TO anyone over the age of 50, the name Hungary conjures images of magical Magyars, and humiliated Englishmen. Today offers England the chance to continue redressing the balance, and signal a new era of their own.
Hungary's first visit to Wembley, in 1953, brought England their first home defeat by continental opponents, by a shattering 6-3. A later, in Budapest, Hungary it was no fluke by dismissing the English team containing Billy Wright and Tom Finney 17-1.
This is all well known anyone with more than a passing ball's changing order. At that time Hungary were the best in the world. They lost the 1954 World Cup final to a German team they had defeated 8-3 in an earlier round.
Today they are bit players on the football stage. They have not qualified for a World Cup in 10 years and not beaten a serious team at that level since 1966. Their failure to make Euro `96 included a defeat by Iceland.
Yet there are probably newspapers and supporters in Budapest who expect Hungary to beat every one else, simply because they could 40 years ago. Or maybe not. Perhaps they have recognised that no country has a divine right to success, that football moves on, that some nations will be left behind.
It is a lesson which has not always been heeded in England.
At least the message has now got through to the people who matter the players. Teddy Sheringham said at Bisham Abbey yesterday "We have played a system for 30 years since the World Cup and it has not worked." Thus England will today continue blending a continental approach with the best of British tactical sophistication and technical excellence allied to the traditional virtues of hard work and a refusal to give up.
With Tony Adams still recovering from injury, the defence remains the same as against Croatia, as do the occupants of the two key roles Paul Ince as defensive midfielder and Sheringham as supporting attacker. Les Ferdinand leads the attack while Rob Lee replaces Scottish Cup finalist Paul Gascoigne in midfield.
The spotlight will be on the players in the new flank roles. On the right, Darren Anderton returns for his first international since June. On the left, Jason Wilcox makes his England debut.
Wilcox may only have this game to claim a Euro 96 place. It has been a long time coming.
