As a build-up for the forthcoming World Cup, England embarked on a short continental tour with games against formidable opponents Yugoslavia and Hungary.

The first of these games took place in front of a capacity crowd who saw a desperate defensive performance by England which almost succeeded but was dealt a bitter blow just three minutes from the end.

It was certainly a day of celebrations for the Yugoslavs. They won both this game plus a 'B' international played in Ljubljana. That match was won by 2-1 with Bedford Jezzard scoring England's consolation goal.

The match here was virtually dominated by the home side throughout with England relying on the occasional swift breakaway to try and catch out the Yugoslav defenders. The England honour were almost totally confined to the defenders. Billy Wright was an inspirational skipper who worked tirelessly and defended magnificently.

Roger Byrne, Ron Staniforth, Jimmy Dickinson and especially Sid Owen also came out with much credit but for the rest it was a disappointing story.

Ivor Broadis tried hard to get his forwards moving as a unit but too often Ronnie Allen was left to plough a lonely furrow down the middle. Always he met the daunting figure of Milovanov who was outstanding and dominated at the heart of the Yugoslav defence. Most of England's best efforts came in the first half and in one particular spell midway through the half they were on top.

Beara made a brilliant tip over save to deny Jimmy Mullen's header after Broadis and Tom Finney had set up the chance. The goalkeeper also had to save well from both Allen and Johnny Nicholls.

Unfortunately, this spell of pressure was to last for only a short while as Yugoslavia, playing a typical continental style of game, began to move very sweetly. Luckily for England their finishing did not match their approach play and when Dvornić missed a simple chance he was quickly substituted, a decision that puzzled the England contingent as the new FIFA rule was to allow substitutes for injuries only.

The second half saw wave after wave of Yugoslav attacks. Bobek, Vukas and Mitić all saw shots graze the uprights as the pressure increased. Čajkovski inspired most of Yugoslavia's best moves and little was seen of England's attack in this half. Indeed, their defence was sometimes forced into desperate measures with Byrne, Owen and Wright all saving Gil Merrick with goal-saving clearances.

It looked as if all this valiant defending would earn England an honourable draw but, right at the end, the Yugoslavs snatched victory. Only three minutes remained when the Austrian referee awarded a dubious free-kick against the unlucky Byrne.

It was a decision which cost England the match. Stanković fired the free-kick low and hard into the packed penalty area and the ball rebounded off a defender straight to the feet of Mitić standing only six yards from goal. He could hardly miss. . .and he didn't! The crowd went wild with delight and although it was a cruel twist for England nobody could deny Yugoslavia's right to the result.
   

Syd Owen, of Luton Town, was the eleventh centre-half tried since the defection of Neil Franklin to the outlawed Colombian league. England concentrated on a deep defence and a counter-attacking policy, and almost got away with a draw. Jimmy Mullen, Ronnie Allen and Johnny Nicholls had shots saved during breakaway raids, but the Yugoslavs were generally in control. They were always the sharper side and deserved their winning goal three minutes from the end when a 35-yard free-kick was deflected by Owen into the path of Mitic, who scored from six yards. This was Tom Finney's fiftieth international for England, and England wanted so much to get at least a draw to mark the occasion. Tom was arguably the finest player to wear the England shirt in the early post-war years. Stanley Matthews was the people's favourite, but most of the professionals would have given Tom the nod just ahead of Stanley because there was so much to his game. He was comfortable in any forward position, could dribble almost as well as Stanley and was as brave as a lion. The defeat in Yugoslavia did little to help our confidence as England went on to Budapest for the return match with Hungary.
    

Even if it had no illusions as to the strength of the opposition, it was a reasonably optimistic England side that entered the packed Partisan stadium at Belgrade for the first of two full internationals of the Spring Tour. But once again it turned out to be another case of 'backs to the wall', and without the sterling qualities of England's defenders the Yugoslav score might well have been a good deal higher. Wright, who had a magnificent game, Owen the newcomer to the position of centre-half, Byrne, Staniforth, Dickinson, and Merrick all showed heroic qualities. But apart perhaps from Broadis, the forward line only seldom got going, seemed unable to co-ordinate itself, and as well as being ragged frequently lacked accuracy and aim when passing.
The Yugoslavs played an accurate and skilful game, but were by no means so good as to have prevented a more assertive England from winning. The decisive goal did not come until three minutes from the end: Byrne, some 35 yards from goal, tackled Milutinovic and a free-kick was awarded; Stankovic, the Yugoslav captain, sent it straight towards the packed goalmouth where after bubbling about it fell at the feet of Mitic, the inside-right, who had no difficulty in kicking it into the net.