SIR Trevor Brooking sees not winning the World Cup in 1982 as a missed opportunity for England.

Brooking was a key member of the Three Lions’ squad that was called up for the tournament in Spain.

And Brooking, speaking exclusively to the Echo, believes that the unusual format of the group stage hindered England.

Brooking, who lives in Shenfield, said: “I got a groin injury and missed most of the following season but, in 1982, we had a really good team.

“We actually had two group stages and they changed the format because we won our first group of four but, unfortunately, we were in a group of three in the next stage – which was weird.

“We drew with West Germany, who then beat Spain, so we had to beat Spain by more than 2-1 to go through because only one team went on from a group of three.

“Unfortunately, we drew 0-0 and went out but the World Cup people said you can’t have a team like England or any other nation going home without losing a game.

“They changed the rules for 1986 in order to avoid that.”

Italy went onto claim international bragging rights, thanks to defeating West Germany in the final.

Italian striker Paolo Rossi finished the tournament as the top goalscorer - having hit the back of the net six times.

But Brooking, who is widely revered as one of West Ham United’s greatest ever players, believes that England would have been in with a good chance of winning the World Cup for a second time if they had faced Italy in the final.

Brooking, 69, added: “Italy were great in 1982 and they had Brazil and Argentina in their group.

“Italy drew their games in the group, and then suddenly Rossi started scoring goals as a striker and they knocked Brazil out and went onto win it.

“We had some good battles with Italy and I think that if we had have made it to the final, then it would have been close.

“We always feel frustrated that we didn’t get to the final in 1982.

“It’s a shame that 1966 is still the only time that we have won any of the big trophies, but we feel like 1982 was the one that we could have won.”

Brooking is fourth on the list of the Hammers’ leading appearance makers, having featured 643 times between 1967 and 1984.

But Brooking was disappointed to see injury stop him reaching 50 caps for England.

Brooking confirmed: “It was always special to play for my country. I would have liked to have won a competition, but I got 47 caps.

“I got a pelvic injury in the last couple of years, which stopped me getting to 50 caps and I would have liked to have got over that.”

Echo:

United - Sir Trevor Brooking and former England manager Roy Hodgson 

Brooking insists wealth of Premier League made working within Football Association a challenge

SIR Trevor Brooking says that he enjoyed working within the Football Association.

The West Ham United legend was appointed as director of football development at the FA in January 2004.

The role gave Brooking full control of coaching and development in English football, as well as a role in appointing future England managers.

Brooking, who won 47 caps during his international career, played a key part in selecting Steve McClaren to succeed Sven-Goran Eriksson as England boss in May 2006.

And while Brooking admits that he enjoyed his time working within English football’s governing body, he says that the vast sums of money generated by the Premier League makes the FA’s job difficult.

Brooking, who also worked closely with England at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, added: “I enjoyed working in the FA.

“It was a challenge. You’ve always got the problem of the Premier League, which generates more than £2billion a year.

“But the governing body only gets just over £300,000. That was the biggest challenge because the governing body isn’t really the governing body. 

“The Premier League fund the league managers and a lot more as well.”

While England go into this summer’s World Cup - which will take place in Russia - with little expectations of winning the competition for a second time, Brooking believes that there are promising times ahead for the Three Lions.

Brooking added: “The FA has achieved a lot, with the building of St George’s Park being one example, and Gareth Southgate and the younger age groups have had some good results, so I think we will be more dangerous in the next few years.”