|
Gary Lineker scored England's goal in a galeforce wind as England opened
their group with a 1-1 draw against the Republic of Ireland in
Cagliari. He continued to play but didn't score again through the group,
nor in the tight second round win over Belgium in Bologna. However, the
nerve and experience of Lineker was to prove vital to England's hopes
of progress past Cameroon and into the semi-finals. England were 2-1
down with ten minutes to play when Gary was chopped down in the area. He
was never known for penalty taking - England hadn't had a penalty since
Bryan Robson put two away in Israel in 1986 - but picked himself up to
send the goalkeeper the wrong way and level up the quarter-final. In
extra time, Lineker both earned and scored another spot kick (see top photo above)
after being hacked down as he chased a through ball from Paul
Gascoigne, and this time he thumped the ball down the middle of the goal
to get England into the last four, a step closer than in 1986. The
Germans awaited, and they were frightened of Lineker, playing much of
the game with two centre halves keeping tabs on the England ace
goalscorer as Beardsley, recalled to the team, dropped deep as main
ballplayer. West Germany went ahead through an outrageously deflected
Andreas Brehme free kick, but Paul Parker's long pass towards Lineker
frightened the German defenders keeping an eye on him to the extent that
they watched the man rather than the ball, and Gary took devastating
advantage of their fear by striking a left footed drive through Klaus
Augunthaler's legs and past keepr Bodo Illgner (see bottom photo above, then in the inset picture an ecstatic Lineker and Beardsley celebrating),
sending the game into extra time. Though not the captain, Lineker's
leadership skills were showcased by his reaction to Gascoigne's tearful
booking - the camera caught Gary telling the bench to "have a word with
him" - and the game reached the stage where penalties would decide
Argentina's opponents in the final. Lineker scored with aplomb, as did
Beardsley and David Platt, but both Stuart Pearce and Chris Waddle
couldn't find the net and England, again, were cruelly denied. Bobby
Robson left the coach's job to be replaced by Graham Taylor and, with
Peter Shilton and Terry Butcher retiring and Bryan Robson not thought to
be in the new manager's plans, Lineker became England captain as he
pushed the age of 30. (Matthew Rudd)
|