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(Part 1) 1979-'80 Euro Champs.
Worth the entrance fee alone during his decade at Tottenham Hotspur, the divine interpretation of football by Glenn Hoddle made him a shoo-in for England once Ron Greenwood had established his credentials and decided he had played enough at club level to warrant a run-out. Hoddle, with a passing ability and tack-sharp mind which would make all players green with envy, could have been playing for England by the time he was 19 but an unexpected relegation with Tottenham in 1977 delayed his progress. It was in November 1979 that Greenwood finally gave in to temptation, after much media salivation, and Hoddle was pitched in at the deep end for a crucial qualifier for the 1980 European Championships, with Bulgaria visiting Wembley in the penultimate game of the group. England were on the verge of qualifying for their first major competition in a decade and players such as Hoddle were needed in a squad which was gifted and, in terms of age, at a peak. Glenn showed no nerves, spraying the ball around with the calmness and domination which labelled so many of his Tottenham displays and, with England a goal up already, completed a memorable debut with a magnificent goal, placing a careful but fierce half volley into the top of the net from 18 yards and making England's place in the finals secure. Greenwood now seemed to have a brief to get Hoddle as used to the international cooking pot as possible in the months before the championships, but he erred on a cautionary side, waiting six months before recalling him for the 1980 Home Internationals. Hoddle was overrun in midfield as Wales battered England 4-1 in Wrexham, and Greenwood even suggested by his actions that Glenn's skills wouldn't be chosen for the Italy-bound squad, when he included him in a makeshift, experimental group of players who would go to Sydney for a friendly against Australia, just a fortnight before England's opening game against the Belgians in Turin. Hoddle played, scored and was promptly given a shirt for Italy and many wondered if such a huge stage would be the place where his refined footballing habits would change his life forever. Not so, as an ever-pessimistic Greenwood kept Hoddle - and his media supporters - frustrated by holding him back in favour of creative but less devastating midfield players. England drew 1-1 with Belgium and lost to the Italians, leaving them with a win and a favour from the other game required for progress. Hoddle was unleashed and played a dominant and disciplined game in the centre of the Naples pitch as England beat Spain 2-1, but the favour didn't come from the other match and England went home disappointingly early. (Matthew Rudd)
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