Everton will be strongly represented at this summer’s World Cup, with the club’s England trio joined by the likes of Tim Howard, Kevin Mirallas and former loan man Romelu Lukaku.
It continues a long tradition for the Blues which dates back to 1958 when full-back Alex Parker represented Scotland against Paraguay in Sweden.
Down the years, some of the finest players to wear royal blue have had the honour of playing for their country on the biggest stage of all.
The ECHO has compiled an all-time Everton World Cup XI. Do you agree with our selection? Tweet us @LivEchoEFC if you can come up with a better side.
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Tim Howard (USA)
The USA international was man of the match on his first World Cup appearance, against England in South Africa. But the 1-1 draw four years ago was remembered for the keeper at the other end of the field – Robert Green – as he somehow allowed Clint Dempsey’s effort to bobble past him. The Americans made it into the round of 16 stage, where they were beaten by Ghana.
Gary Stevens (England)
A fixture of Howard Kendall’s trophy-winning sides of the 1980s, the right-back played in every one of England’s matches at the 1986 World Cup – including the quarter-final exit to Argentina and Maradona’s ‘Hand of God’. He started England’s first and final matches at Italia 90 as he battled Paul Parker for the right-back slot.
Brian Labone (England)
The central defensive linchpin withdrew from England’s 1966 World Cup squad due to his impending marriage to a former Miss Liverpool. Four years later, he was involved in three of England’s four games, partnering Bobby Moore in the narrow loss to Pele’s Brazilian samba stars in the group stages.
Slaven Bilic (Croatia)
The centre-back was at the centre of one of the most infamous incidents in World Cup history, when he was involved in an innocuous tangle with France’s Laurent Blanc during the 1998 semi-final. Bilic crumpled to the ground holding his face and Blanc was sent off, depriving him of the chance to play in the final. Croatia, after losing 2-1 to the French, beat the Netherlands in the third/fourth place play-off.
Ray Wilson (England)
Having helped the Blues win one of the most memorable FA Cup finals of all time in 1966, Wilson was soon back at Wembley – this time in an England shirt. The left-back was an ever-present for his country as Alf Ramsey’s heroes won the World Cup, beating West Germany 4-2 in the final.
Alan Ball (England)
Having won the World Cup while still a Blackpool player in 1966, Ball was a Blue by the time England attempted to defend their crown in Mexico. The searing heat sapped the energy out of Ball and his team-mates as they surrendered a 2-0 lead and lost 3-2 to West Germany in the quarter-finals.
Peter Reid (England)
The midfielder won three of his 13 England caps at the 1986 World Cup, coming into the side for the 3-0 win over Poland, a turning point for Bobby Robson’s team. Undone by a Maradona-inspired Argentina in the quarter-finals.
Tim Cahill (Australia)
Cahill became the first Australian to score a World Cup goal when he netted against Japan in Germany in 2006. The Aussies were knocked out by eventual winners Italy in the round of 16.
He was harshly sent off against Germany in South Africa four years later but returned to score his third World Cup goal against Serbia.
Trevor Steven (England)
As one of the most consistent players in England, the midfielder was a natural pick for the 86 World Cup. He set up Everton team-mate Gary Lineker’s hat-trick goal against Poland. Replaced by John Barnes mid-way through the quarter-final loss to Argentina.
Graeme Sharp (Scotland)
One of the best centre-forwards in Everton’s history played only one World Cup match for Scotland – a 0-0 draw with a brutal Uruguay side. Sharp was unable to get on the scoresheet amid the flying elbows and crunching tackles.
Gary Lineker (England)
The prolific striker was still on Everton’s books in 1986 when he became the first – and so far only – Englishman to win the Golden Boot, scoring six goals. He was one of four Blues players to feature regularly in Bobby Robson’s side in Mexico but his exploits brought him to the attention of Barcelona, who soon snapped him up for £2.8m.
England’s Everton players Trevor Steven, Peter Reid, Gary Stevens and Gary Lineker.
What a team. South Africa’s Steven Pienaar and Holland’s John Heitinga, red-carded in the defeat to Spain in the 2010 final, will have to make do with a place on the bench, alongside the likes of Stuart McCall and Anders Limpar.
But what about those Everton players who never played at a World Cup? We reckon this line-up would give the World Cup side a run for their money: Neville Southall (Wales), Seamus Coleman (Republic of Ireland), Andy Hinchcliffe (England), Sylvain Distin (France), Kevin Ratcliffe (Wales), Alex Young (Scotland), Colin Harvey (England), Howard Kendall (England), Andrei Kanchelskis (Russia), Bob Latchford (England), Joe Royle (England).
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