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Trevor, how well do you think England are doing at the moment ?. Euro 2004 will be the perfect test of progress since Japan 2002. Getting our players fully fit will be crucial because Steven Gerrard was unavailable, and David Beckham and Michael Owen were fully fit this time 2 years ago. When we last met in Zurich airport after a poor performance against Liechtenstein, you said you thought we’d be in the play off’s but we got through without that, so another prediction, how do you think we will fair at Euro 2004 ?. The draw away to Turkey was a superb result to clinch qualification. In Portugal, France and England are favourites to progress through the group, but quarter final opponents are likely to be Spain or Portugal which is tough. Last 8 is the first requirement, but England can win it if we have fit players. Other than for the World Cup winning side of '66 when do you think England were at their best, 1990 ?. Yes the 1990 semi-final with West Germany - we were desperately unlucky to lose on penalties, I still remember Chris Waddle hitting the post. My England team of 1982 never lost - but the format of the finals was different. Who would you rate as the best team in Europe and at the moment, Latvia, for knocking out Turkey perhaps ?. No!. I believe on paper France still have the nucleus of their 1998 and 2000 team which makes them the most potent of teams. England, Portugal, Spain and the Czech Republic are all contenders for 2004. Now you hung up your boots in 1984 after 636 league and cup appearances for the Hammers and 47 internationals for England, what do you think was your best goal in your career, the header against Arsenal FA Cup 1980, thunderbolt against Chelsea on Valentines Day 1981 at Upton Park which around 3000 West Ham missed due to being locked outside, or your famous goal against Hungary in June1981 that stuck in the goal stanchion ?. I suppose my England goal in 1981 was one of my best goals, but against Chelsea I scored two from outside the penalty area that Valentines day so they both linger in my brain cells.
And the worst ?.
Losing 2-0 at home to Liverpool in May 1978 which
relegated West Ham and meant we spent 3 years in Division 2. Yes, and I
seem to recall West Ham won their opening game in Division Two beating Notts
County 5-2 !.
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Trevor
Brooking speaks to 365EnglandFans
Trevor Brooking MBE and CBE, former
lifelong West Ham United midfielder, caretaker Manager,
England international, Director at West Ham and Sport England. These are just a
few Trevor's successes in sport, not to mention other business involvements,
prior to taking up his current role as Director of Football Development at the FA,
where he has kindly given up some of his time to give his views, as we look
forward to the 2004 European Championship finals in Portugal and beyond, and
back over Trevor's career with West Ham from 1967 to 1984 and England career
1974 - 1982.
How
about the best moment in your career ?.
Well there's no
doubt the 1980 FA Cup header v Arsenal has to be the best moment, since then no
week in the last 24 years has gone by without somebody joking about my rare
header!
You
made your England debut in a 0-0 draw in Portugal in April 1974, collecting a
further 46 caps before your final game, another 0-0 draw at the World Cup in
Spain 82 against the hosts, as you've said, due to the format it meant England
were eliminated. How much of a difference do you see in today’s set up compared
to then ?. The media attention and coverage is much
greater now. This leads to greater security issues etc and so unfortunately it
has meant players becoming less accessible to fans.