As the build-up to the European Championships continues, we look back at the afternoon 53 years ago today when three Everton players helped England finish third in the 1968 tournament.
Tommy Wright, Ray Wilson and Brian Labone were all in the back four as England defeated Russia 2-0 in the play-off on 8 June 1968.
The format for the tournament was vastly different to the current set-up.
For instance, there were only four teams in Italy for the final stages!
England qualified by virtue of having the best record in the previous two British Home International Championships, and then defeating Spain in a two-legged quarter-final.
Sir Alf Ramsey’s men won four, drew one and lost one of their matches against Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland in 1967 and 1968 to finish one point ahead of the Scots.
A late goal from Bobby Charlton at Wembley gave the reigning world champions a slender 1-0 lead against Spain in the last eight, before goals from Martin Peters and Norman Hunter secured a 2-1 second leg triumph in Madrid.
It was the first time England had qualified for the final stages of the European Championships – newly named after originally being the European Nations Cup – and they were joined in Italy by the hosts, Yugoslavia and Russia.
England were paired with Yugoslavia in the semi-final and were beaten by a single goal from the legendary Dragan Dzajic in the Stadio Comunale in Florence. Alan Mullery was sent off late on to become the first England player to ever be dismissed during a full international.
The third-place play-off opponents were Russia who had been beaten by Italy on the toss of a coin after a 0-0 draw in Naples.
The England team to face the Russians at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome was: Gordon Banks, Ray Wilson, Brian Labone, Bobby Moore, Norman Hunter, Tommy Wright, Bobby Charlton, Martin Peters, Nobby Stiles, Geoff Hurst, Roger Hunt.
A fourth Everton player, Alan Ball, was on the bench as was future Blue, Keith Newton, then with Blackburn Rovers.
The three Everton boys helped keep a clean sheet and goals from Charlton and Hurst secured the bronze medal for England.
Charlton swept the ball home from close range just before half-time and then in the 63rd minute Hurst took the ball around the keeper and placed it into an empty net to confirm the victory.
Hurst had been restored to the starting XI after missing the semi-final, replacing Alan Ball.
Wright was making his international debut in the game, making him the first, and thus far only, player to ever start his England career at a major championship. He would go on to win 11 caps, including two at the 1970 World Cup in Mexico.
Labone played 26 times for his country and Wilson, a World Cup winner in 1966, won 63 caps.
Italy won the 1968 tournament, beating Yugoslavia 2-0 in the final.
