1966 vs 2014: how do England World Cup squads compare?
The similarities between Alf Ramsey's heroes of 1966 vs Roy Hodgson's selections for Brazil
Expectations of England are low for the World Cup in Brazil, but how does the 2014 vintage measure up against the heroes of 1966?
Here's a rundown of the two squads, and the verdict on head to head match-ups.
1. Gordon Banks vs Joe Hart. First-choice keeper Banks was 28 years old and had 27 caps to his name at the start of the 1966 tournament, after a season in which his Leicester City side finished seventh in the top flight, conceding 65 goals. Hart is a year younger, but already has 41 caps. His Manchester City side conceded just 37 goals last season as they won the league. Banks wins.
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2. George Cohen vs Glen Johnson. Fulham defender Cohen replaced the injured Jimmy Armfield in the England side before the 1966 tournament. He was 26 and had 24 caps to his name after a season in which his club side narrowly avoided relegation. Johnson, 29, has been England's first-choice right-back since the reign of Fabio Capello and played in the 2010 World Cup, but does not always look the part. Despite that Liverpool narrowly missed out on the title last season. Cohen gets the nod.
3. Ray Wilson vs Leighton Baines. Baines, like Wilson in 1966, is an experienced Evertonian. However, Wilson, at 31, was the second-oldest member of the squad, while Baines is a relatively youthful 29. Having understudied Ashley Cole for years Baines also has fewer caps than Wilson, who had 45 at the time of the tournament in England. Wilson edges it.
4. Nobby Stiles vs Steven Gerrard. Manchester United vs Liverpool in the heart of midfield. Stiles became famous for his celebratory jig after winning the World Cup, but he only came into the team in 1965 as Alf Ramsey build his midfield around Bobby Charlton. Gerrard has been an England fixture for years. He has 111 caps compared to Stiles's 14 at the start of the tournament. Gerrard's experience wins.
5. Jack Charlton vs Gary Cahill. Amazingly, Cahill has more international experience than Leeds defender Charlton did going into the World Cup. Chelsea defender Cahill is also three years younger than 31-year-old Charlton, who did not get an England call-up until 1965 and had only 14 caps going into the tournament. Cahill has 24. Charlton over Cahill.
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6. Bobby Moore vs Phil Jagielka. It will take quite some tournament for Jagielka to become as iconic a figure as Moore, who was captain of the 1966 World Cup winning side. The West Ham defender was one of the few experienced players in Alf Ramsey's squad, and although he was only 25 he already had 41 caps under his belt. Everton defender Jagielka is 31 and has 26 caps. Moore, no contest.
7. Alan Ball vs Jack Wilshere. Ball, who played for Blackpool, was, at the age of 21, the youngest member of the England squad. Wilshere is only a year older than Ball in 1966. Both made their international debuts as teenagers and are noted for their industry in midfield. Ball was one of England's great individual success stories at the World Cup, Wilshere will hope to emulate him. Wilshere, by a whisker.
8. Jimmy Greaves vs Frank Lampard. Spurs striker Greaves was 26 in 1966 and went into the tournament as the man expected to fire England to glory, but famously lost his place to Geoff Hurst after injury in the group stages. He only played for England three more times after the tournament. He ended his international career with 44 goals in 57 England games. Like Greaves, Lampard is a Chelsea legend, and is also likely to end his international career after the World Cup, but he arrives in Brazil with 105 caps. Lampard has the international pedigree.
9. Bobby Charlton vs Daniel Sturridge. Manchester United vs Liverpool up front. Manchester United icon Bobby Charlton was, at 28, the established star of the England side ahead of the tournament, with 68 caps and 38 goals for his country. He had a relatively quiet tournament. Liverpool forward Sturridge is in a different situation. The 24-year-old is still establishing himself in the England side and has only 12 caps. Too soon for Sturridge, Charlton wins.
10. Geoff Hurst vs Wayne Rooney. Everyone knows the story of West Ham striker Hurst's hat-trick in the final. But before the tournament the 24-year-old Hammer was a relative unknown who had made only four appearances for his country. The same cannot be said of Rooney, who has 92 caps and is playing in his fifth major championship. He has scored 39 international goals. Hindsight says Hurst, but on pre-tournament record it has to be Rooney.
11. John Connelly vs Danny Welbeck. Connelly, a 27-year-old Man United forward, failed to get a game with England at the 1962 World Cup and played in only the opening match of the 1966 tournament. Welbeck, also a Man United forward, may suffer a similar fate if he falls down the pecking order in Brazil. Welbeck gets the place on the bench.
12. Ron Springett vs Chris Smalling. Hardly a like-for-like comparison. Springett was a 30-year-old Sheffield Wednesday keeper and understudy to Gordon Banks. Smalling is a Man United defender, who is also in Brazil as an understudy. Springett over Smalling.
13. Peter Bonetti vs Ben Foster. Chelsea goalie Bonetti was just 24 and England's third-choice keeper in 1966. West Brom stopper Foster is 31 and has seven caps, six more than Bonetti. He will not add to them unless Hart is injured. Bonetti as third choice keeper.
14. Jimmy Armfield vs Jordan Henderson. Veteran Blackpool defender Jimmy Armfield, who lost his place in the starting line-up to Cohen after injury, was included in Alf Ramsey's squad as experienced cover. Liverpool midfielder Henderson is a 23-year-old raw recruit with 11 caps, but who may have forced himself into Roy Hodgson's plans after an impressive season alongside Gerrard for Liverpool. Henderson on his way up, Armfield on the way out.
15. Gerry Byrne vs Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. Liverpool full-back was included in Alf Ramsey's World Cup squad after a season in which Liverpool won the title. He made his England debut in 1963 but by 1966 only had two caps, and did not play in the tournament. Indeed the 27-year-old never represented England again. That fate is unlikely to befall young Arsenal forward Oxlade-Chamberlain, who has made 15 international appearances and is tipped to make an impact off the bench. Oxlade-Chamberlain has more of a future.
16. Martin Peters vs Phil Jones. Both players are 22 but that's where the similarity ends. Peters's story is similar to that of club-mate Hurst. He only made his debut in May 1966 and had just three caps to his name at the start of the World Cup. But he fitted the "wingless wonder" formation chosen by Alf Ramsey and played in all but one of England's games and even scored in the final. Man United utility player Jones is less likely to become a household name this summer. Peters wins.
17. Ron Flowers vs James Milner. Reserve striker Flowers, who played for Wolves, was the oldest man in the 1966 squad but did not feature in any of the games. He made his 49th and final appearance for his country in a pre-tournament friendly. Man City man Milner's versatility is likely to earn him at least some game-time in Brazil, although he failed to convince at right back. Milner makes the cut.
18. Norman Hunter vs Rickie Lambert. 'Bite yer legs' Hunter played alongside Jack Charlton in the Leeds defence and was drafted into the England set-up in 1965, but the 22-year-old did not kick a ball at the World Cup. Lambert's international career is also relatively new, he made his debut for England in 2013. Hunter could not force his way past Charlton and Moore into the England team, and Lambert could have a similar experience with Sturridge and Rooney. Hunter gets the nod.
19. Terry Paine vs Raheem Sterling. 27-year-old Southampton forward Paine was injured in the group stage game against Mexico, it was his 19th and final England appearance. Sterling, on the other hand, already has four caps to his name and at the age of 19 seems destined for great things. He could well be in England's starting XI against Italy. Sterling has the potential.
20. Ian Callaghan vs Adam Lallana. Winger Callaghan was called up to the England squad after winning the title with Liverpool. The 24-year-old made one appearance in the tournament, in the group stages against France. He ended his distinguished club career with just four international caps. Lallana, a new recruit to the England side, already has six caps. Like Callaghan, he may suffer because of the team's formation, which relies on pace down the wings. Callaghan by a whisker.
21. Roger Hunt vs Ross Barkley. Liverpool forward Hunt was 27 and had 13 caps by the time of the 1966 World Cup, and despite his lowly squad number forced his way into the team and played in all England's games as they triumphed on home soil. Could it be a similar story for Evertonian Barkley, who is only 20 and has just six caps, but is being touted as the breakthrough star of the tournament? Hunt, as the man in possession.
22. George Eastham vs Fraser Forster. The final place in Alf Ramsey's squad went to 29-year-old Arsenal midfielder, who did not play in the tournament and did not add to the 19 caps he won before 1966. It would be a shock if Celtic keeper Forster ended up playing in Brazil. Eastham over Forster.
23. Luke Shaw. While the 1966 squad had 22 names, the 2014 vintage has one extra, that of the 18-year-old Southampton defender, who will deputise at left back should anything befall Baines.