And now we come to one of the most tragic moments in England's world cup career, with ABC's searing analysis of the sad and ultimately doomed attempt of 1970.

Why make the past your sacred cow? 

The opening line is a wail against the already prevalent air of nostalgia that had already gripped the country after their home triumph not four years before.

I guess you've changed, you've changed and how

We examine her from the small cog of the England kitman, a Mr Authur Spelt, who's simple effort to contribute and ensure that all the players were addressing the complex issue of putting on their kit and lay to rest any uncertainty that they were playing in white shirts this time given Norman Hunter's famous unsettled nature at playing in red.

Yeah, yeah, yeah

An accurate rendition of one of the more cerebral chants of the Barmy Army that year.

Fruit's grown rotten on the bough

The realisation that England were not actually in England came as a surprise to many in the party that year and the subsequent lack of attention to the debilitating effect of the local cuisine on stomach's used to Two halfpeth of Cod & chips and a bottle of Tizer before kick-off can only be imagined.

Reap what you sow, with a counterfeit plough

A subtle illusion to the pendants hanging from the Bracelet that Bobby Moore was in the process of knocking off on the traditional team warm up game of Rob or Drink that Roger Hunt led the team in before games to settle their nerves. Few people realise how close to getting caught Paul Madeley had been as he slipped out of a Mexican gift shop with Two Poncho's, a Sombrero and a fluffy model donkey.

Yeah, yeah, yeah

The supporter chorus them is restated.


That was then but this is now

That was then but this is now

The plaintive underchant reminding us all how much things have changed since those heady days.

More sacrifices than an aztec priest

The rather unfortunate misunderstanding at the open ceremony are probably best left behind a descrete veil. Certainly the Mexican team midfield could be said to have been... gutted.

Standing here straining at that leash

Notice the irony of standing and straining, that inner tension, the certainty that once more, Alan Ball's pace would be of great importance during the early stages of the games

All fall down

Yet such careful planning had ignored the sapping energies of the equatorial sun and such was the sad result.

Can't complain, musn't grumble

But the chirpy blitz spirit could still be relied on in the face of eaven this adversity,

Help yourself to another peace of apple crumble

That trusting nature, when finally the locally sourced produce of the traditional Half Time fair when English players were playing away from home, took it's terrible toll. Jeff Astle spent the later half of the Brazil game conducting a detailed survey of the Mexican stadium's plumbing.

Hearts of oak are charged and blistered

Just a rather weak metaphor.

Russians should be baby-sitted

An early example of the difficulties of the particularly young Russian team who, in what was seen as a important relaxation of the Cold war tensions of the time, were accompanied by the Soviet Wags many of whom had particular trouble with the time management of shopping and child care.

Americans enlisted

A slight leg pull at the inability of the Americans to get a team through to what effectively was a game being played in the street next door.



That was then but this is now

That was then but this is now

That was then but this is now 

And fade....