Editing Gordon Banks (section)

== International career ==
Banks was [[Cap (sport)|capped]] twice for the [[England national under-21 football team|England under-23]] side, in matches against [[Wales national under-21 football team|Wales]] and [[Scotland national under-21 football team|Scotland]] in 1961.<ref>{{harvnb|Banks|2002|p=42}}</ref>

[[Ron Springett]] was the goalkeeper for England as Banks rose to prominence. Still, after the [[1962 FIFA World Cup|1962 World Cup]] in [[Chile]], a new coach was appointed in former England right-back [[Alf Ramsey]].<ref name="page 65">{{harvnb|Banks|2002|p=65}}</ref> Ramsey demanded sole control of the team and began looking towards the next [[FIFA World Cup|World Cup]].<ref name="page 65" /> Banks won his first [[Cap (sport)|cap]] on 6 April 1963 against Scotland at Wembley, after Springett was dropped following a poor performance.<ref>{{harvnb|Banks|1980|p=24}}</ref> England lost 2–1, though Banks was blameless as Scotland's goals came firstly from an error by [[Jimmy Armfield]] and then secondly from the penalty spot.<ref>{{harvnb|Banks|2002|p=67}}</ref> He was picked for the next match against [[Brazil national football team|Brazil]], which ended in a creditable 1–1 draw after [[Bryan Douglas]] cancelled out [[José Macia|Pepe]]'s opener.<ref>{{harvnb|Banks|2002|p=69}}</ref> Banks continued to play consistently to become established as England's first-choice goalkeeper. In 1963, he was picked to play against the [[1963 England v Rest of the World football match|Rest of the World]], in a celebration match to mark 100 years of [[The Football Association]].<ref>{{harvnb|Banks|2002|p=75}}</ref>

Banks also played in two of England's three games at the "[[Taça das Nações|Little World Cup]]" in Brazil in the summer of 1964, a 1–1 draw with Portugal and a 1–0 defeat to [[Argentina national football team|Argentina]].<ref>{{harvnb|Banks|2002|p=82}}</ref> Blackpool's [[Tony Waiters]] won five caps in the England goal in 1964 but found that his challenge to Banks's first-team place came to an end after he conceded five goals to Brazil.<ref>{{harvnb|Banks|1980|p=37}}</ref> During England's summer of 1965 tour he built up a solid understanding with his defenders—[[George Cohen]], [[Jack Charlton]], [[Bobby Moore]], and [[Ray Wilson (English footballer)|Ray Wilson]]—as he only conceded two goals in four matches against [[Hungary national football team|Hungary]], [[Yugoslavia national football team|Yugoslavia]], [[Germany national football team|West Germany]], and [[Sweden men's national football team|Sweden]].<ref>{{harvnb|Banks|2002|p=90}}</ref> They then played seven [[Exhibition game|friendlies]] in 1966 in the build-up to the World Cup, though the team passed their biggest test of character in the [[British Home Championship]], beating Scotland 4–3 in front of a crowd of over 130,000 at [[Hampden Park]].<ref>{{harvnb|Banks|2002|p=99}}</ref> Going into the competition, the only defeat in 21 matches since the "Little World Cup" came against [[Austria national football team|Austria]], in a game that Banks missed due to injury.<ref>{{harvnb|Banks|2002|p=103}}</ref>

=== 1966 World Cup ===
Banks entered the [[1966 FIFA World Cup]] as England's first-choice goalkeeper, and his understudies Ron Springett and [[Peter Bonetti]] never took to the field during the tournament. England opened the tournament with a goalless draw against [[Uruguay national football team|Uruguay]], with Banks a virtual spectator as the highly defensive Uruguayans rarely ventured out of their half.<ref>{{harvnb|Banks|2002|p=109}}</ref> They then defeated [[Mexico national football team|Mexico]] 2–0, with Banks again rarely troubled throughout.<ref>{{harvnb|Banks|2002|p=113}}</ref> A 2–0 win over [[France national football team|France]] then took England through the group stage without Banks conceding a goal.<ref>{{harvnb|Banks|2002|p=116}}</ref>

England beat Argentina 1–0 in the last eight, with Geoff Hurst scoring with a header; the match was sullied by the first-half [[Ejection (sports)|sending off]] of Argentinian midfielder [[Antonio Rattín]], who refused to leave the pitch after being dismissed for dissent.<ref>{{harvnb|Banks|2002|p=122}}</ref> In contrast to the previous games, the semi-final against Portugal proved to be a fair contest between two sides of talented players eager to attack from the start of the match.<ref>{{harvnb|Banks|2002|p=125}}</ref> Yet there was panic in the buildup to the game as trainer [[Harold Shepherdson]] forgot to buy [[chewing gum]], which Banks used to make his hands stickier and better able to handle the ball, and so Shepherdson had to run to a nearby [[Newsagent's shop|newsagents]] to purchase gum as the teams were in the tunnel.<ref>{{harvnb|Banks|2002|p=127}}</ref> Bobby Charlton scored two goals, but Portugal made a strong finish and won a penalty on 82 minutes after Jack Charlton handled the ball in the penalty area.<ref>{{harvnb|Banks|2002|p=129}}</ref> [[Eusébio]] converted the penalty after sending Banks the wrong way, and the game finished 2–1 in England's favour.<ref>{{harvnb|Banks|2002|p=130}}</ref> This was the first goal Banks had conceded for England in 721 minutes of regular play since giving up Scotland's last goal after 81 minutes of the Home International clash in April. This remained a record for an England goalkeeper until 2021 when it was broken by [[Jordan Pickford]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/pickford-breaks-england-goalkeeper-record-stretching-back-1966-2021-07-07/|title=Pickford breaks England goalkeeper record stretching back to 1966|work=Reuters|date=8 July 2021|access-date=19 July 2021}}</ref>

England's opponents in the [[1966 FIFA World Cup final|final]] were West Germany. It was England who dominated the final, but it was Banks who was beaten first. A weak header from Ray Wilson handed a chance to [[Helmut Haller]], who sent an accurate but relatively weak shot into the corner of the net; Banks had been unsighted by Jack Charlton, and he failed to adjust his position in time to reach the ball.<ref>{{harvnb|Banks|2002|p=134}}</ref> England equalised through a Geoff Hurst header within six minutes and went ahead late in the second half through [[Martin Peters]].<ref>{{harvnb|Banks|2002|p=135}}</ref> With seconds left in the game, [[Lothar Emmerich]] sent a [[Free kick (association football)|free kick]] into the England penalty area, and the ball fell to [[Wolfgang Weber]], who guided the ball over a lunging Ray Wilson and an outstretched Banks into the net to take the game into extra-time.<ref>{{harvnb|Banks|2002|p=136}}</ref> In extra time, the Germans sent shots in at the England goal, which Banks managed to catch and control without any great danger.<ref>{{harvnb|Banks|2002|p=137}}</ref> Hurst scored two goals to complete his [[hat-trick]], and though many claimed his second goal never [[Cross (association football)|crossed]] the line Banks always maintained his belief that the officials called the decision correctly.<ref>{{harvnb|Banks|2002|p=138}}</ref> Between these goals, Banks had to deal with a fiery shot from [[Sigfried Held]] and was later exposed only for [[Uwe Seeler]] to come just centimetres away from connecting with the ball.<ref>{{harvnb|Banks|2002|p=139}}</ref>

=== Euro 1968 ===
Scotland were the first team to beat the world champions, as goals from [[Denis Law]], [[Bobby Lennox]] and [[Jim McCalliog]] secured a 3–2 victory at Wembley on 15 April 1967.<ref>{{harvnb|Banks|2002|p=152}}</ref> Despite this set-back, England qualified for [[UEFA Euro 1968]], which consisted of just four teams: England, [[Italy national football team|Italy]] (hosts), the [[Soviet Union national football team|Soviet Union]], and Yugoslavia. England played just two games at the tournament, losing 1–0 to Yugoslavia,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://espnfc.com/en/news/1053821/european-nations-cup-1968.html|title=Euro 2012: European Nations Cup 1968|last1=Brewin|first1=John|last2=Williamson|first2=Martin|date=29 April 2012|website=[[ESPN FC]]|publisher=ESPN|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121008105917/http://espnfc.com/en/news/1053821/european-nations-cup-1968.html|archive-date=8 October 2012|url-status=dead|access-date=23 August 2012}}</ref> and then beating the Soviets 2–0 in the third-place play-off.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/history/news/0254-0d7b2e1adede-c896e22df928-1000--england-beat-soviet-union-to-win-euro-1968-third-place-pla/ | title = England beat Soviet Union to win bronze |date = 2 October 2003 | publisher = UEFA | access-date = 12 February 2019}}</ref>

=== 1970 World Cup ===
{{multiple image
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|image1 = Gordon Banks en 1970.jpg
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|footer = [[association football trading card|Trading card]]s of Banks with England by Italian [[Panini Group|Panini]] (left) and ''Chapitas'' in Argentina (right), both issued in 1970
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Banks went into the [[1970 FIFA World Cup|1970 World Cup]] as England's number one with 59 caps to his name, and had Peter Bonetti (six caps) and [[Alex Stepney]] (one cap) as his understudies. He found the heat and altitude at [[Guadalajara]], Mexico difficult to cope with.<ref>{{harvnb|Banks|2002|p=160}}</ref> The team's efforts at acclimatisation were not helped when Bobby Moore was falsely accused of stealing the infamous "[[Bogotá Bracelet]]".<ref>{{harvnb|Banks|2002|p=167}}</ref> Despite this, a Geoff Hurst goal was enough to beat their first opponents, [[Romania national football team|Romania]].<ref name="page 169">{{harvnb|Banks|2002|p=169}}</ref> A far tougher test awaited on 7 June, when England faced Brazil. The day before the match, Banks was informed that he had been awarded an [[Order of the British Empire|OBE]].<ref name="page 169" />

[[File:banksvspele4.jpg|thumb|right|Image describing Banks's save v Pelé in the 1970 World Cup, Mexico]]
Playing at pace, Brazil were putting England under enormous pressure and an attack was begun by [[Captain (association football)|captain]] [[Carlos Alberto Torres|Carlos Alberto]] who sent a low ball down the right flank for the speedy [[Jairzinho]] to latch on to.<ref name="page 2">{{harvnb|Banks|2002|p=2}}</ref> The Brazilian winger sped past left-back [[Terry Cooper (footballer, born 1944)|Terry Cooper]] and crossed the ball into the six-yard box, where [[Pelé]] connected with a powerful header to send the ball low towards the right-hand corner of the goal.<ref name="page 2" /> In the knowledge that his header was placed to perfection, Pelé immediately shouted "Gol!" (Brazilian Portuguese for goal).<ref name="page 3">{{harvnb|Banks|2002|p=3}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Rice|first=Simon|title=The 100 greatest World Cup moments|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/the-100-greatest-world-cup-moments-1915569.html?action=Gallery&ino=18|access-date=18 May 2013|newspaper=The Independent|date=10 June 2010}}</ref>

The split-second incident only allowed Banks time for one conscious thought – that the shot was impossible to catch, and the only way to prevent Pelé from following up on the rebound would be to parry the ball over the bar.<ref name="page 3" /> The ball bounced {{convert|2|yd}} in front of the goal-line, and Banks managed to make contact with the ball with the fingers of his right hand and rolled his hand slightly to angle the ball over the crossbar.<ref name="page 3" /> He landed in the inner netting of the goal and knew he had saved the ball after seeing Pelé's reaction.<ref name="page 3" /> Banks then rose to his feet to defend the corner and broke into laughter after the following exchange:<ref>{{harvnb|Banks|2002|p=4}}</ref>

:"I thought that was a goal." (Pelé)
:"You and me both." (Banks)
:"You're getting old, Banksy, you used to hold on to them." (Bobby Moore)

Pelé and numerous journalists and pundits would later describe the save as the greatest in the game's history.<ref name="ifhof">[http://www.ifhof.com/hof/banks.asp Gordon Banks: International Football Hall of Fame] Retrieved 10 May 2011</ref><ref name="pelgod">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2003/jun/30/sport.comment|title=And God created Pelé|access-date=11 May 2011|work=The Guardian|location=UK|first=Simon|last=Hattenstone|date=30 June 2003}}</ref><ref name="keepstun">[https://web.archive.org/web/20110122063954/http://www.fifa.com/classicfootball/players/player=174372/index.html Gordon BANKS: The keeper who stunned the King] ''FIFA''. Retrieved 10 May 2011</ref> Banks later said "They won't remember me for winning the World Cup, it'll be for that save. That's how big a thing it is. People just want to talk about that save."<ref>[http://www.chrishunt.biz/features04.html ''Reunited: Gordon Banks & Jairzinho''], published in ''FourFourTwo''. 2002</ref> In 2002 the UK public voted the save No. 41 in the list of the [[100 Greatest (TV series)|100 Greatest Sporting Moments]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.channel4.com/entertainment/tv/microsites/G/greatest_sporting/results.html|title=100 Greatest Sporting Moments – Results|year=2002|publisher=[[Channel 4]]|location=London|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020204090913/http://www.channel4.com/entertainment/tv/microsites/G/greatest_sporting/results.html|archive-date=4 February 2002|url-status=dead|access-date=9 August 2019}}</ref>

Brazil won 1–0 after Jairzinho beat Banks in the second half.<ref>{{harvnb|Banks|2002|p=175}}</ref> England ultimately joined Brazil in the last eight after a win in the final group game against [[Czechoslovakia national football team|Czechoslovakia]]. The reward was a rematch of the 1966 final against West Germany.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-england-at-the-world-cup-1970-mexico-banks-illness-undermines-englands-title-defence-1162828.html | work = The Independent | title = Football: England at the World Cup: 1970 Mexico – Banks illness undermines England's title defence | first = Ken | last= Jones | date = 4 June 1998 | access-date = 12 February 2019}}</ref>

The day before the West Germany game, England's hopes of making further inroads into the World Cup were dented when Banks complained of an upset stomach. He became affected by violent stomach cramps and aching limbs and spent his time in the bathroom sweating, shivering and vomiting.<ref>{{harvnb|Banks|2002|p=182}}</ref> He passed an extremely undemanding fitness test but suffered a relapse shortly before the game, and Ramsey was forced to rest him and play Peter Bonetti in his place.<ref>{{harvnb|Banks|2002|p=184}}</ref> Ramsey remarked that "of all the players to lose, we had to lose him."<ref name="keepstun" /> Banks watched the game on television at the hotel as England lost a two-goal lead to be eliminated 3–2 after extra time. Due to a delay in the broadcast, he switched the television off, with England 2–0 in the lead, as Bobby Moore returned to the hotel to break the news of the defeat.<ref>{{harvnb|Banks|2002|p=185}}</ref> Suspicions later surfaced that Banks had been poisoned to take him out of the game, but with no evidence to support them, Banks never believed in them.<ref>{{harvnb|Banks|2002|p=186}}</ref>

=== Final years ===
Only four teams competed in [[UEFA Euro 1972]]: [[Belgium national football team|Belgium]] (hosts), Hungary, the Soviet Union, and West Germany. England came close to qualifying but lost 3–1 to West Germany in the final round of [[UEFA Euro 1972 qualifying|qualifying]].<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.theguardian.com/observer/englandfootball/story/0,9565,541541,00.html | work = The Observer | title = England shown the way out |date = 30 April 1972 | first = Hugh | last = McIlvanney | access-date = 12 February 2019}}</ref>

On 15 May 1971, Banks was involved in a notorious incident with [[George Best]] who, while playing against England for [[Northern Ireland national football team|Northern Ireland]], flicked the ball out of Banks's hands and [[Header (association football)|headed]] it into the net.<ref name="page 191">{{harvnb|Banks|2002|p=191}}</ref> The move was audacious, but was disallowed by the [[Referee (association football)|referee]], who judged it to be dangerous play.<ref name="page 191" /><ref>{{cite news|last=May|first=John|title=The best of Best|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/4316154.stm|access-date=4 February 2013|date=25 November 2005|work=[[BBC Sport]]}}</ref> Banks played his 73rd and final game for England on 27 May 1972, in a 1–0 win over Scotland at Hampden Park.<ref>{{harvnb|Banks|2002|p=257}}</ref> During his 73 international games, he kept 35 clean sheets and lost just nine games.<ref name="Banks 2002 258">{{harvnb|Banks|2002|p=258}}</ref>