This document discusses England's failure to qualify for the 1974 World Cup after defeating Poland in 1973, and how this may have impacted their football history. It suggests England could have matched Poland's semifinal performance had they attended the 1974 tournament. England's clubs were dominating Europe in the 1970s but the national team struggled. The document seeks to understand what problems plagued England's national team for many years, preventing them from competing at the highest level, despite the success of English clubs in Europe and the talent of English players.

1. ISBN 978-1-78091-364-3 £14.99
England under achieved for a decade after the World Cup
win in '66 but if the result had been different on that famous
October night in 1973 against Poland and England had
gone to the 1974 World Cup, how different would history
have been?
Polandreachedthesemifinals.Englandcouldhavematched
their feat. Or, it is asked, is there an inherent weakness in the
England psyche which has seen them lose the crucial big
matches from the 1940 through to present day?
England’s history is littered with examples of much promise
and the disappointment, for example in the 1970s, England’s
clubs dominated Europe.
But England struggled to compete. What lay at the heart of
the problem? And what happened to the gifted players that
should have qualified for West Germany 74?
The 1970s was a golden period for English football bar for the
International team. “If Only” seeks to understand a crucial
problem that has plagued England for many years.
Chris Sheppardson is a writer and businessman from the world of
Hospitality who owns both a consultancy practice plus a business
magazine for the industry – EP Magazine.
He has written and had published two books previously including
one on the top leaders and entrepreneurs in the Global Hospitality
Industry – Leaders and Entrepreneurs in Hospitality (2011).
However, sports has always been Chris’s passion and he grew up in
the 1970s and 80s. A keen supporter of Tottenham Hotspur in Football,
Harlequins in Rugby and Middlesex in Cricket.
Ch r i s Sh e p p a r d s o n
IF ONLY...
THE DECLINE AND FALL OF ENGLAND
AS A FOOTBALL SUPERPOWER
IFONLY...THEDECLINEANDFALLOFENGLANDASAFOOTBALLSUPERPOWERChrisSheppardson