Margaret Thatcher hailed 1990 World Cup heroes as true sportsmen
MARGARET Thatcher lavished glowing praise on England's 1990 World Cup squad despite having little time for football, archives reveal.
Margaret Thatcher meets the England football team
Aides arranged a reception at 10 Downing Street for Bobby Robson's team after spotting the potential for good publicity. Her press chief Sir Bernard Ingham said: "It would help promote the image that you are not anti-football (but simply anti-hooliganism)." The PM told the team she applauded the "inspiration and flair" which took them to the semi-finals and the sportsmanship which won them Fifa's 'fair play' award.
In a veiled dig at German and Italian players, she said: "When an England player was brought down, unlike other teams, our players did not immediately seek the Oscar for the best actor for impersonating the death scene from Richard III.
"You got on calmly with the game and always accepted the referee's decisions without demur.
"We could not have been prouder of you if you had brought back the other trophy to accompany the real one that you achieved."
The Tory leader claimed she managed to "snatch some time" to watch them during official business in Washington, Kiev, Dublin, Moscow, the Armenian mountains and Texas.
"You were watched by hundreds of millions including - to my certain knowledge - one Prime Minister," she joked. "And you gave the world what were by universal acclaim the best matches of the tournament to watch."
She also quipped about the winning goal in a 1-0 victory over Belgium, which was scored by David Platt and made by Paul Gascoigne - graduates of her Youth Training Scheme.
"There is one small point where the Government can claim some credit. We all thrilled at that magnificent - almost impossible - last-minute goal. Who says this country's training isn't among the best?" the PM added.
She finished by predicting that England would win the European Championships in Sweden in 1992.
However, they finished winless and bottom of their qualifying group.