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I am sure it's Roy Bentley in this picture and not Tom Finney. Bentley played in this match at centre forward.Does anybody else agree.?

I thought for a minute that you were actually at the match. Then I realised how rugged and youthful you really look.

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Two modest connections - I lived in Hollywood briefly in 1978, at a time when that sign was pretty decrepit, I walked around it a couple of times. In 1964, I had my one and only trip to Blackpool, the Daily Mail sent me to report on Gracie Fields opening the Illuminations season. The MC was Stanley Mortensen, local hero and mayor of Blackpool, definitely not Terry-Thomasish.

There was a southern band playing. They opened with the Tyneside anthem, Blaydon Races. The band didn't realise that Geordies end the song with "Gannin' along th' Scotswood Rooooooooooooooad (drawn out for a minute or so), T' see th' Blaydon races!"

The band played "Road" in normal tempo, they were very embarrassed when they'd finished playing and Mortensen and I were still going "Roooooooooooooooooooooooo..."

I would agree with this match needing a top quality documentary (nothing against your movie that I've never seen). One of the favourites going into to the competition, England lost to relative minnows of USA while beforehand believing they were the best in the world. From what I've heard USA did so what of a smash and grab job but all credit must go to them.

Tim has spoke about the movie a few times on the WF phone in and has never come across as big headed on that (he usually is quite disparaging about his role). I guess just like a football match a blog is open to different interpretations.

- English Footballers Abroad

Well I'm quite happy to admit my jealousy, Tim.

With a few more years of growth in the US "soccer-economy", maybe Disney will give the story a "BraveHeart"-type remix (and hire you as a consultant?).
Disney love an English accent for the evil-guys.

In fact, so does President Obama right now!

If they ever make a movie of the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, I would love to play role of the CEO of BP.
(It's not exactly Darth Vader, I know. But we've all got to start somewhere, and I could soo do them an "evil-accent").

I'm glad that I decided to check the bbc football website at this ungodly hour instead of heading to bed.

This piece, while a little throwaway in it's nature is a nice change of pace compared to the usual and the perfect tonic to France's performance earlier this evening.

Excellent bedtime reading and now I'm off to bed.

What a funny story!

I remember the movie as mostly awful, except for the final match part, where the commentary seemed to make it appear at least marginally plausible. I was wondering at the time where did that part come from in such an awful script. It was basically about a group of awesome, poor, freedom-loving guys from the New World of Tomorrow who beat the devious schemers of the Evil Empire of Yonder, with some football thrown in, right?

Dammit your part is the only memorable thing from the movie - I don't remember any of the actors at all, just the English commentator who in the end kinda admits the great Americans really deserved it. If not for you I bet I wouldn't remember the movie at all. I would say you did a rather good job despite being on a terrible team.

As far as showing historical events and impartial portrayal of both teams is concerned, I think even Lagaan does a better job simply by admitting it is entirely made up. But you were good! I bet J Lo was waiting for that call...

Tim says: "A glorious history, a rich culture, a production line of exciting players... South American football is endlessly fascinating. I cover the continent from my base in Rio."

Tim, how does some personal tale about a documentary about a game between England and the USA actually fits with South American football?

Obviously you've run out of ideas for this article before the publishing deadline arrived, no shame in that, but just in case you haven't noticed, the World Cup has already begun, that hint may prove handy for your next column, or have you already covered all there is to cover about South American football?

I have read the book which is good, it is a great story in itself but the movie in my opinion is largely fabrication. I've written reviews for it. However, let me say it's grossest error as Tim V. alludes to above is the treatment of Stanley Mortensen who makes an incendiary speech at a dinner attended by the USA and a British team who were both involved in a practice "friendly" game, during this inflammatory speech, at least one of the Americans walks out to this "arrogance." I'll keep this short, that book has no speech like that, Mortensen even mentions "cricket" in the speech comparing it to baseball, the Englanders are basically upper class snobs. Ol' Stan from what I can tell was the product of a very humble background, economically especially and in fact with that last name was half-Norweigan, he was the sole survivor of an RAF plane that went down during World War II, he suffered injuries to the extent he was advised to never play the game again and in fact, head injuries. This incident has got to be totally false and unfair where a big deal is made of the Americans who served in the military. The story is a valid one just as any other big upsets that have occurred in the World Cup but next time, use the truth, it's just as good of a story. Throwing out historical accuracy, it's not that bad of a sports movie.

What is it Tim? Were you just wistfully reminiscing about the movie and J Lo or using it as an expedient to focus peoples' attention on the possibility of the script being relived in Rustenburg today? May be, not being familiar with the film, I have no comments on that angle. I am all glued to the England-USA match-up today. There is good chance that after-match, USA could walk away like a cocky rooster again.

For most prognosticators it was a given for England to put one across to USA. Not any more. For the last one week or so all the omens, including your bringing up of perhaps your only starrer, have pointed to a realistic possibility that USA could do the 1-0 to England again.

You have cleanly dodged committing yourself on the outcome altogether. I do not feel entitled to that kind of luxury. With some injury related disarray in the England camp and tickety-tock preparations USA are having, I now put the chances at a miserable 50-50.

No settled clear no.1 keeper and Rooney alone, or in company of only Heskey (as proposed by Lee Dixon) give me little by way of optimism. Hope England just manage it even if, like a clear soup, they are as thin up front as at the goal mouth and immediately in front of it.

to #3, Phil -

I totally agree - I read about a paragraph and realised I don't really care.

Made me laugh Tim, nice one.

Ignore the negative comments Tim - it's a funny story
Anything that highlights that historic match is worthwhile in my opinion. I'm not sure the ´óÏó´«Ã½ were totally correct in seeling it as undisputedly the biggest shock in World Cup history on their coverage of Uruguay v France last night though. Wouldn't North Korea's win over Italy in 1966 be up there too?
On a separate note - I felt sorry for Lodeiro last night. Bad tackle, yes, but I don't think he's malicious. The inexperience/over exuberance of youth I guess. Hoping that those chaotic few minutes aren't all we'll see of him this summer. He showed some good touches in between the bookings.

Oi, Vickery...you forgot to mention the role of your co-star Sean "Big Wheel" Wheelock. Unless my memory of the WF Phone-in is wrong, he also played a minor dramatic role as well.

Also, I see that Gavin Rossdale was in it as well. Talk about getting dates with fit birds!

I am a big fan of the phone-in and really enjoy your contributions. Keep up the good work.

I recently watched this movie during 'season end - world cup start' limbo to get a football fix and was pleasantly surprised! Albeit the movie was dripping parmesan it was sooo cheesy but enjoyable all the same (if you're not english!). Even though i'm from the Emerald Isle i'll be cheering on the aul' enemy from afar, so, 'COME ON ENGLAND' do it for the British Isles and Northern Europe! (Got goosbumps! lol)

Ha ha nice column Tim.

Think you guys above need to listen to the World Football Phone In and realise what Tim is really like - maybe then you'd enjoy the column a little more.

Haha mate, the best thing about that film was Gavin Rossdale. Alongside Billy Zane in Titanic it's the best 'smarmy bd I'm ridiculously jealous of' role in history. Well done

# 12, I don't know Mortensen's ancestry, but he was a Geordie, from South Shields, cf my Blaydon races anecdote. And as everyone knows (? should know), Geordies are straight and up-front, what you see is what you get, so definite Hollywood fabrication re Stan.

Anyway, here in Brisbane Korea-Greece kicks off at 9.30 pm, Arg-Nig at midnight, the 1950 replay at 4.30 a.m. Kettle on at 4.15 I reckon. Howayy th' lads!

And howayy Mr Vickery.

A great bit of self-advertising there.

Come on England!

It is one of the worst films I've ever seen and is a prime example of the "Hollywoodisation" of true stories, very little is true apart from the scoreline.
If anyone wants to watch a decent football film, try watching "The Miracle of Bern"

#21: Yes Faustino, yes, his ancestry must have been Norweigan, hope I'm not shorting anyone with what I said and I'm glad you told us he's a Geordie. Anyone can research him on the net, Apparently his grandfather was Norweigan, whichever. Thanks for pointing that out. Back to the movie, it would almost be more inspiration for the England team, I got it but have barely watched it more than one time in full though it is filmed well and the plot isn't bad, it just isn't true.

Any chance of the ´óÏó´«Ã½ showing this film during the World Cup at all?

It's strange that English people look back on this and other games with fear that the same thing could happen again in Rustenburg - when most other countries would look on it with great anticipation and relish the opportunity of perhaps getting even.

England are always accussed of being arrogant, but we always dig up the worst parts of our past as yard-sticks to be judged by. Englands head to head with U.S.A is won 9 lost 2.

USA...USA...USA

I'll lift a pint this afternoon to ya'll across the pond!

Enough of these comparisons and statistics; The game is forever getting close and I can't wait. It is not going to be an easy game my only worry is that if England get a bad result; the gates of hell would be opened.

@10: how DARES Tim stray away from talking about S.America?? Never mind that US vs England match happened in Brazil...

Just lighten up pal.

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ot fully conversant with Penarol's rich history in Uruguyan football but, a player I do remember seeing a fair bit of them mid nineties as a bleary eyed teenager watching South American football in the early hours and Pablo Bengoechea was a fantastic midfielder if I recall, I would have loved to see him in Europe. I just wondered what role if any he has in footb

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Tim says: "A glorious history, a rich culture, a production line of exciting players... South American football is endlessly fascinating. I cover the continent from my base in Rio."



Tim, how does some personal tale about a documentary about a game between England and the USA actually fits with South American football? Obviously you've run out of ideas for this article before the publishing deadline arrived, no shame in that, but just in case you haven't noticed, the World Cup has already begun, that hint may prove handy for your next column, or have you already covered all there is to cover about South American football?

I am a big fan of the phone-in and really enjoy your contributions. Keep up the good work.

great blog keep it going!

All this user's posts have been removed.Why?

All this user's posts have been removed.Why?

I keep in mind the movie as mostly awful, except for the final match component, where the commentary seemed to create it appear a minimum of marginally plausible. I was wondering at the time where did that component come from in such an awful script.