1967 British Home Championship
Encyclopedia
The 1967 British Home Championship
has remained famous in the memories of British Home Nations
football fans ever since the dramatic climatic match at Wembley Stadium, where an unfancied Scottish
team beat England
on the same turf they had won the 1966 FIFA World Cup
a year before. England had comfortably disposed of Wales
and Ireland
in the earlier matches, whilst Scotland had struggled, drawing with Wales and only just beating the Irish. In the final match however, the Scots outplayed their illustrious opponents and claimed a 3–2 victory, thus becoming "World Champions" in the words of many enthusiastic Scottish supporters, who invaded and stole much of the pitch after the game. In contrast to later pitch invasion
s, this was conducted in a light-hearted spirit and merited no significant police action. The "World Champions" idea has since taken more tangible form in the Unofficial Football World Championships
.
The contest was also important as it formed the first half of the qualifying stages for the 1968 UEFA European Football Championship
, a competition England would eventually qualify for in the following 1968 British Home Championship
and reach the semi-finals, ultimately securing third position overall.
The points system worked as follows:
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British Home Championship
The British Home Championship was an annual football competition contested between the United Kingdom's four national teams, England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland from the 1883–84 season until the 1983–84...
has remained famous in the memories of British Home Nations
Home Nations
Home Nations is a collective term with one of two meanings depending on the context. Politically, it means the nations of the constituent countries of the United Kingdom...
football fans ever since the dramatic climatic match at Wembley Stadium, where an unfancied Scottish
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
team beat England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
on the same turf they had won the 1966 FIFA World Cup
1966 FIFA World Cup
The 1966 FIFA World Cup, the eighth staging of the World Cup, was held in England from 11 July to 30 July. England beat West Germany 4–2 in the final, winning the World Cup for the first time, so becoming the first host to win the tournament since Italy in 1934.-Host selection:England was chosen as...
a year before. England had comfortably disposed of Wales
Wales national football team
The Wales national football team represents Wales in international football. It is controlled by the Football Association of Wales , the governing body for football in Wales, and the third oldest national football association in the world. The team have only qualified for a major international...
and Ireland
Northern Ireland national football team
The Northern Ireland national football team represents Northern Ireland in international association football. Before 1921 all of Ireland was represented by a single side, the Ireland national football team, organised by the Irish Football Association...
in the earlier matches, whilst Scotland had struggled, drawing with Wales and only just beating the Irish. In the final match however, the Scots outplayed their illustrious opponents and claimed a 3–2 victory, thus becoming "World Champions" in the words of many enthusiastic Scottish supporters, who invaded and stole much of the pitch after the game. In contrast to later pitch invasion
Pitch invasion
A pitch invasion or field invasion, known as rushing the field in the United States, occurs when a crowd of people who are watching a sports game run onto the field, to celebrate or protest about an incident...
s, this was conducted in a light-hearted spirit and merited no significant police action. The "World Champions" idea has since taken more tangible form in the Unofficial Football World Championships
Unofficial Football World Championships
The Unofficial Football World Championships is a way of calculating the world's best football team, using a knock-out title system similar to that used in boxing and wrestling. The title is currently held by , having been won from Japan in a 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification match on 15 November...
.
The contest was also important as it formed the first half of the qualifying stages for the 1968 UEFA European Football Championship
1968 UEFA European Football Championship
-Semi-finals:-----Third place play-off:-Final:-Replay:-Top scorers:There were 7 goals scored in 4 matches, for an average of 1.75 goals per game.2 goals Dragan Džajić...
, a competition England would eventually qualify for in the following 1968 British Home Championship
1968 British Home Championship
The 1968 British Home Championship football was the final stage of the 1968 UEFA European Football Championship qualifying for the Home Nations, and provided revenge for an England team smarting from a defeat on their home ground to the Scots just months after winning the 1966 FIFA World Cup which...
and reach the semi-finals, ultimately securing third position overall.
Table
| Team | Pts | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 4 | ||
| 4 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 4 | ||
| 2 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 6 | −4 | |
| 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | −3 | |
The points system worked as follows:
- 2 points for a win
- 1 point for a draw
Results
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