Group F. England, Holland, Republic of Ireland, Egypt
England
Head coach: Bobby Robson
No.
Pos.
Player
Date of birth (age)
Caps
Club
1
GK
Peter Shilton
18 September 1949 (aged 40)
118
Derby County
2
DF
Gary Stevens
27 March 1963 (aged 27)
39
Rangers
3
DF
Stuart Pearce
24 April 1962 (aged 28)
24
Nottingham Forest
4
MF
Neil Webb
30 July 1963 (aged 26)
19
Manchester United
5
DF
Des Walker
26 November 1965 (aged 24)
18
Nottingham Forest
6
DF
Terry Butcher
28 December 1958 (aged 31)
72
Rangers
7
MF
Bryan Robson (c)
11 January 1957 (aged 33)
85
Manchester United
8
MF
Chris Waddle
14 December 1960 (aged 29)
52
Marseille
9
FW
Peter Beardsley
18 January 1961 (aged 29)
40
Liverpool
10
FW
Gary Lineker
30 November 1960 (aged 29)
51
Tottenham Hotspur
11
MF
John Barnes
7 November 1963 (aged 26)
53
Liverpool
12
DF
Paul Parker
4 April 1964 (aged 26)
5
Queens Park Rangers
13
GK
Chris Woods
14 November 1959 (aged 30)
16
Rangers
14
DF
Mark Wright
1 August 1963 (aged 26)
24
Derby County
15
DF
Tony Dorigo
31 December 1965 (aged 24)
3
Chelsea
16
MF
Steve McMahon
20 August 1961 (aged 28)
12
Liverpool
17
MF
David Platt
10 June 1966 (aged 23)
5
Aston Villa
18
MF
Steve Hodge
25 October 1962 (aged 27)
22
Nottingham Forest
19
MF
Paul Gascoigne
27 May 1967 (aged 23)
11
Tottenham Hotspur
20
MF
Trevor Steven
21 September 1963 (aged 26)
26
Rangers
21
FW
Steve Bull
28 March 1965 (aged 25)
7
Wolverhampton Wanderers
22
GK
David Seaman*
19 September 1963 (aged 26)
3
Queens Park Rangers
No.
Pos.
Player
Date of birth (age)
Caps
Club
22
GK
Dave Beasant
20 March 1959 (aged 31)
2
Chelsea
* David Seaman was originally selected, but after the first game in Italy, he had to pull out of the squad due to a thumb injury and was replaced by Dave Beasant.
Group F deserved to be called ‘the group of death’ not only because this was not a group with one big favourite, but two, but largely because of the specifics of the participants. England could be seen as the best candidate for top place largely because of the internal frictions in the Dutch team. Bobby Robson was not only coach with massive reputation, but also considered the best man for the job in England and he had all best players at his disposal. The late injury of David Seaman was not a problem – not only because England used the new regulation of FIFA permitting to replace injured player after the team selections were officially submitted, but largely because Seaman was a mere third choice and Shilton, nearing his 41st birthday, was undisputed starter. High expectations in England, but outside it… the English national team lost edge long ago and was not seen as a prime candidate for the title. Opinions were cautious and skeptical and Robson somewhat concurred with his statement that there was never before so many equal teams at the finals and anybody could win, hard to predict.
Netherlands
Head coach: Leo Beenhakker
No.
Pos.
Player
Date of birth (age)
Caps
Club
1
GK
Hans van Breukelen
4 October 1956 (aged 33)
52
PSV
2
DF
Berry van Aerle
8 December 1962 (aged 27)
22
PSV
3
MF
Frank Rijkaard
30 September 1962 (aged 27)
42
Milan
4
DF
Ronald Koeman
21 March 1963 (aged 27)
43
Barcelona
5
DF
Adri van Tiggelen
16 June 1957 (aged 32)
40
Anderlecht
6
MF
Jan Wouters
17 July 1960 (aged 29)
30
Ajax
7
MF
Erwin Koeman
20 September 1961 (aged 28)
23
Mechelen
8
MF
Gerald Vanenburg
5 March 1964 (aged 26)
36
PSV
9
FW
Marco van Basten
31 October 1964 (aged 25)
35
Milan
10
MF
Ruud Gullit (c)
1 September 1962 (aged 27)
44
Milan
11
MF
Richard Witschge
20 September 1969 (aged 20)
4
Ajax
12
FW
Wim Kieft
12 November 1962 (aged 27)
27
PSV
13
DF
Graeme Rutjes
26 March 1960 (aged 30)
7
Mechelen
14
FW
John van ‘t Schip
30 November 1963 (aged 26)
22
Ajax
15
FW
Bryan Roy
12 February 1970 (aged 20)
2
Ajax
16
GK
Joop Hiele
25 December 1958 (aged 31)
6
Feyenoord
17
FW
Hans Gillhaus
5 November 1963 (aged 26)
2
Aberdeen
18
DF
Henk Fraser
7 July 1966 (aged 23)
2
Roda JC
19
FW
John van Loen
4 February 1965 (aged 25)
6
Roda JC
20
MF
Aron Winter
1 March 1967 (aged 23)
11
Ajax
21
DF
Danny Blind
1 August 1961 (aged 28)
5
Ajax
22
GK
Stanley Menzo
15 October 1963 (aged 26)
1
Ajax
The reasons the reigning European champions were somewhat less likely to top the group were the following: yes, Holland had had the best core of mega-stars among all finalists (Gullit-vanBasten-Rijkard-Ronald Koeman), surrounded by fantasticly talented teammates, but… on one hand, the internal tremors and scandals. The coach was replaced in the last minute, but Beenhakker was not ready-made solution – Gullit had problem with him, which poisoned the atmosphere. Himself, Gullit was not at its best and the same could be said for the other mega-stars, coming tired from grueling Italian and Spanish championships and European tournaments. The opponents in the group were another challenge – the Dutch had traditional respect for British football, seeing themselves as inferior, which made playing against British team always problematic and this time they had not one, but two British opponents. Nobody seriously thought the Dutch could be knocked down in the first round of the finals, but most likely they would finish second and with lots of sweat. However, the ironic words of Cruijff eventually proved prophetic – he said something like ‘they wriggle sensing disastrous failure’, which at first looked like his usual jab at the Dutch Federation, but as the championship progressed…
Republic of Ireland
Head coach: Jack Charlton
No.
Pos.
Player
Date of birth (age)
Caps
Club
1
GK
Pat Bonner
24 May 1960 (aged 30)
38
Celtic
2
DF
Chris Morris
24 December 1963 (aged 26)
21
Celtic
3
DF
Steve Staunton
19 January 1969 (aged 21)
13
Liverpool
4
DF
Mick McCarthy (c)
7 February 1959 (aged 31)
42
Millwall
5
DF
Kevin Moran
29 April 1956 (aged 34)
55
Blackburn Rovers
6
MF
Ronnie Whelan
25 September 1961 (aged 28)
38
Liverpool
7
DF
Paul McGrath
4 December 1959 (aged 30)
36
Aston Villa
8
MF
Ray Houghton
9 January 1962 (aged 28)
29
Liverpool
9
FW
John Aldridge
18 September 1958 (aged 31)
30
Real Sociedad
10
FW
Tony Cascarino
1 September 1962 (aged 27)
21
Aston Villa
11
MF
Kevin Sheedy
21 October 1959 (aged 30)
28
Everton
12
DF
David O’Leary
2 May 1958 (aged 32)
51
Arsenal
13
MF
Andy Townsend
23 July 1963 (aged 26)
12
Norwich City
14
DF
Chris Hughton
11 December 1958 (aged 31)
50
Tottenham Hotspur
15
FW
Bernie Slaven
13 November 1960 (aged 29)
4
Middlesbrough
16
MF
John Sheridan
1 October 1964 (aged 25)
8
Sheffield Wednesday
17
FW
Niall Quinn*
6 October 1966 (aged 23)
15
Manchester City
18
FW
Frank Stapleton
10 July 1956 (aged 33)
71
Blackburn Rovers
19
FW
David Kelly
25 November 1965 (aged 24)
6
Leicester City
20
FW
John Byrne
1 February 1961 (aged 29)
19
Le Havre
21
MF
Alan McLoughlin
20 April 1967 (aged 23)
1
Swindon Town
22
GK
Gerry Peyton
20 May 1956 (aged 34)
28
Bournemouth
* Niall Quinn was registered as Ireland’s third goalkeeper
A team admired not for skills, but for spirit and after their brave performance at the 1988 European finals, the team was on a roll. It was expected not to disappoint, but to finish third anyway. Jack Charlton repeatedly said that motivation was not his concern – the Irish always gave their best and having England to play against was enough motivation. Skills were also not a concern – Charlton knew very well that he had a team with limited abilities and did not even thing of creating some fancy schemes. He only wanted the boys to do what they could and to press their opponents away from the Irish net. Simple concept, but realistic one. As a curious note, the Irish team was the only one at the finals with 2 goalkeepers – normally, every coach got the fear of some terrible injuries and took three keepers to the finals, but the new FIFA rule permitted late changes in the team lists, so why still keeping three keepers? Colombia listed just 2 keepers, but Charlton went outdid them by listing striker Niall Quinn as eventual third goalie. And why not? He had Irish at his hand – not particularly skillful players, but spirited enough to play at any position.
Egypt
Head coach: Mahmoud Al-Gohari
No.
Pos.
Player
Date of birth (age)
Caps
Club
1
GK
Ahmed Shobair
28 September 1960 (aged 29)
52
Al Ahly
2
DF
Ibrahim Hassan
10 August 1966 (aged 23)
45
Al Ahly
3
DF
Rabie Yassin
7 September 1960 (aged 29)
81
Al Ahly
4
DF
Hany Ramzy
10 March 1969 (aged 21)
28
Al Ahly
5
DF
Hesham Yakan
10 August 1962 (aged 27)
35
Zamalek
6
DF
Ashraf Kasem
25 July 1966 (aged 23)
38
Zamalek
7
MF
Ismail Youssef
28 June 1964 (aged 25)
29
Zamalek
8
MF
Magdi Abdelghani
27 July 1959 (aged 30)
N/A
Beira-Mar
9
FW
Hossam Hassan
10 August 1966 (aged 23)
49
Al Ahly
10
MF
Gamal Abdel-Hamid (c)
24 November 1957 (aged 32)
76
Zamalek
11
MF
Tarek Soliman
24 January 1962 (aged 28)
N/A
Al-Masry
12
MF
Taher Abouzeid
10 April 1962 (aged 28)
57
Al Ahly
13
DF
Ahmed Ramzy
25 October 1965 (aged 24)
27
Zamalek
14
MF
Alaa Maihoub
19 January 1963 (aged 27)
N/A
Al Ahly
15
MF
Saber Eid
1 May 1959 (aged 31)
N/A
Ghazl El-Mehalla
16
MF
Magdy Tolba
24 February 1964 (aged 26)
N/A
PAOK
17
FW
Ayman Shawky
9 December 1962 (aged 27)
N/A
Al Ahly
18
MF
Osama Orabi
22 January 1962 (aged 28)
N/A
Al Ahly
19
FW
Adel Abdel Rahman
11 December 1967 (aged 22)
N/A
Al Ahly
20
FW
Ahmed El-Kass
8 July 1965 (aged 24)
42
El-Olympi Alexandria
21
GK
Ayman Taher
7 January 1966 (aged 24)
N/A
Zamalek
22
GK
Thabet El-Batal
16 September 1953 (aged 36)
87
Al Ahly
The outsiders took the World Cup so seriously, they almost missed it. Long training camps were nothing new when World Cup preparations went and national teams often took precedence over clubs and even domestic schedules, but Egypt outdid everything done to this time: in the interest of the national team the domestic championship was canceled and Egypt decided to withdraw from the African championship finals, taking place in the spring before the World Cup. Algeria, hosting the African finas, took issue with the Egyptian idea and complained to FIFA. FIFA ruled out that if Egypt did not appear at the African finals, they will be expelled from the World Cup finals. Egypt sent its second team to Algeria and continued to prepare its bests for the World Cup. From aside, Egypt was unknown team with unknown coach, but African football vastly developed during the 1980s, so they were not taken as hopeless punchbag for the others – it was considered that team Egypt will put some fight and go home after a brave, but losing first round.