For the more senior football supporter, the World Cup tournament of 1970 was just as memorable as that of 1966, but for different reasons.

In 1966 England took on the world in their own backyard and conquered all that was set before them; in 1970, under the wilting heat of a Mexican sun, they surrendered the Jules Rimet Trophy, and so began nearly 40 years of World Cup torment.

England had gone to Mexico as tournament favourites, but things got off to a bad start, even before a World Cup ball had been kicked. Skipper Bobby Moore was sensationally arrested in Bogota, Colombia, for the suspected theft of an emerald bracelet, as England stopped over on route to Mexico. He was placed under house arrest for four days, but was eventually cleared and allowed to rejoin the rest of the squad in their World Cup preparations.
 
Conspiracy theories abounded and together with the searing heat, high humidity and the problems associated with playing at high altitude, it was apparent that England would need performances even greater than four years earlier if they were to retain the trophy.

'Under the wilting heat of a Mexican sun, England surrendered the Jules Rimet Trophy, and so began nearly 40 years of World Cup torment'

In their opening game, against Romania, a second half Geoff Hurst goal broke the resistance of the stubborn Eastern Europeans, and the World Cup holders had got the defence of their trophy off to a winning start. The next group game pitched England against Brazil and, despite Gordon Banks' “save of the century” from Pele, and what was possibly Bobby Moore’s greatest performance in an England shirt, Brazil edged a close game 1-0, with a second half Jairzinho goal. But England secured second place in the group, and qualification for the quarter-finals, when an Alan Clarke penalty gave them a 1-0 win against final group opponents Czechoslovakia.

In the quarter-finals England were drawn against arch-rivals West Germany. The Germans were bent on revenge after losing to England four years previously in a Wembley final now firmly etched in English footballing folklore. England’s preparations for the game did not get off to a good start. First choice keeper Banks was taken ill with a bout of food poisoning the day before the game, and had to be replaced by reserve Peter Bonetti.

From the outset of the game in Leon, England oozed class, and playing magical football were 2-0 up inside an hour, with goals from Alan Mullery and Martin Peters. With the game seemingly, in the bag; and with one eye on the semi-final, England manager, Sir Alf Ramsey, decided to rest players from the blistering heat and substituted Bobby Charlton and Martin Peters. This, probably Sir Alf’s only mistake in more than a decade in charge of the national team, changed the course of the game. Franz Beckenbauer, released from his task of shackling Bobby Charlton, moved forward and took control of a wilting England midfield.