England's vitally-important second Group One match again pitted them up against a team from the Americas. This time the plum-red shirts of the Mexicans provided the defensive barrier England had to penetrate. As against Uruguay in their opening fixture, they again found it difficult to unlock an eight- or nine-man defence, which Mexico employed.

England made a couple of changes, bringing in Terry Paine and Martin Peters and the latter was an immediate success. Gordon Banks had one of his easiest internationals and his £60 match-fee could hardly have said to be earned. A few goal-kicks and only one real save to make, such was the sum total of Mexico's attacking ideas. Borja and Padilla showed some flair but generally they were a poor outfit.

Unfortunately, despite a fair amount of 'huffing and puffing' by the England players, there was still very little end-product to worry Calderón in the Mexico goal. It was all England, but it was not until the 38th minute that the piece of sheer magic so desperately required arrived. It came courtesy of Bobby Charlton.

Peters intercepted a Mexican pass and moved the ball on to Roger Hunt. A quick switch inside gave Bobby possession just inside his own half. With his thinning hair streaming in the wind, he dribbled free down the centre at pace. A jink left and then right, before his right foot exploded a blockbuster into the top corner with Calderón hopelessly beaten from 25 yards.

It was a vintage piece of Charlton and the huge sigh of relief could be heard not only in the stadium but up and down the country by the millions watching on television. At last the crowd began to get behind the players and England's World Cup challenge was suddenly awake.

The second half was controlled by England. Although the play was largely dull and unimaginative, the precious goal was enough to appease the large crowd. With a quarter of an hour to go, the stadium erupted again. Once more Peters began the build-up. He combined with Bobby Charlton before putting Jimmy Greaves away with a perfect pass. When Greaves put in a cross-shot, Calderón could only palm the ball away and there on the spot was Hunt to score easily, due reward for some tireless, if sometimes vain, running.

The crowd were, by now, delighted. It was only England's fourth victory in the final stages of a World Cup competition, in 16 attempts. But they now had the lead in Group One and, barring accidents, should qualify for another quarter-final.
  

Alf Ramsey had not yet completely abandoned wingers. Terry Paine was preferred to Connelly in this second game, with Martin Peters taking the place of Alan Ball in midfield. Bobby Charlton unleashed one of his magnificent twenty-five-yard specials for the first goal, and Roger Hunt clinched victory after having what looked a good goal ruled off-side. After the frustration of the opening match against Uruguay, this victory convinced many people that England could live up to Ramsey's expectations. Mexico were not allowed to create a single goal-scoring chance by an England defence in which Bobby Moore was at his commanding best.
  

Both teams had drawn their opening matches in Group One but their last meeting, five years earlier, had seen the Mexicans thrashed 8-0.
England scored their first goal of the World Cup when Bobby Charlton collected the ball from Hunt inside his own half and from 30 yards out sent a screamer into the top corner. The points were secured when Roger Hunt scored from the rebound after Calderón saved Greaves's shot.
Mexico now needed a handsome win against Uruguay, three days later, to raech the quarter-finals for the first time.
     

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
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CG