England proudly paraded their World Cup trophy in front of an enthusiastic crowd at Windsor Park, before going on to beat the Irish clearly if not convincingly. The match had extra incentives this year as the winners of the Home Championship over the next two seasons would automatically qualify for the 1968 European Nations Championship.

Obviously everyone wanted to beat the new World Champions from now on, and Northern Ireland started in typical boisterous mood. Right from the first whistle, it was also obvious that George Best would be the player England would have to contain. The Manchester United wing-wizard paraded all his skills and England worked desperately hard to keep him in check. Clubmate Nobby Stiles had a torrid time trying to mark him and more than once incurred the wrath of the crowd with his challenges.

The game was full of fiery tackles, and Stiles and Dougan were booked after one skirmish. All the time, though, it was noticed that England were still moving in that familiar well-tuned way of theirs. Bobby Moore and Jack Charlton were dominant at the back, Bobby Charlton, Martin Peters and Alan Ball controlled the midfield, and up-front the tireless running of Geoff Hurst and Roger Hunt always caught the eye.

Ironically, Northern Ireland had a fine chance to score before England when Crossan missed an easy opportunity after Gordon Banks had made a superb double-save from Dougan. On 15 minutes, Hunt touched the ball into the Irish net after Jennings had parried a fierce Bobby Charlton shot, but the referee disallowed the goal for an offside decision. But after 40 minutes, England broke the deadlock and nosed their way in-front.

A throw-in was taken by Hurst to Peters, who advanced down the right before whipping over a fine cross which Hunt hit on the half-volley on the turn past the stranded Jennings. It was a splendid goal and just reward for some unselfish running by the Liverpool player. Within moments of the goal, Ball went very close to making it 2-0 when he hit the bar from close-range.

After the interval, Best continued to shine, although his petulance at some of the hard tackling left a lot to be desired. He still remained Northern Ireland's best hope of a comeback, though, as they searched for a goal.

England were again showing the teamwork which had proved so successful last July and, as a unit, could not be faulted. With 30 minutes left, they clinched the match with a second goal. Again Peters and Hurst combined, with the latter heading the former's left-wing cross against the bar. Northern Ireland cleared, but England were back quickly with Bobby Charlton centring again, this time from the right. Peters was on the end of it to head a beautiful goal past substitute goalkeeper McFaul. The new 'keeper had come on to replace the injured Jennings shortly before.

Other chances fell to Hurst, Bobby Charlton and Ball as England controlled the later stages but Crossan probably had the best chance when he missed a sitter laid on for him by Dougan and Irvine.

The fiery tackling that had gone on throughout the game continued and in the end the referee lost his patience and sent Ferguson off for a dangerous tackle on Ball. A few moments later, Best was lucky not to follow his team-mate after another bad foul on Ball.

So England marched on, now unbeaten in their last 17 matches and losing only once in their last 28. Alf Ramsey's tactics seemed to be very effective.
  

The Irish, with George Best and Derek Dougan in menacing mood, battled desperately to overcome England in their first match as world champions, but they were sunk by a goal in each half by first Roger Hunt and then Martin Peters. The match deteriorated into a bad-tempered encounter, and in the closing minutes Linfield winger Billy Ferguson was ordered off after a savage tackle on Alan Ball. Bobby Moore's attention during the build-up to the match was claimed by the Inland Revenue, who announced they would be taxing the £1,000 bonus collected by each of the 22 players in England's World Cup-winning squad. On behalf of the team, skipper Bobby took the taxman to the steps of the law courts before they relented and agreed to make it tax-free. What a way to treat heroes.
  

Relying upon the World Cup eleven England made 'heavy weather' of this match at Belfast before 58,000 spectators. The closeness of the score can be attributed to the nimbleness of the Irish as much as the natural consequences of a three-month break and the natural anti-climax which affected the champions. Apart from a narrow escape in the 10th minute, England's defence was able to contain the lively Irish forwards without difficulty, although they never showed quite the same confidence as the previous July. Five minutes from half-time, Peters centred the ball to Hunt, who, with his back to goal pivoted to score with a right-footed shot which rocketed past Jennings. From the kick-off Ball hit the crossbar. And when the teams appeared for the second half Jennings, who was injured, was replaced by McFaul. England scored again after 60 minutes through Peters. The move was started by Peters himself; his centre was headed by Hurst against the crossbar, Bobby Charlton collected the rebound to the right of the goal and returned the ball to the middle where Peters was waiting to head the ball past McFaul. Tempers became frayed, and six minutes from the end Ferguson was sent off the field.
     

Source Notes

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