IN fairness to the England boys who won at Maine-road, Manchester, last night the selectors must keep this Under-23 team together for the next match against unknown—so far—Continental opponents in November.
Because against Vejle—a Danish club team which the Football Association insisted on calling a Danish National XI—they flopped. You can forget the scoreline. For the first half, the cream of England's young talent—which is being built up for the 1962 World Cup—made no impression on this all-amateur Danish team. And at half-time they were held to 1—1 by Vejle, who included four schoolteachers, three clerks, a plumber and a bacon inspector in their line-up. Vejle helped the F A out of a fix by agreeing to deputise for the East German Under-23 side, who were refused permission to travel to England. It was lucky for our prestige that they did—for this new look Young England simply did not measure up for the job. Thankfully ofr English honour—and his own future—Manchester United outside left Bobby Charlton rescued his side after the break. Charlton crashed through in the fifty-second minute entirely on his own to put England 2—1 ahead. Seven minutes later he hit in another. In the sixty-fourth minute with the Danes tiring badly, West Ham left half, Bobby Moore, came through to hit England's fourth. And nine minutes later Southampton outside right Terry Paine touched home the fifth goal. Young England's first goal had come from centre forward Joe Baker in the 17th minute. Vejle equalised through inside left Henning Enoksen after 35 minutes.