LONDON: England’s 1966 World Cup-winning goalkeeper Gordon Banks says he hopes if Gareth Southgate’s team lift the trophy, the Football Association will look after the players better than they did his generation.

The 80-year-old told the Daily Telegraph he and his team-mates have never felt they received proper recognition after beating West Germany 4-2 at the Wembley Stadium.

England are two wins away from winning the trophy for just the second time in their history despite low expectations going into the tournament in Russia as they prepare to take on Croatia in the semi-final on Wednesday.

“I hope if these guys succeed they feel more appreciated by the FA than we were,” said Banks. “They should be. They will have deserved it. The FA have done nothing for us. I have been very disappointed with the FA and what they could have done for us.”

Banks was capped 73 times but his top-flight career was ended when he lost sight in his right eye following a car crash in October 1972.

His most famous save came in a 1970 World Cup group match against eventual champions Brazil, when he somehow got down to his right to keep out a Pele header.

Banks said he and his team-mates had been forced to sell memorabilia to make ends meet. “In my case it was my shirt,” he said. “That was 10 or 15 years ago. I still have the medal.”

Published in Dawn, July 11th, 2018