England vs Scotland: Classic Combined XI

England v Scotland is the oldest rivalry in international football, with the two nations playing the first officially recognized international match ever as early as 1872.

Only an estimated 4,000 people took part in the game, which was held on a cricket ground near Glasgow, but international football, as far as we know, was born at that moment.

Both nations have produced countless incredible players over the next 150 years.

Here is a look at an England and Scotland combined XI through the ages …

Gordon Banks / Getty Images / Getty Images

England hats: 73

The late Gordon Banks retained the goal for England in the 1966 World Cup and is responsible for one of the greatest saves of all time when he somehow turned a nod from Pele over the crossbar in the tournament four years later. He unfortunately died in 2019.

Gary Neville / Ben Radford / Getty Images

England hats: 85

Gary Neville was the first of Manchester United’s famous’ Class of ’92’ to break into England’s senior line-up and go to five major tournaments from Euro ’96. He was a proven winner at club level and one of the best defenders of his generation.

Alan Hansen / Simon Bruty / Getty Images

Scotland hats: 26

Although he is still one of the greatest Scottish players of all time, Alan Hansen played relatively sparingly for Scotland during an eight-year international career and missed the 1986 World Cup. But he won eight league titles and three European Cups for Liverpool.

Bobby Moore / Evening Standard / Getty Images

England hats: 108

The legendary Bobby Moore is the only England captain to lift a World Cup trophy, awarded with the Jules Rimet trophy after the 1966 final against West Germany at Wembley. Only 51 when he died in 1993, he was the third player in history to reach 100 internationals for England.

Ashley Cole / Alex Livesey / Getty Images

England hats: 107

There is a strong argument that Ashley Cole is the best left-back England has ever produced, and he was in fact an automatic choice for the national side for 12 years. He made his 100th appearance in a prestigious friendship with Brazil in 2013.

Graeme Souness / Getty Images / Getty Images

Scotland hats: 54

Graeme Souness was one of the best midfielders in the world when he topped Liverpool in the early 1980s and helped the Reds win three European Cups during his time there. With Scotland, he went to three World Cups in a row in 1978, 1982 and 1986.

David Beckham / Clive Rose / Getty Images

England hats: 115

No England midfield felt complete without David Beckham between 1996 and 2009, with ex-Manchester United and Real Madrid star the country’s most equalized away player of all time when he retired. He also led the team on 59 occasions.

Bobby Charlton / Hulton Archive / Getty Images

England hats: 106

Bobby Charlton was England’s leading scorer for 45 years after retiring from international service in 1970. The World Cup winner was world class for club and country throughout the 1960s and was nominated for the Ballon d’Or a total of nine times and won it in 1966.

Kenny Dalglish / STAFF / Getty Images

Scotland hats: 102

Kenny Daglish is a Liverpool legend as both player and manager and is also Scotland’s leading scorer through the ages, as well as the only Scottish player in history with more than 100 senior international caps. He was at the World Cup in 1974, 1978 and 1982.

Denis Law / George W. Hales / Getty Images

Scotland hats: 55

The man who shares the title of Scotland’s top scorer with Dalglish is Manchester United legend and 1964 Ballon d’Or winner Denis Law. He scored the opening goal when Scotland famously defeated reigning world champions England at Wembley in 1967.

Wayne Rooney / Catherine Ivill – AMA / Getty Images

England hats: 120

Wayne Rooney is a debutant as a 17-year-old and is both England’s most leveled away player of all time and a leading goal scorer with 53 goals in 120 matches. It was an international career on the roller coaster, but his injury during Euro 2004 will always be a huge “think about” moment for England fans.

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