Umbro Cup

Umbro Cup

Tournament details
Host country	England
Dates	3–11 June 1995
Teams	4 (from 3 confederations)
Venue(s)	5 (in 5 host cities)
Final positions
Champions	Brazil
Runners-up	England
Third place	Sweden
Fourth place	Japan
Tournament statistics
Matches played	6
Goals scored	21 (3.5 per match)
Attendance	175,517 (29,253 per match)
Top scorer(s)	Kennet Andersson (3 goals)

The Umbro Cup was a friendly international football competition that took place in England in June 1995. The trophy was sponsored by the sports equipment brand Umbro, the manufacturers of the England national team's kit.

Host nation England, Sweden, Japan and world champions Brazil participated in the tournament. Brazil were the eventual champions, after winning all three of their games.

The staging of the competition served as an rehearsal for England's hosting of UEFA Euro 1996 the following summer. Matches took place at Wembley Stadium, Elland Road, Goodison Park, Villa Park and the City Ground.

Background

England did not compete in the 1994 FIFA World Cup due to coming third in Group 2 in the qualifying round. This led to Graham Taylor resigning on 23 November 1993, six days after England's failure to qualify. England then appointed Terry Venables as manager on 28 January 1994.^[1] This, combined with the fact that England qualified automatically for UEFA Euro 1996 as hosts, meant that by mid-1995 the team had not played competitive football for more than 18 months. In preparation for Euro 1996 a rehearsal tournament was organised and sponsored by Umbro.^[2][3][4]

Venables named a 23 man squad for the competition, but was missing some choices due to injuries. Two players, Paul Ince and Andy Cole withdrew later and were replaced by Jamie Redknapp and Warren Barton.^[2] Later in Venables 2014 book it was said that Ince was "frozen out" of the squad.^[5]

Tournament

In the opening round of matches, England beat Japan,^[6][7][8] and Brazil beat Sweden.^[9]

Brazil comfortably beat Japan in their second game.^[10][11] On 8 June, Sweden were leading 3–1 against England but their opponents scored twice in the last two minutes to snatch a draw.^[12][13]

In the final match of the tournament, Brazil beat England.^{[14][15][16][17]}

Venues

London	Liverpool	Birmingham	Leeds	Nottingham
Wembley	Goodison Park	Villa Park	Elland Road	City Ground

Results

All times listed are British Summer Time (UTC+1)

England vs Japan

The first match of the tournament took place at Wembley and pitted England against Japan. Due to several injuries, four players made their England debuts, leading to a line-up which Veneables described as "a little disjointed".^[6] Darren Anderton gave England the lead shortly after the half-time interval but Masami Ihara equalised for Japan. England's captain, David Platt, was fouled late in the game but the referee opted not to award a penalty kick. With only two minutes of the game remaining, Japan's captain, Tetsuji Hashiratani, used his hand to stop the ball going into the goal. He was sent off and a penalty awarded, which Platt scored to give England a 2–1 victory.^[6]

3 June 1995

14:00

England	2–1	Japan
Anderton 48' Platt 88' (pen.)	Report	Ihara 62'

Wembley Stadium, London

Attendance: 21,142

Referee: Jaap Uilenberg (Netherlands)

England

Japan

GK 1 Tim Flowers DF 21 Gary Neville DF 5 John Scales DF 15 David Unsworth DF 14 Stuart Pearce MF 11 Darren Anderton MF 7 David Platt (c) MF 4 David Batty  68' MF 8 Peter Beardsley  68' FW 9 Alan Shearer FW 6 Stan Collymore  76' Substitutions: MF 17 Steve McManaman  68' MF 19 Paul Gascoigne  68' FW 22 Teddy Sheringham  76' Manager: Terry Venables

GK 13 Kazuya Maekawa DF 19 Kazuaki Tasaka DF 5 Tetsuji Hashiratani (c)  87' DF 4 Masami Ihara MF 2 Akira Narahashi MF 15 Hiroaki Morishima  81' MF 6 Motohiro Yamaguchi MF 8 Tsuyoshi Kitazawa MF 20 Naoki Soma  74' FW 11 Kazuyoshi Miura FW 14 Masashi Nakayama  65' Substitutions: FW 9 Hisashi Kurosaki  65' MF 3 Hiroshige Yanagimoto  74' MF 16 Masahiro Fukuda  81' Manager: Shu Kamo

Brazil vs Sweden

4 June 1995

16:00

Brazil	1–0	Sweden
Edmundo 42'	Report

Villa Park, Birmingham

Attendance: 20,131

Referee: Dick Jol (Netherlands)

Brazil

Sweden

GK 1 Zetti RB 2 Jorginho CB 3 Aldair CB 4 Ronaldão LB 6 Roberto Carlos DM 8 Dunga (c) DM 5 César Sampaio  77' AM 11 Zinho AM 10 Juninho Paulista FW 7 Edmundo FW 9 Ronaldo Substitutions: DF 16 André Cruz  77' Manager: Mário Zagallo

GK 12 Bengt Andersson DF 14 Pontus Kåmark DF 15 Teddy Lučić DF 4 Joachim Björklund DF 5 Roger Ljung MF 9 Jonas Thern (c)  46' MF 16 Niclas Alexandersson MF 8 Håkan Mild MF 21 Magnus Erlingmark FW 10 Martin Dahlin  78' FW 11 Kennet Andersson  67' Substitutions: MF 19 Niklas Gudmundsson  46' FW 17 Henrik Larsson  67' FW 21 Dick Lidman  78' Manager: Tommy Svensson

Japan vs Brazil

6 June 1995

20:00

Japan	0–3	Brazil
	Report	Roberto Carlos 7' Zinho 52', 64'

Goodison Park, Liverpool

Attendance: 29,327

Referee: Jim McCluskey (Scotland)

Japan

Brazil

GK 1 Nobuyuki Kojima SW 4 Masami Ihara DF 2 Akira Narahashi DF 19 Kazuaki Tasaka  80' DF 17 Norio Omura DF 20 Naoki Soma MF 15 Hiroaki Morishima  67' MF 8 Tsuyoshi Kitazawa MF 6 Motohiro Yamaguchi MF 11 Kazuyoshi Miura FW 14 Masashi Nakayama  46' Substitutions: FW 16 Masahiro Fukuda  46' FW 9 Hisashi Kurosaki  67' DF 3 Hiroshige Yanagimoto  80' Manager: Shu Kamo

GK 1 Zetti DF 2 Jorginho DF 3 Aldair DF 4 Márcio Santos DF 6 Roberto Carlos MF 10 Juninho Paulista  61' MF 8 Dunga (c) MF 5 Doriva MF 11 Zinho  73' FW 7 Edmundo FW 9 Ronaldo Substitutions: MF 13 Leonardo  61' FW 15 Rivaldo  73' Manager: Mário Zagallo

England vs Sweden

8 June 1995

20:00

England	3–3	Sweden
Sheringham 44' Platt 89' Anderton 90+1'	Report	Mild 11', 37' K. Andersson 46'

Elland Road, Leeds

Attendance: 32,008

Referee: Leslie Mottram (Scotland)

England

Sweden

GK 1 Tim Flowers DF 2 Warren Barton DF 24 Colin Cooper DF 12 Gary Pallister  80' DF 3 Graeme Le Saux MF 11 Darren Anderton MF 8 Peter Beardsley  63' MF 7 David Platt (c) MF 10 John Barnes  63' FW 9 Alan Shearer FW 22 Teddy Sheringham Substitutions: MF 18 Nick Barmby  63' MF 19 Paul Gascoigne  63' DF 5 John Scales  80' Manager: Terry Venables

GK 1 Thomas Ravelli (c) DF 2 Gary Sundgren DF 15 Teddy Lučić DF 4 Joachim Björklund DF 14 Pontus Kåmark MF 16 Niclas Alexandersson MF 20 Magnus Erlingmark  88' MF 8 Håkan Mild MF 19 Niklas Gudmundsson FW 17 Henrik Larsson FW 11 Kennet Andersson  85' Substitutions: FW 21 Dick Lidman  85' MF 18 Ola Andersson  88' Manager: Tommy Svensson

Sweden vs Japan

10 June 1995

14:00

Sweden	2–2	Japan
K. Andersson 53', 68'	Report	Fujita 9' Kurosaki 86'

City Ground, Nottingham

Attendance: 5,591

Referee: Angelo Amendolia (Italy)

Sweden

Japan

GK 1 Thomas Ravelli (c) DF 2 Gary Sundgren DF 15 Teddy Lučić DF 4 Joachim Björklund DF 14 Pontus Kåmark MF 16 Niclas Alexandersson MF 7 Peter Wibrån MF 18 Ola Andersson MF 19 Niklas Gudmundsson  73' FW 11 Kennet Andersson FW 17 Henrik Larsson Substitutions: DF 13 Mikael Nilsson  73' Manager: Tommy Svensson

GK 22 Kenichi Shimokawa DF 2 Akira Narahashi  85' DF 4 Masami Ihara DF 5 Tetsuji Hashiratani (c) DF 17 Norio Omura MF 18 Toshiya Fujita  71' MF 6 Motohiro Yamaguchi MF 8 Tsuyoshi Kitazawa  81' MF 20 Naoki Soma FW 11 Kazuyoshi Miura FW 9 Hisashi Kurosaki Substitutions: MF 7 Hajime Moriyasu  71' FW 16 Masahiro Fukuda  81' DF 3 Hiroshige Yanagimoto  85' Manager: Shu Kamo

England vs Brazil

11 June 1995

16:00

England	1–3	Brazil
Le Saux 39'	Report	Juninho 55' Ronaldo 62' Edmundo 77'

Wembley Stadium, London

Attendance: 67,318

Referee: Pierluigi Pairetto (Italy)

England

Brazil

GK 1 Tim Flowers DF 21 Gary Neville DF 5 John Scales  90' DF 24 Colin Cooper DF 14 Stuart Pearce MF 11 Darren Anderton MF 4 David Batty  79' MF 7 David Platt (c) MF 3 Graeme Le Saux FW 9 Alan Shearer  90' FW 22 Teddy Sheringham Substitutions: MF 19 Paul Gascoigne  79' DF 2 Warren Barton  90' FW 6 Stan Collymore  90' Manager: Terry Venables

GK 1 Zetti DF 2 Jorginho DF 3 Aldair  89' DF 15 Márcio Santos DF 6 Roberto Carlos MF 8 Dunga (c) MF 5 César Sampaio MF 11 Zinho FW 10 Juninho Paulista  84' FW 7 Edmundo FW 9 Ronaldo  76' Substitutions: FW 21 Giovanni  76' MF 19 Leonardo  84' DF 4 Ronaldão  89' Manager: Mário Zagallo

Standings

Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
Brazil	3	3	0	0	7	1	+6	9
England	3	1	1	1	6	7	–1	4
Sweden	3	0	2	1	5	6	–1	2
Japan	3	0	1	2	3	7	–4	1

Goalscorers

3 goals Kennet Andersson 2 goals Edmundo Zinho Darren Anderton David Platt Håkan Mild

1 goal Juninho Paulista Roberto Carlos Ronaldo Graeme Le Saux Teddy Sheringham Hisashi Kurosaki Masami Ihara Toshiya Fujita

References

1. Venables 2014, p. 10
2. "England in Minor Tournaments - Umbro Cup". englandfootballonline.com. Retrieved 5 September 2023.
3. "Unanswered queries are a concern for Venables". Birmingham Post. 30 May 1995. p. 15. Retrieved 5 September 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
4. Churchill, Barry (4 June 1995). "Super skipper saves blushes for Venables". Sunday Mercury. p. 84. Retrieved 5 September 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
5. Venables 2014, p. 37
6. Malam, Colin (4 June 1995). "Reliable Platt on spot to save face for England". The Sunday Telegraph. p. 90. Retrieved 29 August 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
7. Weaver, Paul (4 June 1995). "A stuttering embarrassment". The Sunday Telegraph. p. 90. Retrieved 29 August 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
8. Lacey, David (5 June 1995). "Brazil fine-tune for Wembley show". The Guardian. p. 20. Retrieved 29 August 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
9. Lacey, David (5 June 1995). "England slog is no surprise". The Guardian. p. 20. Retrieved 29 August 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
10. Lacey, David (7 June 1995). "Brazilians exhibit their finest arts". The Guardians. p. 21. Retrieved 29 August 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
11. Winter, Henry (7 June 1995). "Zinho leads Brazilian masterclass in artistry". The Daily Telegraph. p. 35. Retrieved 29 August 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
12. Moore, Glenn (9 June 1995). "England's great escape finalised by Anderton". The Independent. p. 38. Retrieved 29 August 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
13. Winter, Henry (9 June 1995). "Anderton's late strike rescues England". The Daily Telegraph. p. 39. Retrieved 29 August 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
14. Lacey, David (12 June 1995). "Brazilian masters prove class apart". The Guardian. p. 18. Retrieved 29 August 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
15. Moore, Glenn (12 June 1995). "England's limitations exposed". The Independent. p. 27. Retrieved 29 August 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
16. Winter, Henry (12 June 1995). "Brazilian panache gives Venables food for thought". The Daily Telegraph. p. 41. Retrieved 29 August 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
17. Hughes, Rob (14 June 1995). "The new boys from Brazil". The New York Times. Retrieved 4 September 2023.

External links

• Umbro Cup 1995 at RSSSF
• Umbro Cup Archived 2017-04-21 at the Wayback Machine at Football Database

Books

• Venables, Terry; Alex, Montgomery (2014), Born to Manage: The Autobiography, Simon & Schuster, ISBN 978-1-47112-991-9