'NO SUCH THING AS A FRIENDLY'

A landmark victory, a record-breaking teenager, and controversial substitutes - World Soccer turns the clock back 20 years to an infamous friendly between England and Australia

The year 2003 was a notable one for the sporting rivalry between England and Australia. In cricket, Australia retained the Ashes at the start of the year with a 4-1 series home win before beating England en route to the World Cup two months later; Leyton Hewitt and Mark Philippoussis dispatched their opponents from Great Britain on the way to winning tennis’ Davis Cup; while Jonny Wilkinson kicked the drop goal that gave England the rugby union World Cup trophy over the Wallabies in Sydney.

In comparison, the football match that took place between the two nations at Upton Park on a drizzly February evening was an entirely inconsequential affair, yet 20 years on – and with the sides due to meet again in October – it is a game that continues to fascinate.

Strangely, for two countries that have been locking horns in most sports for well over a century, this was only the sixth official meeting between England and Australia. The first was as recent as 1980. Prior to that, the FA had only ever put out unofficial representative sides to face the Socceroos in games shorn of international status. Three more friendlies followed in 1983, and another in 1991, before England finally hosted the Australians during the 2002-03 season.