England wore shirts bearing 'no to racism' in the game. It was a little piece of history because it was the first time in 133 years of international football that the England shirt had carried anything other than the three lions badge and manufacturer's logo on the front. Holland ditched their traditional orange shirt for a black and white kit to show their support of the cause.
England were being managed by Sven-Goran Eriksson. This was his 49th game in charge (of 67) and were building for the 2006 World Cup. Likewise Holland, who were managed by one of world's greatest ever strikers, Marco van Basten, his 7th match in charge (of 52).
Eriksson gave debuts to Middlesbrough's Stewart Downing and Crystal Palace's Andy Johnson. The match, attended by 40,705, was played at Villa Park because England's traditional Wembley Stadium home was closed and under reconstruction between October 2000 and March 2007. The match finished goalless.
CRB Match No 1419
Comments
Post a Comment