:Umbro Cup

England did not compete in the 1994 FIFA World Cup due to coming third in Group 2 in the qualifying round. This led to Graham Taylor resigning on 23 November 1993, six days after England's failure to qualify. England then appointed Terry Venables as manager on 28 January 1994.{{harvnb|Venables|2014|p=10}} This, combined with the fact that England qualified automatically for UEFA Euro 1996 as hosts, meant that by mid-1995 the team had not played competitive football for more than 18 months. In preparation for Euro 1996 a rehearsal tournament was organised and sponsored by Umbro.{{cite web |url=http://www.englandfootballonline.com/CmpT/CmpT1995.html |title=England in Minor Tournaments - Umbro Cup |website=englandfootballonline.com |accessdate=5 September 2023 }}{{Cite web | url = https://www.newspapers.com/clip/131259141|page=15| work = Birmingham Post | access-date = 5 September 2023 | via = Newspapers.com|url-access=subscription | title = Unanswered queries are a concern for Venables| date =30 May 1995}}{{Cite web | url = https://www.newspapers.com/clip/131259163|page=84| work = Sunday Mercury | access-date = 5 September 2023 | via = Newspapers.com|url-access=subscription | title = Super skipper saves blushes for Venables| date =4 June 1995|first=Barry|last=Churchill}}

Venables named a 23 man squad for the competition, but was missing some choices due to injuries. Two players, Paul Ince and Andy Cole withdrew later and were replaced by Jamie Redknapp and Warren Barton. Later in Venables 2014 book it was said that Ince was "frozen out" of the squad.{{harvnb|Venables|2014|p=37}}

In the opening round of matches, England beat Japan,{{Cite web | url = https://www.newspapers.com/clip/130848404|page=90| work = The Sunday Telegraph | access-date = 29 August 2023 | via = Newspapers.com|url-access=subscription | title = Reliable Platt on spot to save face for England| date =4 June 1995|first=Colin|last=Malam}}{{Cite web | url = https://www.newspapers.com/clip/130848418|page=90| work = The Sunday Telegraph | access-date = 29 August 2023 | via = Newspapers.com|url-access=subscription | title = A stuttering embarrassment| date =4 June 1995|first=Paul|last=Weaver}}{{Cite web | url = https://www.newspapers.com/clip/130848433|page=20| work = The Guardian | access-date = 29 August 2023 | via = Newspapers.com|url-access=subscription | title = Brazil fine-tune for Wembley show| date =5 June 1995|first=David|last=Lacey}} and Brazil beat Sweden.{{Cite web | url = https://www.newspapers.com/clip/130848457|page=20| work = The Guardian | access-date = 29 August 2023 | via = Newspapers.com|url-access=subscription | title = England slog is no surprise| date =5 June 1995|first=David|last=Lacey}}

Brazil comfortably beat Japan in their second game.{{Cite web | url = https://www.newspapers.com/clip/130853836|page=21| work = The Guardians | access-date = 29 August 2023 | via = Newspapers.com|url-access=subscription | title = Brazilians exhibit their finest arts| date =7 June 1995|first=David|last=Lacey}}{{Cite web | url = https://www.newspapers.com/clip/130853908|page=35| work = The Daily Telegraph | access-date = 29 August 2023 | via = Newspapers.com|url-access=subscription | title = Zinho leads Brazilian masterclass in artistry| date =7 June 1995|first=Henry|last=Winter}} On 8 June, Sweden were leading 3–1 against England but their opponents scored twice in the last two minutes to snatch a draw.{{Cite web | url = https://www.newspapers.com/clip/130849414|page=38| work = The Independent | access-date = 29 August 2023 | via = Newspapers.com|url-access=subscription | title = England's great escape finalised by Anderton| date =9 June 1995|first=Glenn|last=Moore}}{{Cite web | url = https://www.newspapers.com/clip/130849442|page=39| work = The Daily Telegraph | access-date = 29 August 2023 | via = Newspapers.com|url-access=subscription | title = Anderton's late strike rescues England| date =9 June 1995|first=Henry|last=Winter}}

In the final match of the tournament, Brazil beat England.{{Cite web | url = https://www.newspapers.com/clip/130848482|page=18| work = The Guardian | access-date = 29 August 2023 | via = Newspapers.com|url-access=subscription | title = Brazilian masters prove class apart| date =12 June 1995|first=David|last=Lacey}}{{Cite web | url = https://www.newspapers.com/clip/130848492|page=27| work = The Independent | access-date = 29 August 2023 | via = Newspapers.com|url-access=subscription | title = England's limitations exposed| date =12 June 1995|first=Glenn|last=Moore}}{{Cite web | url = https://www.newspapers.com/clip/130853740|page=41| work = The Daily Telegraph | access-date = 29 August 2023 | via = Newspapers.com|url-access=subscription | title = Brazilian panache gives Venables food for thought| date =12 June 1995|first=Henry|last=Winter}}{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/06/14/sports/IHT-the-new-boys-from-brazil.html|title=The new boys from Brazil|work=The New York Times|first=Rob|last=Hughes|date=14 June 1995|accessdate=4 September 2023|url-access=subscription}}

All times listed are British Summer Time (UTC+1)

The first match of the tournament took place at Wembley and pitted England against Japan. Due to several injuries, four players made their England debuts, leading to a line-up which Veneables described as "a little disjointed". Darren Anderton gave England the lead shortly after the half-time interval but Masami Ihara equalised for Japan. England's captain, David Platt, was fouled late in the game but the referee opted not to award a penalty kick. With only two minutes of the game remaining, Japan's captain, Tetsuji Hashiratani, used his hand to stop the ball going into the goal. He was sent off and a penalty awarded, which Platt scored to give England a 2–1 victory.

{{footballbox

|date=3 June 1995

|time=14:00

|team1={{fb-rt|ENG}}

|score=2–1

|team2={{fb|JPN}}

|report=[http://eu-football.info/_match.php?id=25406 Report]

|goals1=Anderton {{goal|48}}
Platt {{goal|88|pen.}}

|goals2=Ihara {{goal|62}}

|stadium=Wembley Stadium, London

|attendance=21,142

|referee=Jaap Uilenberg (Netherlands)

}}

|style="vertical-align:top; width:50%;"|

|}

{{footballbox

|date=4 June 1995

|time=16:00

|team1={{fb-rt|BRA}}

|score=1–0

|team2={{fb|SWE}}

|report=[http://eu-football.info/_match.php?id=25136 Report]

|goals1=Edmundo {{goal|42}}

|stadium=Villa Park, Birmingham

|attendance=20,131

|referee=Dick Jol (Netherlands)

}}

|style="vertical-align:top; width:50%;"|

|}

{{footballbox

|date=6 June 1995

|time=20:00

|team1={{fb-rt|JPN}}

|score=0–3

|team2={{fb|BRA}}

|report=[{{citation needed|date=April 2025}} Report]

|goals2=Roberto Carlos {{goal|7}}
Zinho {{goal|52||64}}

|stadium=Goodison Park, Liverpool

|attendance=29,327

|referee=Jim McCluskey (Scotland)

}}

|style="vertical-align:top; width:50%;"|

|}

{{footballbox

|date=8 June 1995

|time=20:00

|team1={{fb-rt|ENG}}

|score=3–3

|team2={{fb|SWE}}

|report=[http://eu-football.info/_match.php?id=25137 Report]

|goals1=Sheringham {{goal|44}}
Platt {{goal|89}}
Anderton {{goal|90+1}}

|goals2=Mild {{goal|11||37}}
K. Andersson {{goal|46}}

|stadium=Elland Road, Leeds

|attendance=32,008

|referee=Leslie Mottram (Scotland)

}}

|style="vertical-align:top; width:50%;"|

|}

{{footballbox

|date=10 June 1995

|time=14:00

|team1={{fb-rt|SWE}}

|score=2–2

|team2={{fb|JPN}}

|report=[http://eu-football.info/_match.php?id=10411 Report]

|goals1=K. Andersson {{goal|53||68}}

|goals2=Fujita {{goal|9}}
Kurosaki {{goal|86}}

|stadium=City Ground, Nottingham

|attendance=5,591

|referee=Angelo Amendolia (Italy)

}}

|style="vertical-align:top; width:50%;"|

|}

{{footballbox

|date=11 June 1995

|time=16:00

|team1={{fb-rt|ENG}}

|score=1–3

|team2={{fb|BRA}}

|report=[http://eu-football.info/_match.php?id=10413 Report]

|goals1=Le Saux {{goal|39}}

|goals2=Juninho {{goal|55}}
Ronaldo {{goal|62}}
Edmundo {{goal|77}}

|stadium=Wembley Stadium, London

|attendance=67,318

|referee=Pierluigi Pairetto (Italy)

}}

|style="vertical-align:top; width:50%;"|

|}

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

3 goals

• {{flagicon|SWE}} Kennet Andersson

2 goals

• {{flagicon|BRA}} Edmundo
• {{flagicon|BRA}} Zinho
• {{flagicon|ENG}} Darren Anderton
• {{flagicon|ENG}} David Platt
• {{flagicon|SWE}} Håkan Mild

{{col-2}}

1 goal

• {{flagicon|BRA}} Juninho Paulista
• {{flagicon|BRA}} Roberto Carlos
• {{flagicon|BRA}} Ronaldo
• {{flagicon|ENG}} Graeme Le Saux
• {{flagicon|ENG}} Teddy Sheringham
• {{flagicon|JPN}} Hisashi Kurosaki
• {{flagicon|JPN}} Masami Ihara
• {{flagicon|JPN}} Toshiya Fujita

{{col-end}}

{{reflist}}

• [https://www.rsssf.org/tablesu/umbro95.html Umbro Cup 1995] at RSSSF

• {{citation|first1=Terry|last1=Venables|first2=Montgomery|last2=Alex|title=Born to Manage: The Autobiography|publisher=Simon & Schuster|year=2014|isbn=978-1-47112-991-9|ref={{harvid|Venables|2014}}}}

{{Friendly association football tournaments in England}}

Category:1994–95 in English football

Category:1995 in Brazilian football

Category:1995 in Japanese football

Category:1995 in Swedish football

1995

Category:International men's association football invitational tournaments

Category:June 1995 in the United Kingdom