England's magnificent run continued, thanks to a breathtaking performance against Mexico. The visitors from Central America, on a European tour, had only recently narrowly lost 2-1 to the strong Czechoslovakia side and had beaten the Dutch by the same score, so they arrived at Wembley full of confidence.

On this day, though, they were annihilated by a brilliant blend of short and long passing from England's now familiar 4-2-4 formation. It was a tremendous revenge for the defeat they suffered in Mexico two years earlier, especially for the five survivors of that team. It was also wonderful fare for the 76,000 crowd basking in gloriously sunny weather.

England settled quickly and Johnny Haynes soon stamped his immense authority on the game. His, now almost telepathic, partnership with the immaculate Bobby Robson dominated the midfield from start to finish. Lovely passing movements abounded as England hit four first-half goals. Full-back Jimmy Armfield was always prominent, linking up well down the right wing with Bryan Douglas. Gerry Hitchens scored the first and then set up Bobby Charlton for a thunderbolt volley which flew past Mota before the goalkeeper could move.

Robson scored number three and then Douglas nipped in for a fourth. Mexico had no answer to all this superb football, although Del Aguila showed some skill at outside-right. Even the substitution of Reynoso for Flores just before half-time failed to stem the tide.

Charlton had a particularly memorable game and every time he gained possession a loud buzz went around this famous old stadium. The collective shout of 'Shoot' was usually the crowd's response as soon as he was anywhere within 40 yards of goal!

The second half was just as one-sided. Steadily, the goal tally rose with the fifth being a penalty, somewhat harshly awarded after a foul on Hitchens. Ron Flowers duly smashed home the spot-kick. Then Charlton scored again with another tremendous 30-yard drive before he went on to complete his hat-trick, following the best move of the match.

Fast flowing passing began with Armfield, was carried on by Robson and involved no less than eight players linking up to take the ball the whole length of the lush green Wembley turf. At the end of all that, Charlton was there to slide home Douglas' flick.

It was vintage football and Mexico were outclassed. Their tip-tap passing game floundered and they made no impact on the strong England defence. Once, near the end, Reyes did hit a post with Ron Springett for once beaten, but generally it was one-way traffic towards the Mexican goal for the rest of the game.

More splendid work by Charlton down the left gave Douglas the chance to end the scoring with the eighth goal, but one wonders what the score might have been had Jimmy Greaves been playing instead of Derek Kevan, for the West Brom player missed several good chances, The injured Bobby Smith must also have wished he could have been playing but, to be fair, Hitchens slotted in superbly and enjoyed a fine game, as indeed did the whole side.
     

Bobby Smith was injured and Jimmy Greaves suspended by Chelsea (for refusing to go on a club tour to Israel on the eve of his move to AC Milan), but the goal floodgates were still kicked open by England. Gerry Hitchens made a sensational start to his England career, scoring with his first shot after just 90 seconds. Bobby Charlton, a blond bombshell on the left wing, hammered his first international hat-trick as England took their goals tally to an astonishing forty in six matches. Derek Kevan played in place of Greaves, and missed three gilt-edged scoring opportunities. The question on many lips was, "How many goals would whizkid Jimmy Greaves have helped himself to against the overwhelmed Mexican defence?"
     

The high-scoring British Champions now took on Mexico who had beaten them 2-1 in Mexico City two years earlier in their only previous meeting. Mexico had appeared in every World Cup since the war but had always failed to qualify from their group.     

England took just over a minute to score. From a pass by Charlton, Gerry Hitchens shot and Mota's fumble helped it into the net. The second was not long in coming; Hitchens passed to Bobby Charlton who unleashed a powerful volley past the 'keeper.

Next a fast-flowing move ended with Hitchens supplying Bobby Robson with the chance to make it three. Bryan Douglas netted the fourth from Charlton's pass just before half-time. With half an hour remaining Sepulveda fouled Hitchens and Ron Flowers scored from the spot. Three minutes later, after Hitchens was blocked by three defenders, another thunderbolt from Charlton nearly broke the Mexican net. In the 74th minute England turned defence into attack and a flick from Douglas gave Charlton his hat-trick as he finished off the move. The eighth and final goal came with five minutes left. Charlton's cross was turned in by Douglas. England's confidence could not be higher.

Mexico qualified for the following year's World Cup but once again failed to progress beyond the first round. Their next meeting with England was in the 1966 World Cup at Wembley where Mexico played all of their matches.
     

Source Notes

TheFA.com
Original newspaper reports
Rothman's Yearbooks
Mike Payne's England: The Complete Post-War Record (Breedon Books Publishing Company, Derby, U.K., 1993)
Norman Giller, Football Author
Drew Herbertson, Scottish FA historian
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CG