Trevor Brooking stayed in the camp for the qualification stages for the 1982 World Cup in Spain,
winning his 40th cap as England beat Switzerland 2-1 in the third qualifier of an arduous campaign.
An eventful and very inconsistent attempt by England to reach the finals also brought easily Brooking's
most memorable moment in an England shirt during a crucial 3-1 win in Hungary. Keegan ran to the
near post to reach a ball from Phil Neal and his instant knock back was met first time by Brooking's
left foot. The ball flew into the net and stuck in the stanchion of the goal, an unwitting achievement
and one no player could ever do if they tried. Trevor scored twice that night and ultimately set up
Paul Mariner's clincher in the final game against the same opposition at Wembley five months later
which booked England's place.
There was no doubt that a 31 year old Brooking would go to the finals but as 1982 got underway he
had real trouble with niggling injuries. Greenwood put him in the squad but, like his fellow veteran
and big comrade Keegan, he was unfit for the whole group phase and only struggled through a fitness
test to be a sub for the second group phase match against Spain, which England had to win.
Thrown on in the latter stages with the score at 0-0, Brooking forced a stunning save from Luis Arconada
which was infinitely more forgivable than the header Keegan would later direct wide with the goal at his mercy.
The final whistle heralded a sad exit from the World Cup for England and an instant departure from
international football for Trevor. The culture, grace and dignity he showed at all levels of his career,
especially in eight challenging but largely unfulfilled years in an England shirt, summed up what
Brooking's philosophy as a performer was all about, and he deserved a better, luckier and more
settled England set-up than the one he often had to inspire. (Matthew Rudd) |