This Day in History: 2023-02-23

Nr. 411

‘WINGLESS WONDERS’ LET FLY IN MADRID (1965)

Alf Ramsey was nothing if not a pragmatist, so when he found he had no worthy wingers for an England side in the build-up to the 1966 World Cup he designed a team without them. His innovative 4-3-3 formation was quickly dubbed the ‘Wingless Wonders’ by the sporting press, who witnessed its first outing during a friendly in Madrid on 8 December 1965. With a rock-solid defence and hard man Nobby Stiles helping to anchor the midfield, England attacked down the centre of the Bernabeu to beat Spain 2-0 with goals from striker Roger Hunt and England’s ‘Scottish Player’, centre forward Joe Baker.

Nobby Stiles, Manchester United player and member of England’s World Cup team played a key role in the ‘Wingless Wonders’.