World Cup Wanderers: Mexico 1986

Ahead of this summer's competition in Russia, bwfc.co.uk gets in the mood by reviewing all former editions of the biggest tournament in football and the World Cup Wanderers who were in action!

As the start of the 2018 World Cup nears closer, we relive Mexico 1986 and the Hand of God in the latest edition of our preview series.

PETER BEARDSLEY
England
Appearances: 
4
Goals: 
1
Stage reached: 
Quarter-finals

PETER REID
England
Appearances: 
3
Goals: 
0
Stage reached: 
Quarter-finals

PETER SHILTON
England
Appearances: 5
Goals: 0
Stage reached: Quarter-finals

Bolton Wanderers were represented by the three Peters at the 1986 World Cup with Reid having started his career with the Whites before moving to Everton, and Beardsley and Shilton both going on to sign for Bolton at the back-end of their careers during the mid-nineties.

Come the start of the tournament in Mexico, Shilton had long since established himself as England's first choice goalkeeper with his international debut coming against East Germany back in 1970.

An ever-present throughout qualifying, and indeed at the tournament itself, as England reached the finals without losing a game, the shot-stopper kept six clean sheets as the Three Lions picked up four wins and four draws from their eight outings.

In contrast, Reid had only featured in one qualifier with his international debut in September 1985 following an astonishing campaign at club-level, while Beardsley had only made his maiden England appearance three months before the tournament in March 1986.

With them both newcomers to Bobby Robson's camp, only Shilton started England's opening game as a late Carlos Manuel strike saw them lose 1-0 to Portugal, though Beardsley did come on as a late substitute as the Three Lions tried in vain to net a late equaliser.

Shilton kept his first clean sheet of the tournament in England's next outing against Morocco, but it proved to be a disastrous day for the Three Lions as they lost captain Bryan Robson to injury and Ray Wilkins was sent off in the space of a couple of minutes shortly before the break.

England held on to claim a 0-0 draw as Reid and Beardsley were left unused, leaving them bottom of their group with one game left to secure a place in the knockout stages.

Needing a victory to guarantee progression, Shilton was handed the captain's armband while Reid and Beardsley were both handed their first starts of the competition with only Glenn Hoddle and Gary Lineker retaining their positions from Bobby Robson's midfield and attack.

Taking on Poland, the change in personnel did the trick England clinched a 3-0 win courtesy of Lineker's first-half hat-trick to reach the round-of-16, with Beardsley laying on an assist, Reid completing the full 90 minutes and Shilton keeping another clean sheet. 

The trio would keep their places for the rest of the tournament.

With Paraguay next up for the Three Lions, a Lineker brace sandwiched Beardsley's first World Cup goal as England picked up another 3-0 victory.

However, with a Diego Maradona-inspired Argentina their opponents in the quarter-finals, the Three Lions' journey was about to come to a premature end.

With the scores goalless at half-time, the diminuative forward produced his infamous "Hand of God" goal shortly after the restart to fire Argentina ahead, much to the fury of Shilton and the rest of the England side.

Moments later, Maradona produced one of the World Cup's finest ever goals as he received possession in his own half and went on a mesmerising individual run past numerous England players, sprinting away from the chasing Reid before rounding Shilton and slotting home into an empty net.

Reid was withdrawn with Chris Waddle and John Barnes entering the fray soon after as the Three Lions tried to find a way back into the game.

And despite Golden Boot winner Lineker heading home his sixth of the tournament to halve the deficit in the final ten minutes, it proved not to be enough as England fell to a 2-1 defeat against the eventual champions.

Shilton and Beardsley would both remain Three Lions regulars after the tournament and would go on to helpd England go one stage further four years later at Italia 90.

In contrast, Reid would only pick up only a handful more caps before his international career came to an end in 1988.

Read Time: 4 mins