After Celtic's win in the European Cup Final, England completed a fine week for British football by gaining a very creditable win against the tough Austrian side. This game was a poor one, though, with neither side coming to grips with a difficult, bumpy pitch in the Prater Stadium. The referee, too, had a detrimental effect with his over-officious style.

There were very few moments of the match worth recalling. However, Alan Ball was the undoubted hero of England. The Everton star was everywhere and inspired his colleagues with an all-action display. Austria had their moments, especially when Siber, Köglberger and Parits pressed forward. But their midfield of Eschelmüller and Schmidt did not have the flair to conjure up the magic that was needed to break down England's well-organised defence which was superbly marshalled by the immaculate Bobby Moore.

Despite the Austrian dominance, England always seemed to be one step ahead of their opponents and in the 20th minute they expertly snatched the lead. Ball showed fine control to expertly kill a long pass from Alan Mullery. Then he beat Glechner on the turn and stroked the awkwardly-bouncing ball past Pichler's dive. It was a fine strike and due reward for Ball's enthusiasm.

After the goal, the game continued in a drab way with neither team able to take a firm grip on the play. Both Roger Hunt and Jimmy Greaves missed badly when well-placed and Pichler made some good saves from other chances that fell to England.

The second half was quite forgettable. England continued to be the more organised of the two sides and their superior teamwork gave them a definite edge. In the end they comfortably held on to their one-goal advantage and deservedly so, much to the annoyance of the home supporters.

Some of the England players now went to play in Canada under the guise of an FA XI, as part of that country's celebrations for Expo 67. It would be a pleasant way for them to end a very good year of international football.
  

This was Sir Alf Ramsey's fiftieth match since he took over and his thirty-third victory. It was also a milestone match for Harold Shepherdson, who was on the touchline for his hundredth match as England trainer. A neatly worked goal by Alan Ball in the twentieth minute won the match. The England squad then went off on a trip to Canada thinly disguised as an FA XI as part of the Expo 67 festivities. The nadir of a pointless exercise was Sir Alf getting caught up in a heated argument over the state of the pitch in Montreal which had been used for a circus parade a day before the game. In one of the great unexpected and original quotes from a football manager, Sir Alf fumed in his clipped tones: 'I will not allow my players to risk injury on a disgraceful pitch that is covered in elephant shit.'

The match marked the 50th international game since Sir Alfred Ramsey had been appointed England Team Manager and the 100th appointment of Harold Shepherdson as trainer of the team. Hunter replaced Hollins who was injured, and Wilson returned at left-back in place of Cohen who was prevented from playing through a severe cold. The margin of England's success in no way reflected their superiority. With more luck and better finishing, Austria might well have been beaten by three or four goals. The deciding goal was scored by Ball after twenty minutes. Mullery sent a long pass into the Austrian penalty-area where Ball controlled it with his chest, swivelled, and shot the ball out of reach of the goalkeeper. A good effort by Hunt just previously looked a winner all the way but flashed a yard wide of the post with Pichler well-beaten. Although Bonetti had very little to do, he made one brilliant save from a free-kick by Parits.
     

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
____________________

CG