Number Coxless fours rowing Number Football World Cup
3
winners Sydney 2000
2
winners 1966
These huge muscle bound rowers come in Only England could have a dog who gained
at number three due to the fact that the more publicity than the footballers early in
narrow boat held some of Britain’s greatest the 1966 World Cup. ‘Pickles’ found the
ever Olympians. There was huge pressure in the build up to the stolen World Cup and was a national hero, soon to be eclipsed by
games as a group of elite rowers vied for a chance to perform in a team of heroes on the pitch.
this team. The four were eventually chosen and looked good for
yet another win for the illustrious rowing history of Britain. The final revived the long
rivalry with West Germany.
The team made their way comfortably through the heat and set of Wembley Stadium was stuffed
at a burning pace in the final. Keeping a big lead in the early full of 98,000 people and
stages it looked as if the fearsome four would cruise to victory with couldn’t have been more
no problem, but keeping the tradition of British teams everywhere partisan. Things didn’t start
they started to tire and the watching millions held their breath. The well however, with Helmut
Italians and the Australians closed in and the line came just in time Heller notching a goal after
as the GB team held on through sheer guts. only 12 minutes. Panic soon
subsided as Geoff Hurst put the scores level four minutes later and
The team included Sir Steve Redgrave who was winning his then the game settled into stalemate for long periods. The gutsy
unbelievable 5th Olympic gold, and Sir Matthew Pinsent who was Germans couldn’t hold out forever though and England took the
winning his 3rd (he would go on to win a 4th at Athens in 2004). lead in the 78th minute through Martin Peters. With one minute to
go the game was won but, of
course, an English victory could
not be that easy. The Germans
had a free-kick, launched the ball
T
into the area and it was poked in.
R
ASK
esearc
‘home advantag
h the im
Extra-time, weary bodies and
success of teams. Wh
pact of
the thought of being so close
do some teams per
e’ to the
to victory. Nerves were high.
better at home?. y
Geoff Hurst broke, struck a f
o
r
m
T
shot and hit the crossbar. The
Ho
ASK
w are teams selected f
ball bounced down and crossed the line
(or did it? It is still debated to this day – the English
major com
Com
say it did and the Germans say it didn’t, surprisingly). 3-2 to
pare ho petitions?
o England and they weren’t going to throw it away this time, running
f
r
ootball team, Engw the Eng
down the clock and readying themselves to lift the trophy. With
cric
k
land
seconds to go Geoff Hurst struck the ball and…..
ro
et team and the GB
wing team are selected.
land
“Some people are on the pitch, they think it’s all over.
It is now!” (Kenneth Wolstenholme 1966)
Number Rugby World Cup winners 2003
1
T
ASK
England went into the 2003 World Cup as joint favourites with New
Zealand, a very unusual position (as you’ve probably worked out
h of GB’s national
e the most
Whic e and
h
already from this article) for any British team to be in.
teams receiv
erag
T
V
cov
The boot and skills of Johnny Wilkinson made him a star both at home
sponsorship and whic
and abroad. Whenever England were in trouble he would kick a penalty or score a drop-goal.
e
less publicity?
receiv
He was the highest scorer in the tournament and in the Semi-Final against France wore down the
Wh
y do you think this
is?.
opposition with his boot. England marched on but were to face old rivals Australia in the final, after
they had surprisingly beaten the New Zealanders.
Australia started the final better, thinking quickly and hitting a cross-field kick that put winger Lote
Tuquiri in to score. England dominated after that, playing relentless rugby that allowed Johnny Wilkinson to score 3 penalties.
They made the pressure count on one occasion as Jason robinson scored but only went in at the break 14-5 up.
FIN
A
England let things slip in the second half and the referee penalised them at every turn. The scores
gradually became closer as opportunities to make the game safe were squandered, and with 79
T
L
ASK
minutes of the 80 gone it was 14-11 to England. There was a scrum and, controversially, the referee
What are your best 5
awarded Australia another penalty: 14-14.
teams of all time?
Extra-time (England don’t win World Cups without it). Wilkinson scored a penalty, Elton Flatley
(Australian rugby player, not a boy band star) replied with his own. With 21 seconds left on the clock
captain Martin Johnson drove the ball forward, setting up Matt Dawson to sling the ball out to Johnny
Wilkinson. He dropped the ball, kicked it between the posts and became a superstar as he won the
tournament for England.