Filed under: Football, Remember When..., England Football
There are plenty of things to look back on with rose-tinted fondness from the 1980s. The Rubik's Cube, Knight Rider, New Romanticism, Jim'll Fix It. Samantha Fox. Ah, those were the days when Adam Ant was urging us all to Stand And Deliver, and that's what Wales did to England on a regular basis.
One thing those with the Three Lions close to their hearts will recall with rather less relish from the decade fashion forgot are the two defeats they suffered at the hands of the Welsh, with whom they renew hostilities for the 100th time, 132 years after their first meeting, in a Euro 2012 qualifier at the weekend.
The first of those results, a 4-1 humbling in May 1980, is still fondly remembered west of Offa's Dyke.
Had England suffered such a crushing setback in a more modern era, they would no doubt have pointed to their hectic schedule and tired limbs, this being the second of three games in the space of a week that had seen them beat Argentina 3-1 at Wembley four days previously, followed by a 1-1 draw against Northern Ireland at the national stadium 72 hours after their drubbing in Wrexham.
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But of course, this was the 1980s. Squad rotation, fitness trainers, isotonic drinks, warm-downs and carbohydrates were all things of the bright new future, so England just got on with it, and looked as thoroughly jaded as Wales did effervescent.
Initially, their 540th international appeared to be going to script. Paul Mariner, with the second of his 13 goals for his country, two-and-a-half years after his first, gave the visitors the lead just after the quarter-hour mark, getting the final touch to a Peter Barnes shot.
However, Wales were level within three minutes thanks to a close range volley from local boy Mickey Thomas, the culmination of a move launched by a Peter Schmeichel-like throw from goalkeeper Dai Davies.
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Source: http://www.fanhouse.co.uk/2011/03/24/remember-when-mickey-thomas-sparked-a-welsh-win-over-england/
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