Life as an England fan can be tough at times. Penalty shootouts, dodgy red cards, and Iceland… The years of hurt have now stretched to 58 years. Over the the years, however, we have played witness to an elite group of players who never stopped us dreaming.
BetVictor presents their all-time England XI…
Goalkeeper: Gordon Banks
1963-72
Caps: 73
We kick start proceedings with the man between the sticks. England have had their fair share of horror shows in recent years: Paul Robinson and Scott Carson versus Croatia, Robert Green versus the USA, and David James against just about everyone. One man who would never let you down, however, was Banksy.
The former Leicester and Stoke man was considered the safest pair of hands of the 1960s, winning the FIFA Goalkeeper of the Year for six consecutive years between 1966 and 1971. Banks was also between the sticks when England lifted the Jules Rimet trophy back in 1966.
Banks is best remembered for his stunning save at the 1970 World Cup. Under the sweltering Mexican sun, Banksy dived down to his right-hand corner to deny Pele’s bullet header – a save which is still considered the greatest of all time.
A very easy choice to kickstart the all-time XI.
Right-back: Kyle Walker
2011-present
Caps: 82
The Manchester City man is the complete defender. He’s quick, he’s strong, and his reading of the game is second to none. Whether playing in the centre or out wide, the former Spurs man has always been Mr. Consistent during England’s recent stint of success.
Walker has played an instrumental part in Manchester City’s treble-winning success. He is a fine wine that has got better as time has gone on. At the age of 34, he shows no signs of slowing down. Former teammate Micah Richards described how Kyle Walker has adapted under Pep Guardiola to become the perfect modern right-back:
“Whether it is giving it to the winger, overlapping and putting in a cross; whether it is staying high and wide; or, whether it is going inside and making a three in midfield. He has passed every test.”
With Maguire and Shaw currently nursing injuries, Walker will be the glue to England’s defence. The lad from Sheffield will arguably be England’s most important player at Euro 2024.
Centre-Back: Sol Campbell
1996-2007
Caps: 73
Many will be banging their head at the exclusion of John Terry and Rio Ferdinand. When it comes to representing England, however, Campbell was a different animal. As well as having the highest tackle success rate of any England defender in history, the Arsenal man had an aerial presence that could never be matched. Campbell once stated that “when I put on the England shirt, it felt like going into battle”. He was not wrong. The East London lad covered every blade of grass and always put his body on the line for his country.
Campbell’s maturity was recognised by then-manager Glen Hoddle who selected him as England’s youngest captain since Bobby Moore. At the ripe-old age of 23, Campbell led the Three Lions out for their 0-0 draw with Belgium in 1998. Campbell was a pillar to England’s defence for many years and in 2006, he became the first player to represent the country at six major tournaments. As well as being named in the 2002 World Cup Team of the Tournament, Campbell was included in three PFA Team of Year.
Sadly, Campbell was to be denied arguably the greatest moment of his career as his late headed winner against Argentina was unfairly ruled out. He will not, however, be denied a place in my all-time XI.
Centre-Back: Bobby Moore
1962-73
Caps: 108
We return to the class of 1966 for our next pick and it is impossible to leave out the only England captain to have lifted the World Cup. To this day, the legend of Bobby Moore continues to inspire generation after generation of young English hopefuls, aspiring to achieve what only he could.
As the lightning Seeds rightly sang, “I still see that tackle by Moore”. Indeed, the Irons captain’s tackle on Brazilian legend Jairzinho at the 1970 World Cup is engraved in the memory of many England fans. The England captain was most renowned for his ability to time tackles to perfection. Moore equally had an immaculate reading of the game, killing any attacks before they came into fruition.
Many legends of the game, such as Pele and Beckenbauer, described Moore as the toughest opponent they had ever faced. There is no doubt that he will live long in the memory of many England fans for decades to come.
Left-Back: Ashley Cole
2001-14
Caps: 107
Whilst many exalt today’s England side as ‘the Golden Generation’, many have forgotten that the same label was thrown around in the early noughties. Sadly, that England side containing Ferdinand, Terry, Gerrard, Lampard, Scholes, Beckham, and much more talent, never achieved greater than a quarter-final exit.
One man who did live up to the name was Ashley Cole. At club level, Cole won everything: three Premier League titles, seven FA Cups (a record for any player in the competition’s history), and a Champions League. Moreover, he was an integral part of Arsenal’s invincible squad.
For England, Cole represented the Three Lions at three World Cups. The former Chelsea man’s pace and stamina were a deadly combination, often winning the ball back off his opponent with ease before bombing it up the wing to support the team’s forward play.
He kept the world’s deadliest wingers at bay; most notably, Cristiano Ronaldo at two consecutive major tournaments. Consequently, Cole was named in the Euro 2004 Team of the Tournament and would later claim England’s Player of the Year award in 2010. It was his pace and crossing ability which made him such an asset to England and why he makes my all-time XI.
Right-Midfield: David Beckham
1996-2009
Caps: 115
Who else but Golden Balls? David Beckham was arguably the most iconic Englishman of his generation. The former Manchester United man is, without doubt, both the Premier League and England’s greatest ever set-piece specialist. Whether via a corner or a free-kick, England fans were always confident that a goal was coming when Becks was standing over the ball.
At club level, Beckham won 19 major trophies and was the first English player to win the league title in four different nations. The winger was played was instrumental to Real Madrid’s Galacticos.
Life in an England shirt was not always easy for the Inter Miami owner. Indeed, Beckham became a figure of hate across the country when he was sent off in England’s 1998 World Cup exit to Argentina.
The London-born lad would win back the affection of England fans through his resilience and brilliant performances, however. In 2000, Becks was handed the England captaincy. He would repay his gaffer the following year by scoring a sensational last-minute free-kick against Greece to send England to the World Cup. The redemption arc was completed in Japan where Beckham scored a late penalty to send Argentina packing home.
Beckham would go on to become England’s most-capped outfield player. At a time when England struggled to find the back of the net, the Three Lions could always rely on a Beckham set-piece to get them out of trouble. And for that, he makes my all-time XI.
Central-Midfield: Bobby Charlton
1958-70
Caps: 106
Another from the World Cup winning squad. Charlton will undoubtedly go down as both a Manchester United and England legend in footballing folklore.
Having started out on the wing, Charlton soon flourished in the attacking midfield role. His greatest credential was his ability to dictate games through his accurate passing and engine-like stamina. The Busby Babe’s secret weapon was his powerful shot which he could unleash from both feet.
The midfield maestro made his England debut in 1958, just weeks after surviving the tragic Munich disaster. Just three years later, he had already notched up 24 goals in 30 appearances. The Manchester United man would remain England’s top goalscorer for decades – his record eventually being eclipsed by Wayne Rooney in 2015.
Charlton proved to be a maverick at both the 1966 and 1970 World Cup. His two goals against Eusebio’s Portugal led England to World Cup glory in 1996 whilst England’s capitulation at the hands of West Germany in 1970, following Charlton’s substitution, proved just how vital he was at the heart of England’s midfield.
Central-Midfield: Paul Gascoigne
1988-98
Caps: 57
Despite a career often marred by infamous off-field antics, Paul Gascoigne is arguably the most naturally-gifted footballer in this list. Indeed, Gazza was a truly gifted playmaker who could both create and score goals when it mattered most. His pace, strength and Brazilian-like dribbling ability allowed him to nonchalantly take on players and withstand physical challenges.
Gascoigne announced himself to the world stage at Italia 90. Following a shameful decade of English football, Gazza’s mesmerising performances inspired England to their first World Cup semi-final since 1966. The former Spurs man would acquire the status of cult hero when he shed a tear against the Germans, following the booking that would rule him out for the final. The love and pride for his country could be felt throughout the stadium.
Gascoigne’s career was sadly hampered by injury but his return to the front line in 1996 was something special. Indeed, the Rangers man scored one of the most iconic goals of the tournament against home rivals Scotland. Gazza’s awe-inspiring performances would lead to another semi-final adventure for England.
A ‘what could have been’ player but there is no doubt that Gazza’s natural gift was generational and that is why he makes my all-time XI.
Left-Midfielder: John Barnes
1983-95
Caps: 79
The rap alone gets him into this team. England has famously always lacked options on the left-side of midfield but as an English patriot, I refuse to have any formation that is not 4-4-2. Consequently, Barnsey makes it into my all-time XI.
The first eyebrows were raised at Barnes’ talent when, during an England tour of South America, the Liverpool man dribbled past several Brazilian players, making Roberto Carlos look silly, before slotting home.
Barnes was known for his immense dribbling skills and his pinpoint passing accuracy. At the 1986 World Cup, the now-pundit is remembered for his immaculate assist to Gary Lineker’s consolation goal against Argentina, with the iconic “go on! Run at him!” line coming from Barry Davies when Barnes received the ball.
England gaffer Bryan Robson once described John Barnes as his “greatest enigma”.
Striker: Gary Lineker
1984-92
Caps: 80
Now known for his crisp adverts and annoying your Brexit-voting dad on Twitter, it is hard to believe that Gary Lineker was once England’s best striker.
Lineker’s England accolades are both impressive and endless: the only player to score four goals in one match on more than one occasion, the quickest World Cup hat-trick, and the 1986 World Cup Golden Boot.
There is no denying it – Gary Lineker was a goal machine for England. Unfortunately, the former Spurs forward was denied the opportunity to break Charlton’s goalscoring record when he missed a penalty in one of his final games against Brazil in 1992.
Lineker was also a natural leader. Indeed, the future pundit had the ability to unite his team and get the best out of his team mates. Many will also remember the “have a word” moment when Gazza’s tears began to flow.
It is Lineker’s goalscoring expertise which gets him a spot in my all-time England XI.
Striker: Harry Kane
2015 – Present
Caps: 90
I understand the exclusion of Wayne Rooney will render me a pantomime villain. However, both Lineker and Kane get the nod over Wazza solely for their respective World Cup records. Rooney, unfortunately, never quite reached his potential best on the world’s biggest stage, scoring just once.
Harry Kane is now England’s all-time top goalscorer and, with time on his side, he threatens to widen the gap to an insurmountable sum. Since the former Spurs man broke into the England side, the Three Lions have reached their first World Cup final since 1990 and their first Euros final full-stop.
At both club and international level, Kane has swept up every individual award imaginable: PFA Player of the Year, Premier League Golden Boot, England’s Player of the Year, and so on…
Kane’s leadership credentials often go under the radar but have been instrumental to England’s recent success. Even when Kane has failed to score, on some occasions, his vision and movement have created countless opportunities for his side.
Many hope that the Bayern Munich forward will continue to lead the line for many years to come. England’s all-time top goalscorer could not be denied a place in my XI.
