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ENGLAND'S DREAM TEAM

Player Profiles: Left Midfield

PLAYER:Tom Finney

BORN:Preston, 1922

TEAMS:Preston North End

CAPS:76, 30 goals

A master technician, Finney was one of the greatest wingers that ever lived. He had an excellent scoring record for England but despite his extravagant individual skill he was a team player. He even drove tanks in the Eighth Army in World War II. Can you imagine a modern player driving a tank, except as a prank after an evening of drinking and roasting?

PLAYER:John Barnes

BORN:Kingston, Jamaica, 1963

TEAMS:Watford, Liverpool, Newcastle United, Charlton Athletic

CAPS:79, 11 goals

Barnesy was blessed with a deft touch and great balance along with a wicked left foot, but World in Motion proved there were limits to his abilities. He will always be remembered for his brilliant individual goal against Brazil when he seemed to be impersonating a Brazilian. Was never to scale the heights of that Brazil game again and took unreasonable abuse from his own fans at the tail-end of his England career.

PLAYER:Chris Waddle

BORN:Gateshead, 1960

TEAMS:Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur, Marseille, Sheffield Wednesday

CAPS:62, 6 goals

The master of the mullet, Chris Waddle was a crowd-pleasing winger who could hit unbelievable strikes - sometimes into the top corner, sometimes into the next town. Witness his penalty in Italia 90� His loping gait belied the brilliant ball skills that led to a fine England career. He enjoyed teasing defenders almost as much as teasing his hair, and together with rhyming namesake Hoddle was once persuaded that a singing career was advisable. It wasn't.

PLAYER:Ray Kennedy

POSITION:Left wing

BORN:Seaton Delaval, 1951

TEAMS:Arsenal, Liverpool, Swansea, Hartlepool, Sunderland

CAPS:17, 3 goals

Kennedy came into his own when he was converted from a decent striker to an outstanding midfielder at Liverpool. He had an excellent left foot and retained his striker's ability to score goals. Burly, but skilful, he was good in the air and with Liverpool's team ethic he became an invaluable player in the mid-Seventies. Sadly afflicted with Parkinson's Disease later in life.

PLAYER:Martin Peters
br> POSITION:Midfield

BORN:Plaistow, 1943

TEAMS:West Ham United, Tottenham Hotspur

CAPS:67, 20 goals

As any Hammers fan will tell you, Martin Peters, Bobby Moore and Geoff Hurst formed the West Ham 'Holy Trinity' that won the World Cup in 66. Scorer of the 'other goal' in the final, Peters had an uncanny knack of arriving in the box unnoticed and finishing off a move, almost as if he had a Potter-like cloak of invisibility. Sir Alf said he was ten years ahead of his time, such was his vision and touch.

PLAYER:Steve McManaman

BORN:Liverpool, 1972

TEAMS:Liverpool, Real Madrid, Manchester City

CAPS:37, 3 goals

When he burst onto the scene as a skinny winger with bags of confidence, Macca looked like he might be a real world-beater. Instead he became a Real squad player. It would be harsh to ask a player who has enjoyed such success in football where it all went wrong, but his England career never really ignited. His best moments for England were at Euro 96, where he shined briefly under El Tel.

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