1985: England in Mexico

If you're a football lover who doesn't like cricket then I feel for you, as Chaka Khan might say. Those long summer months can be hellish without any action, as you count down to pre-season tours, friendlies, and the beginning of a new campaign that may just be the year that your club shines (or not).

The last few summers have been slightly unusual. Euro 2020 took place in 2021, and due to money the climate in Qatar, the 2022 World Cup has been pushed back to November/December. We do have the World Cup play-off and the Nations League to keep us going, but there is nothing quite like a proper summer tournament.

Usually it is the odd number years that leaves us in this football free zone. But at least 1985 provided us more mature folk with a couple of tournaments involving England in Mexico. Admittedly these were not prestigious competitions that live long in the memory. But the chance to see some live summer football was an opportunity not to be missed.

Building bridges

In all honesty, there were a lot of people back in 1985 who possibly didn't have the stomach for more football. The English season was marred with violence and the tragedy of the Bradford fire. And then on Wednesday May 29 came the horror of Heysel.

With 39 fans killed before the start of the European Cup final between Liverpool and Juventus, the prospect of England playing Italy so soon after was understandably viewed with trepidation. In Italy there was pressure for the national team to withdraw from the forthcoming Ciudad de México Cup Tournament involving England and Mexico.

The FA decision took the decision to withdraw English clubs from Europe, but it was not expected that any punishments would extend as far as the national team. As England sat top of their qualifying group, it was hoped that the trip to Mexico would be ideal preparation for the World Cup a year later.

Mexico and Italy contested the first match of the tournament, a 1-1 draw that was played at a sedate pace and involved nine substitutions - a maximum of five substitutes were allowed in the mini-tournament, but only two would be permitted in the World Cup. Just eight days after Heysel, England would face Italy in their opening match.

The players and officials formed a mixed line-up during the national anthems, and it was evident in the build-up to the match that England's management and players knew the importance of what was to follow. 

"Because of the Belgian affair I think it is very important that we use this match to remind people that football should be about sportsmanship and fair play," England manager Bobby Robson noted. Certainly England's players were restrained when a slightly dubious decision decided the match late on.

Shown live on ITV at 8.50pm, the match was played in a sparsely populated Azteca Stadium, a "vast echo chamber" as the Guardian's David Lacey called it. Commentator Brian Moore sounded as if he was broadcasting from Mars such was the poor quality. Yet this made it feel even more special, even if it was just a friendly.

"The present England team found their first experience of playing football at 7,000ft in a high temperature an encouraging but ultimately frustrating experience," Lacey wrote in his match report. Going close with headers from Terry Butcher and Mark Hateley, it would be skipper Bryan Robson who would spurn the best opportunity after a good cross from Everton's Gary Stevens.

 

Italy took the lead in the 74th minute when Salvatore Bagni's cross-come-shot deceived Peter Shilton, yet just a minute later substitute John Barnes' delicious cross saw Hateley score his 6th international goal in 11 matches. Barnes came close with a header before the debutant Stevens was harshly penalised for bringing down Pietro Vierchowod in the box. 

Alessandro Altobelli slotted home the winning penalty but there was still time for England to be denied their own penalty claim, as substitute Gary Lineker tumbled in the area. Referee Senor Antonio Marquez waved away appeals, leaving England frustrated.

The game in two tournaments

The final match of the Ciudad de México Cup between Mexico and England would also act as the first in another tournament: the Azteca 2000 Tournament. West Germany were the other team present, although they hardly helped themselves by arriving in Mexico just 48 hours before their first match.

"You have beautiful cities, perfect pitches, the ideal site for a World Cup," Robson informed the local media, performing his diplomatic duties as England manager. Bringing in Gary Bailey for his second and final England cap, Robson also recalled Viv Anderson, Terry Fenwick, Dave Watson, Glenn Hoddle, and Barnes.

The only goal of the match came after 20 minutes, with Luis Flores firing a shot across Bailey, as England struggled to gain a foothold. Ray Wilkins did have an effort cleared off the line, but a disallowed Anderson goal was the closest Robson's team came to an equaliser.

 

Terry Venables, co-commentating on the live BBC1 coverage, certainly thought Anderson had been unlucky to be penalised for his alleged foul on Mexico keeper Larios. Peter Reid and Kerry Dixon were introduced, both making their debuts, but England could not find a way through.

Having lost to Scotland before the visit to Mexico, the 1-0 loss against the hosts was England's third successive defeat, a run of results not seen since 1959. "England's football was often muddled and myopic," Lacey stated. Robson needed a result against West Germany to silence the doubters.

England had enjoyed some success on tour, beating Mexico City by eight wickets in a cricket friendly five days before the Italy match (Lineker top scoring with an unbeaten 45). Yet defeat against West Germany in their final match of the Azteca 2000 tournament would set an unwanted record of four consecutive defeats.

Dixon at the double

"The present tour is mainly about acclimatisation, but results still matter," Lacey wrote in his preview of the West Germany fixture. Robson hinted that the team were ready to turn the corner: "Morale is good but the players need a lift. All we need is to put away the chances we are making. Our finishing must improve."

With Wilkins, Francis, and Hateley returning for Italian Cup fixtures, Reid, Lineker, and Dixon were handed chances, the latter having enjoyed a fine season for Chelsea in which he scored 36 goals. "There comes a time when players must jump in the water and show if they can swim," Robson declared. Dixon was about to take to international football like a duck to water.

Wearing their red away kit, England were searching for just their second victory over West Germany since the 1966 World Cup final. They were helped by the fact that the Germans had arrived in Mexico two days before, and without players such as Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, Rudi Voller, and Klaus Alofs, the second half became a struggle for Franz Beckenbauer's team.

Dixon would be the star of the match, shown live on ITV. Chesting down for Robson to open the scoring - the first time in six matches that England had taken the lead - Dixon scored twice in the second half to relieve some of the tension that had been threatening to envelop the squad. But Shilton would play his part too.

 

Shortly before half-time, Mark Wright conceded a penalty, allowing Andreas Brehme the chance to equalise. Shilton guessed right, but unlike Turin five years later, he managed to deny a German from the spot. It would be a key moment.

Everton's Paul Bracewell would be the next player to earn his first cap, coming on in the second half, as England ended the tour on a high. Yet even the usually excitable tabloid press did not go overboard with the victory over England's rivals. Three days later West Germany would lose 2-0 to Mexico, but in typical fashion they would be fine when it came to the real event a year later.

Dixon would score twice more as England defeated the USA 5-0 in Los Angeles before coming home. But these would be his final goals for his country. Robson had been searching for a goal scorer, but Dixon was not the answer. Gary Lineker, another striker who scored a brace against the Americans, was about to embark on a remarkable year that would solve Robson's problems and change his life forever.