Fixtures postponed to increase England’s chances
If Revie had timed his EUand Road exit well, his decision to take on the England job was to prove no great boost to his managerial career. He failed to establish a settled side, and although the usual club versus country wrangle didn’t help matters. Revie himself contributed to the problem with constant changes in personnel. England failed to reach the last eight of the 1976 European Championship, and in July the following year he handed in his resignation. England were on the brink of yet another World Cup exit and Revie headed off to the Middle East with comments that he jumped before he was pushed ringing in his ears.
Ron Greenwood stepped into the breach and that autumn guided England to victories in their last two World Cup qualifying matches. A 2-0 win over Italy merely reversed the result in Rome. It was the victory over Luxembourg by the same score that settled England’s fate, the Italians going through on goal difference. As in 1974, England lost out to a side that went on to do well in the tournament - Italy would finish fourth - but after the heady days of 1966, and to a lesser extent 1970, it was a bitter pill to swallow.
The gruelling nature of the domestic season was highlighted as a contributory factor in the national team’s fortunes. Grudgingly, the Football League finally accepted the postponement of fixtures prior to key international matches.
World History
