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. On the pitch, the reigning world champions eased to a 4-0 win. England’s third was a trademark effort from Bobby Charlton, a goal that would turn out to be his last at international level.
Charlton played at three World Cup finals and will always be remembered for his role in England’s 1966 success. 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. It was Charlton’s brace against Portugal that took England to the final in 1966.
Charlton, then, is remembered fondly for his ability to score goals from midfield. In Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard, the current England team has two players capable of getting goals at any level.
Chelsea’s Frank Lampard boasts a remarkable record at club level. He has scored over 20 goals for the last five seasons, a record any striker would be proud of. Lampard announced his arrival on the international stage with three goals during Euro 2004.
Steven Gerrard got off to a great start in South Africa by scoring England’s first goal of the tournament. Gerrard’s long-range strike against Trinidad and Tobago four years ago was a mirror image of the dozens of similar goals he has scored 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. Fabio Capello and England supporters will be keen to see Lampard and Gerrard emulate the 1966 success of their goal scoring predecessor Bobby Charlton at the World Cup in South Africa.
