When England step out onto the Wembley pitch to face Montenegro on Thursday, it will mark the 1,000th game in Three Lions history.
Over the past 147 years, we have seen some outstanding players pull on the England shirt. You could build at least ten lineups of all-time greats, but condensing them down into one is a tough task.
Nevertheless, that’s exactly what we’ve done.
Goalkeeper & Defenders
Gordon Banks (GK) – As one of the greatest goalkeepers of all time, Banks waltzes into this lineup with ease. He was inspirational in the 1966 World Cup victory, and then went on to produce that incredible save to deny Pelé four years later.
Jimmy Armfield (RB) – A toe injury cost Armfield a spot in the team for the 1966 final, but he remains one of England’s finest ever right-backs. Back then, Armfield was viewed as one of the finest footballers in the English First Division and easily one of the finest in the world in his position.
Bobby Moore (CB) – One of the most iconic English players ever, Moore captained the Three Lions to World Cup glory, which was the least he deserved. Moore finished second in the Ballon d’Or running in 1970 and is rightly viewed as a legend of West Ham, England and the entire world.
Billy Wright (CB) – Wright was the first player to ever reach 100 international appearances, which speaks volumes of just how important the Wolves man was to England. He captained the side 90 times between 1948 and 1959 and somehow managed to avoid getting booked or sent off in any of his 105 outings.
Ashley Cole (LB) – Cole spent the majority of his career as arguably the finest left-back around. The former Arsenal and Chelsea star turned out at three World Cups for England before his retirement in 2014, and was part of the ‘golden generation’ of English talent.
Midfielders
Stanley Matthews (RM) – The first ever winner of the Ballon d’Or in 1956, Blackpool icon Matthews was a rare breed of player. The winger played top flight football until he was 50 years old and had an England career which spanned 23 years. With an uncanny combination of speed and skill, the world had seen nothing like Matthews back then.
Bryan Robson (CM) – A versatile midfielder, Robson could do it all. He lifted two Premier League titles with Manchester United, but also managed to rack up 90 appearances for the Three Lions between 1980 and 1991.
Bobby Charlton (CM) – Another all-time great, Charlton was a core part of the 1966 World Cup triumph, and he won the Ballon d’Or in the same year. The United man’s record of 49 goals for England stood all the way until 2015, when Wayne Rooney finally managed to make the record his own.
Paul Gascoigne (LM) – A controversial character, Gascoigne was undoubtedly one of the most naturally gifted footballers we have ever seen. The former Newcastle and Tottenham man racked up 57 caps for England between 1988 and 1998.
Forwards
Gary Lineker (ST) –
Jimmy Greaves (ST) – English football has never seen another striker as deadly as Greaves. Tottenham’s all-time record goalscorer, he racked up a stunning 44 goals in just 57 appearances for England between 1959 and 1967. He also holds the record for most top flight goals in English history, having netted a dizzying 357 goals throughout his career.
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