Portugal Team

This match turned into an inconclusive performance by England who were now developing another problem in the goalscoring positions. True, they never looked like losing and had most of the play, but their inability to scorewas now making games closer than they should be.

For the first half-hour, England peppered the Portuguese goal. Their goalkeeper, Henrique, worked 'overtime' to keep his side in the match and one sensed that an early goal would have put a different complexion on the result. Portugal came to Wembley with their national football in 'dire straits' and they were but a poor shadow of their illustrious predecessors from 1966, a side that came so close to glory on that summer night three years earlier in this very stadium. The current side feared a thrashing on this trip and, quit frankly, they should have got one.

A super move involving Bobby Moore, Alan Ball, Bobby Charlton and Francis Lee ended with Colin Bell's shot grazing the crossbar. Other chances came and went with Lee, Bobby Charlton and Ball all bringing the best out of Henrique. Then, on 24 minutes, England did score and it came courtesy of the Charlton brothers. England's fifth corner was taken by Bobby and brother Jack rose at the near-post to head in.

Perhaps, one thought, that would be the beginning of a goal-rush but, alas, it did not turn out that way, much to the frustration of the crowd. Ten minutes before half-time, another swift move between Ball, Alan Mullery and Lee saw a Bobby Charlton shot hit the post. Peter Bonetti had been little more than a spectator throughout the first half and it was remarkable to think that England had only the one goal to show for their superiority.

The second half was no better. In fact, if anything it was worse for England. Portugal's confidence grew, although England still dominated. Jeff Astle's shot was blocked on the line by Cardoso but goal-chances were less frequent. Bonetti had to earn his keep with a splendid save from a bending free-kick by the lanky João, and then another free-kick from Toni was saved low-down after Jack Charlton had handled on the edge of the box.

With 20 minutes to go, there came the half's most-dramatic moment. Martin Peters came on as substitute for Bell, who had dislocated his shoulder. Straight away Peters sent Astle away with a lovely pass. As the centre-forward swerved around the goalkeeper, looking a certain scorer, Henrique brought him down for an obvious penalty. The Portuguese players erupted and the referee was besieged by gesticulating protestors. It was pandemonium. Carlos and Graça were booked and when eventually the commotion died down, Lee was poised to take the spot-kick. The whole affair had a distinct taste of gamesmanship and it obviously had an effect on Lee. His penalty-kick was so wide it almost hit the corner-flag*.

That dramatic incident ended a disappointing showing by England and the one goal was no reward for the efforts of Ball, Bell, Lee, Bobby Charlton and Mullery. The only consolation comes from the fact that at least they continued the good habit of winning.
  

Francis Lee, noted as one of the deadliest of all penalty-takers, missed his second spot-kick in an England jersey. England were awarded the penalty after Jeff Astle had been brought down.  Lee stumbled as he ran up to take the kick and sliced the ball so wide it nearly hit a corner-flag*. It took centre-half Jack Charlton to show the forwards how to get the ball into the net on a pitch made treacherous by heavy rain. Jack rose high to head in a corner from brother Bobby in the twenty-fourth minute of an undistinguished match. Martin Peters was summoned on as second-half substitute for Colin Bell, who went off with a dislocated shoulder.

* Slight exaggeration here as Lee's kick left the pitch within the width of the six-yard box, though as he had caught it with the outside of his right foot, it was curling away from goal, but a long way from the corner-flag!
  

Since they had finished third in the 1966 World Cup, Portugal had gone into decline. They had failed to qualify for the 1968 European Championship quarter-finals and then for the forthcoming World Cup, finishing bottom of their qualifying group. They had previously lost three times to England at Wembley, most memorably in the 1966 World Cup semi-final.
The only goal came when, as against Romania almost a year earlier, Jack Charlton headed in at the near-post from his brother Bobby's corner.
With 20 minutes left, substitute Peters sent Astle away. The striker was brought down by Henrique as he rounded the 'keeper. The Portuguese protested vehemently and Carlos and Graça were booked but their protests had the desired effect as Lee produced an awful penalty, shooting well-wide.
Portugal finished runners-up in each of their next two qualifying groups. They were back at Wembley in the European Championship in 1974.
Emlyn Hughes made his first Wembley appearance. He was Footballer of the Year in 1977, and went on to captain Liverpool to two successive European Cup wins, including one at Wembley in 1978.
     

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