| His generation's best and most decorated right back and yet Phil Neal seemed to underachieve in an England shirt. The consistency and positional excellence of Liverpool's multiply-honoured defender served as a mild consolation for the absence of any real discipline and cohesion which existed in the England team when Neal first burst on to the scene in 1976. Don Revie was trying a few full backs for a new era ahead and Phil was recruited along with Trevor Cherry of Leeds United and Dave Clement of Queens Park Rangers as Revie played around and experimented with his team in the absence of a campaign in the summer's European Championship finals. Neal was flitting between the left and right of Liverpool's defence at the time but then settled in at right back and his establishment with England was blessed with a symmetrical amount of success with Liverpool, which meant that Phil couldn't be faulted or shifted for his country. He debuted in a friendly against Wales which England won 2-1, then earned his second cap during the 1976 US Bi-Centennial Tournament as England came from two down to beat Italy 3-2 in New York. Clement, Colin Todd, Paul Madeley, Mick Mills and John Gidman were all given isolated goes by Revie thereafter, which enveloped two wins and a defeat in the opening trio of games in qualifying for the 1978 World Cup, but Revie seemed to be waiting for Neal, who found himself in much demand at club level as Liverpool chased a 'treble' of League, FA Cup and European Cup. Once success in Europe was confirmed, Phil shook off the hangover, reported for Home International duty with England and, in terms of being first choice, barely looked back afterwards. However, in his first six England games of 1977, none ended in victory, with England losing to both Wales and Scotland at Wembley and then drawing all three of their matches on a tour of South America, during which Revie issued the FA with his infamous flounce-out. His successor, Ron Greenwood, drew heavily on Liverpool's unity at club level to try to salvage England's flagging campaign to reach the 1978 World Cup and Neal consequently kept his place for the warm-up friendly against Switzerland, which ended 0-0. A knock ruled him out of Luxembourg's visit afterwards, which required a cricket score but only ended 2-0, but Greenwood still recalled Neal for the final game against Italy and England played outstandingly in a 2-0 win which was all but enough to rescue the group. The World Cup dream was gone but Neal was by now established as the number one right back for his country as well as the right back for his country's number one club. (Matthew Rudd) |