UK v Italy (The Cantanti Italiana): 2004
Played in 2004 at Florence’s Artemio Franchi Stadium in front of a full house, The Cantanti Italiana was watched by more than eight million people. Among the English contingent were Ian Rush, Paul Gascoigne, Rod Stewart, Mick Hucknall, Jason Orange, Mark Owen, Tony Hadley, Iron Maiden, Chris Evans and Five. An incredibly tight game, it ended 3-3 with Italy then winning a tense penalty shoot-out.
England v Germany: 2006
A curtain raiser to the 2006 World Cup, this Legends game was played at Reading’s Madejski Stadium and more than 2.8 million people tuned in to watch it. Perhaps the most famous moment of the game was when Tory MP Boris Johnson rugby tackled Maurizio Gaudino, but that wasn’t the only drama in a thriller that England ultimately lost 4-2.
Among the English stars were Paul Merson, Matt Le Tissier, Paul Gascoigne, John Barnes, Chris Waddle. Damon Hill, Nigel Benn, Matt Dawson, Alec Stewart, Danny Dyer, Darren Campbell, Richard Ashcroft, Kyren Bracken and Angus Deayton.
England v The Rest of The World (The Alan Ball Memorial Cup): 2007
The 2007 Alan Ball Memorial Cup: England v The World was played at Milton Keynes’ new stadium:mk in front of 18,000 spectators. The game, which celebrated the life of legendary England and Southampton midfielder Alan Ball, featured Paul Ince, Dennis Wise, David Gray, Graeme Le Saux, Darren Gough, Kevin Campbell, Darren Campbell and Neville Southall.
The Alan Ball Memorial Cup was the first and only time that stadium:mk has achieved an 18,000 attendance. It was a glorious night for the England Legends as they triumphed 4-2 on the night, with the final goal an England penalty.
England v Italy (The Malta Trophy): 2007
The 2007 Malta Trophy, England v Italy, was played at the Ta Qali National Stadium in Malta. The players included Paul Gascoigne, Chris Waddle, Peter Reid, Viv Anderson, Dean Saunders, Lee Sharpe, Andy Goram, Ray Parlour, Mick Hucknall and David May. It was a bad night for the English as a rampant Italy flew home 5-1 winners.
