 caps
      27 years, 6 months, 5 days
      Centre Forward
    • 10
    • Trevor BrookingWest Ham, 14th of 47 caps
      28 years, 0 months, 11 day
      Right Midfield
    • Off 65'
    • 11
    • Dennis TueartMan City, 3rd of 6 caps
      26 years, 10 months, 16 days
      Left Midfield
    • Off 65'
    • 12
    • Mick MillsIpswich, 9th of 42 caps
      27 years, 9 months, 9 days
      Left Midfield
    • On 65'
    • 15
    • Gordon HillMan Utd, 3rd of 6 caps
      22 years, 6 months, 12 days
      Outside Left
    • On 65'
  • "Three minutes into the second half, with England's defenders stretched like a frieze along the edge of the penalty area, Aki Heiskanen slipped a pass through to Neiminen and Clemence could not prevent a goal either by fair means or foul." Kalle Nieminen, 49'48:01
  •  
    • 1
    • Göran EnckelmanGöran Enckelman.
      Born 14th Jun 1948, Lahti.
    • 2
    • Teppo HeikkinenTeppo Heikkinen.
      Born 12th Nov 1950.
    • 3
    • Erkki VihtiläErkki Vihtilä.
      Born 14th May 1951.
    • 4
    • Ari MäkynenAri Mäkynen.
      Born 6th Jul 1949.
    • 5
    • Esko RantaEsko Ranta.
      Born 14th Jan 1947, Tampere.
    • 6
    • Pertti JantunenPertti Jantunen.
      Born 25th Jun 1952, Lahti.
    • Off 61'
    • 7
    • Jouko SuomalainenJouko Suomalainen.
      Born 8th Apr 1949.
    • Off 67'
    • 8
    • Miikka ToivolaMiikka Toivola.
      Born 11th Jul 1949, Porin maalaiskunta.
    • 9
    • Kalle NieminenKalle Nieminen.
      Born 3rd Dec 1947, Jyvaskyla.
    • 10
    • Aki HeiskanenAki Heiskanen.
      Born 2nd Feb 1952, Kuopio.
    • 11
    • Matti PaatelainenMatti Rauno Matias Paatelainen.
      Born 17th Jun 1944.
      (c)
    • 15
    • Esa HeiskanenEsa Heiskanen.
      Born 23rd May 1953.
    • On 61'
    • 16
    • Seppo PyykköSeppo Pyykkö.
      Born 24th Dec 1955, Oulu.
    • On 67'

Notes

  • Tueart GoalRoyle's stooping header is handballed on the line by Heikkenen but Tueart blasts in the rebound off the prone Royle's head. It's not possible, from the camera angles, to assertain if the ball crossed the line before Heikkenen intervened nor is it possible to see if Royle was fully over the line when the ball struck him again. However, Royle could not be blamed for thinking that he had two good reasons to be credited as the goalscorer. Heikkenen is not booked.
  • Clemence: Yellow CardWe believe this is the first instance of a English goalkeeper being cautioned.
  • Player MilestoneColin Todd's 25th Cap
  • Player MilestoneKevin Keegan's 25th Cap
  • Goal MilestoneDennis Tueart's 1st Goal
  • Match MilestoneEngland's 300th win

Sources

  • Wembley - The Complete Record 1923 - 2000 by Glen Isherwood (Sports Books 2006)
  • England - The Quest for the World Cup - A Complete Record by Clive Leatherdale (Two Heads Publishing 1994)
  • England: The Complete Post-War Record by Mike Payne (Breedon Books Publishing Company 1993)
  • The Guardian "Finns dent Revie's hopes", Thursday 14th October 1976, page 20
  • Daily Telegraph "England scrape in but finals look a long way off", Thursday 14th October 1976, page 34.
  • YouTube

Managers

Referee

  • Sweden Ulf Eriksson

Attendance

  • 92,000

Half Time Score

ELO Ratings

  • No change in rank, gaining 1 ranking points to 1984 points England - 5th
  • Finland - 86th

World Cup 1978 Q

(Group 2)

    •  
    • Pts
    • GD
    • L
    • D
    • W
    • P
    • Flag of Italy
    • Italy
    • 10
    • +14
    • 1
    • 0
    • 5
    • 6
    • Flag of England
    • England
    • 10
    • +11
    • 1
    • 0
    • 5
    • 6
    • Flag of Finland
    • Finland
    • 4
    • -5
    • 4
    • 0
    • 2
    • 6
    • Flag of Luxembourg
    • Luxembourg
    • 0
    • -20
    • 6
    • 0
    • 0
    • 6
    • Final Standings.