R england out of the world cup

Pelé led the tributes from around the world on Tuesday after the death of Gordon Banks, widely regarded as England’s greatest ever goalkeeper and a key member of the 1966 World Cup winning side. The Brazil forward’s name will be forever linked with that of Banks as a result of one of the 1970 World Cup’s most memorable moments, with Pelé generously suggesting he is happy the goalkeeper kept out his famous header because it led to a subsequent friendship. “I have great sadness in my heart today and I send condolences to the family Gordon was so proud of,” Pelé said. “I scored many goals in my life but people always like to ask about the one I didn’t score, because of that save. While it was indeed phenomenal my memory of Gordon is not defined by that but his friendship. He was a kind, warm man who gave so much to people. I am glad he saved my header because it was the start of a friendship I will always treasure. Whenever we met … [Read more...] about Pelé leads Gordon Banks tributes as England World Cup winner dies aged 81

I actually told Gordon the score when we were knocked out of the 1970 World Cup in Mexico by West Germany. We were rooming together and had moved to León the night before. The day of the quarter-final we went for breakfast, then for a walk. The game was at midday, it was 100 degrees and it was the turn of Peter Bonetti [of Chelsea] to be the substitute goalkeeper, not me, and when Alf [Ramsey] named the team he named Gordon and that seemed to be it. The Fifa rules of those times were that if you weren’t involved you had to go and sit in the stand. So I went back to my room to get my camera and that’s when I found that Gordon was bad and being sick in the toilet. I became sub, Peter was now selected. Yet when I went back to my room after the match Gordon thought we’d won because we were 2-0 up [Banks was watching a delayed television broadcast]. I had to tell him the bad news. I held up my fingers to indicate the score [2-3] and he just couldn’t believe it. … [Read more...] about I told Gordon Banks in our room that we were out of the 1970 World Cup

BEN STOKES is well used to stealing the show on any given Sunday. His heroics in England’s dramatic World Cup final win over New Zealand came on the Sabbath. And six weeks later, he was again at his Sunday best to single-handedly keep the Ashes alive with one of the all-time great innings at Headingley. Now tonight in Aberdeen, Stokes is tipped to be the first cricketer to win the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award in 14 years. And if the all-rounder emulates Freddie Flintoff in 2005, it will complete a remarkable redemption story — both on and off the field. In 2016 in Kolkata, Stokes was distraught after being destroyed by Carlos Brathwaite, who smashed four straight sixes off his final over as West Indies beat England in the World T20 final.Then the following year, his reputation was in tatters after being arrested — and then charged — following that infamous Bristol brawl. Even after he was acquitted of affray, few would have tipped Stokes to capture … [Read more...] about England star Ben Stokes tipped to become first cricketer in 14 years to win SPOTY 2019

ASHES star Ben Stokes will go down as one of England's greatest cricketers after his stunning exploits against the Aussies and in the recent World Cup. However, less than a year ago the Tottenham fan was facing a court case after getting involved in a booze-fuelled street-fight. Stokes, 28, was the toast of Headingley, scoring a dazzling 135 not out to save England's Ashes hopes. He said afterwards: “Clare has been brilliant and so supportive throughout the years. "Your family go through everything with you, good and bad, so it is great to be able to celebrate with them at times like this." She has been described by friends as 'his rock' after standing by him at his lowest moment - when he was charged with affray.Back in 2017 he got into an argument with two men outside a Bristol nightclub in the early hours of a September morning. A fight broke out and the beefy 6ft tall all-rounder punched both out with a flurry of punches captured on CCTV, breaking one man's eye socket. It … [Read more...] about How Ben Stokes’ wife Clare helped Ashes hero curb his party-boy antics and become England legend

ENGLAND hero Ben Stokes should NOT be named Test captain as "he has enough on his plate", according to pal and team-mate James Anderson. Joe Root's future as England Test skipper has been called into question after Australia retained the Ashes with victory at Old Trafford. Going into the fifth and final game, at The Oval, Anderson has revealed he believes Root is the man for the job. The Yorkshire batsman, 28, has struggled with the bat - while his captaincy decisions have raised eyebrows at times during the tricky Ashes series. But writing in his column for SunSport, Anderson claimed: "Joe Root has had three ducks. "That’s a big difference right there because Joe is the one we look to score the bulk of our runs."There are some mutterings about Joe’s future as captain. But I think he is doing a very good job. "We’ve had a couple of tough years, especially since Cooky retired and we’ve been trying to find a couple of opening batsman. STEP TOO FAR "We’re … [Read more...] about England Ashes star Ben Stokes should NOT be named captain as ‘he has enough on his plate’, claims James Anderson