England warmed up for the 1970 World Cup with a match against Columbia in Bogotá. 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 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 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.
Charlton is arguably England’s most famous goal scoring midfielder. In Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard, the current England team has two players capable of getting goals at any level.
Lampard’s record for Chelsea really is something to write home about. He has scored over 20 goals for the last five seasons, a record any striker would be proud of. England fans will hope Lampard can recapture the sparkling form he showed during Euro 2004, when he put in some star performances and scored three goals.
Steven Gerrard is another player who has a habit of scoring great goals. 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.
