As a 17 year old left winger with flamboyance, electric pace and precision crossing ability - plus a
handy talent to double up as a left back - Manchester United's Lee Sharpe had the potential to
take hold of the England left wing slot for the next decade or more. Injuries, indiscipline, the faith
held in John Barnes and Sharpe's own unimpressive displays when he was given a shirt ultimately
did for him, however, and the emergence at United of Ryan Giggs stunted his natural progress as
a player before he was 21. Graham Taylor gave him his debut in 1991 at just 19 in a 1-1 draw with
the Irish in a European Championship qualifier, with Sharpe being chucked on late as an extra
attacking option as Jack Charlton's men held England at bay.
Taylor didn't bring him back for two years afterwards, again throwing Lee on as a late sub as England
beat Turkey 2-0 in a qualifier for the 1994 World Cup. Sharpe got his first start in a crunch qualifier in
Oslo (see photo above), playing at left back, but Taylor's surreal defensive tactics left gaps for the
Norwegians to exploit, which they managed with devastating effect and won 2-0. England tried to
regroup with a summer tour of the States and finally Lee started a match on the left wing, but England
humiliatingly lost it 2-0 to the host nation. He kept his place for the subsequent Washington draw with
Brazil and a defeat in Detroit against Germany, but time and patience was running out.
His best England display seemingly salvaged his chance when he ran the left flank like a veteran as
England cast aside Poland 3-0 in a World Cup qualifier which gave them a chance of getting to the
finals provided they could beat the Dutch in Rotterdam. Taylor picked Sharpe for the same role,
England lost 2-0 and their hopes perished, along with Taylor's hopes of staying in the job. Lee kept up
a healthy return in the Manchester United side but the early spark had died and his England career
was never revived by Taylor's successor Terry Venables. A disappointing move to Leeds in 1996 made
sure he wouldn't ever be back. (Matthew Rudd)
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