When national teams play clubs sides: England v Spurs, France v Arsenal, Brazil v Barca and more
With the success of the Champions League and Premier League, not to mention the fact that the biggest club sides have their pick of the world's best players, international football isn't what it used to be. The controversy surrounding FIFA has also brought into question just how important the international game is in modern football. Could any international team win the Champions League? Would Brazil beat Barca? Could England beat Man United?
There have been occasions in the past when club teams have actually faced national sides. talkSPORT looks at the matches that made club v country a reality...
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 3 ENGLAND 2, 1961 CHARITY SHIELD
Despite being billed as an 'FA XI', Tottenham's opponents in the 1961 Charity Shield was undoubtedly the England team of that time (minus Spurs' England internationals), managed by England boss Walter Winterbottom. Spurs had won the double that year, the first time since the Charity Shield was inaugurated in 1908 that this feat had been achieved, leading to England's participation in the event (the practice of inviting the league runners up to take part in such an event first occurred in 1986). Spurs beat an England team containing the likes of Bobby Charlton, Bobby Robson and Johnny Haynes in an entertaining game at White Hart Lane.
Bradford City 2 ENGLAND 1, 1986
This match was held to mark the re-opening of Bradford City's Valley Parade ground in December 1986, over a year after a tragic fire in the main stand had killed 56 people who had simply gone to watch a game of football. A quarter of a century after he'd played for England against Spurs, a crowd of 15,000 were present to see Bobby Robson manage England to a 2-1 defeat against the Bantams.
AYLESBURY UNITED 0 ENGLAND 7, 1988
England went into the 1988 European Championships hopeful, as ever, of glory. How did they warm up for the challenge of Jack Charlton's tough Irish side, the Dutch team of Ruud Gullit and Marco van Basten and the powerful Soviets? With a friendly against Beazer Homes League team Aylesbury United. Peter Beardsley scored four as England unsurprisingly cruised to victory, a feeling that would elude them in West Germany when they lost all three games to crash out of the Euros.
ARSENAL 2 FRANCE 0, 1989
On Valentine's Day 1989 Arsenal took on a France team looking to acclimatise to the British style of play before they faced Scotland in a crucial World Cup qualifier. Arsenal's Scottish manager George Graham was criticised by national team boss Andy Roxburgh for agreeing to the fixture, but it didn't help the French, who lost out on a place at the 1990 World Cup to the Scots. Meanwhile, Arsenal (who went on to be crowned champions that season) beat France 2-0 thanks to goals from Alan Smith and Martin Hayes. The French team contained a certain Eric Cantona and the Arsenal fans serenaded their team with a rendtion of 'Arsenal for England!'
ARSENAL 3-2 AUSTRALIA, 1984
The win against France wasn't the first time Arsenal had beaten international opposition at Higbury. Five years previously the Gunners beat Australia in a November friendly, in which John Kosmina (at Arsenal between 1978 and 1979) lined up against his old team for the Socceroos. Arsenal's 3-2 win was revenge for a 3-1 defeat they had suffered to Australia in Sydney back in 1977, with George Armstrong grabbing the Gunners' consolation.
BARCELONA 2 BRAZIL 2, 1999
This incredible contest took place at the Nou Camp as part of Barcelona's centenary celebrations. Ronaldo put Brazil ahead on his return to Barca (he was an Inter player by this point, but had yet to sign for Real Madrid!) before Barca equalised. Barcelona's Rivaldo put Brazil 2-1 up by half-time (he was playing for his country), but the Catalans levelled things when Brazilian Sonny Anderson (who couldn't break into his national side) got the game's final goal.