UNITED KINGDOM: ENGLAND AND PORTUGAL PLAY NIL-ALL DRAW IN EUROPEAN SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH BEFORE A CROWD OF 85,000.

Record ID: 336935

  • Title: UNITED KINGDOM: ENGLAND AND PORTUGAL PLAY NIL-ALL DRAW IN EUROPEAN SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH BEFORE A CROWD OF 85,000.
  • Date: 20th November 1974
  • Summary: 1. GV Portugal kick-off (right to left) 0.13 2. SV Colin Bell kicks ball in goal area and English forward almost score 0.27 3. SV Colin Bell crosses ball into area and Alan Clark shoots just wide of goal 0.37 4. SV Scoreboard at end of first half (0-0) 0.40 5. GV Second half Portugal clear ball upfield to forward and almost score (2 shots
  • Embargoed: 5th December 1974 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: LONDON: UK
  • City:
  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Reuters ID: LVA5KAP8TNH1U2B4TKK4A4WPBDRU
  • Story Text: England were jeered off the pitch by their own supporters at Wembley on London on Wednesday night (20 November) after a frustrating and disappointing nil-all draw against Portugal in their European Soccer Championship match.

    Portugal -- who were lashed 3-0 by the unrated Switzerland side in a friendly match last week -- failed to provide the expected easy victory for England, who beat Czechoslovakia 3-0 at the start of their European campaign last month.

    After applying frequent but fruitless pressure in the first half, England began to fail badly as they lost control in the difficult sloppy conditions.

    Portugal -- obviously intent on a drew -- relied mainly on negative defensive football. Pertugal's frustrating tactics eventually wore down the England side and the Portuguese looked like snatching victory after taking control.

    Alan Clark, Trevor Brooking and Dave Thomas all made close shots at goal for England and Colin Bell lashed a shot against the cross bar.

    The Group One game ended with Portugal taking a valuable draw point and the crowd of 85,000 chanting "What a load of rubbish".

    SYNOPSIS: Portugal kicked off in their European championship match against England at Wembley in London on Wednesday night. They proved a tougher side than England had bargained for. England started strongly, borne on by their victory against Czechoslovakia in their opening championship match last month. The England forwards kept solid pressure on the Portugal goal mouth.

    Colin Bell played a strong game for England and was at the centre of most attacking movements. His shot early in the match went wide.

    With the half time score nil-all, England took the pitch with added determination. But it did them little good. The Portuguese -- who went down three-nil against the unrated Switzerland side last week -- were not so ready to be beaten again. They played negative football and as the game wore on, almost snatched a victory. It was a disappointing event for the eighty five thousand spectators.

    Alan Clarke -- who also figured prominently in the England attacks -- was brought down hard by a Portuguese defender late in the match. By then, it was all over. England had lost their fire and the Group One match dragged on through the rain to end in a scoreless draw.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register