Supranationals ... Europe XI, Rest of World, etc.

[Merseman]

Down the decades countless testimonials or charity fundraisers have been played by teams called "Europe", "Rest of the World" and so on. Most were also unofficial. However there is a rather more illustrious category held for commemorative reasons and organised by official bodies. Over the years I have built up a collection of these - most easy to find but a few are scarce:

26 Oct 1938 - England v Rest of the World
@ Highbury - FA 75th anniversary

10 May 1947 - Great Britain v Europe
@ Hampden - reentry of the Home Nations to FIFA

05 Dec 1951 - Wales v Rest of United Kingdom
@ Ninian Park - FAW 75th anniversary

21 Oct 1953 - England v Rest of the World
@ Wembley - FA 90th anniversary

09 May 1955 - All Ireland v England
@ Dalymount - An Tostal Festival

13 Aug 1955 - United Kingdom v Europe
@ Windsor Park - IFA 75th anniversary

07 May 1956 - All Ireland v England
@ Dalymount - An Tostal Festival

23 Oct 1963 - England v Rest of the World
@ Wembley - FA centenary

20 May 1964 - Scandinavia v Rest of Europe
@ Idraetsparken, Copenhagen - DBU 75th anniversary

28 Jul 1969 - Wales v Rest of the United Kingdom
@ Ninian Park - investiture of the Prince of Wales

03 Jan 1973 - The Three v The Six
@ Wembley - expansion of the European Economic Community

12 Aug 1981 - Czechoslovakia v Europe
@ Strahov, Prague - CSAF 80th anniversary

08 Oct 1987 - Football League v Rest of the World
@ Wembley - FL centenary

29 Jan 1997 - Europe v Africa
@ Luz, Lisbon - inauguration of the Meridian Cup

04 Dec 1997 - Europe v Rest of the World
@ Velodrome, Marseille - draw for World Cup 1998

13 Mar 2007 - Manchester United v Europe
@ Old Trafford - half century of the European Union

There is also a pirate issue for at least England v Rest of World in 1953.


There are also a few youth or tribute games that don't fit into this category but were played in Britain... Sometimes the Matthews tribute is billed Great Britain v Rest of Europe, plus it was syndicated worldwide for TV coverage:

06 Nov 1963 - England Youth v Rest of the UK Youth
@ Wembley - FA centenary

28 Apr 1965 - Sir Stan Matthews XI v World Stars
@ Victoria Ground - Stanley Matthews farewell

17 Nov 1971 - West Ham United v European XI
@ Boleyn Ground - Geoff Hurst testimonial

11 Oct 1999 - Manchester United v Rest of the World XI
@ Old Trafford - Alex Ferguson tribute

08 May 2004 - England U18 v Rest of the World U18 XI
@ Villa Park - ESFA centenary



I have programmes from the above - but there are 4 more which fit the bill that I've never found. I suspect some or all in the 1990s would have had issues of some kind. Does anyone know of:

20 Jul 1967 - Scandinavia v Soviet Union
@ Olympic Stadium, Helsinki - SPL 60th anniversary

18 Aug 1997 - Russia v Rest of the World
@ Lushniki, Moscow - RFA centenary

09 Sep 1998 - Turkey v Rest of the World
@ Inonu, Istanbul - TFF 75th anniversary

16 Dec 1998 - Italy v Rest of the World
@ Stadio Olimpico, Rome - FIGC centenary



Any more credible ties?

[James73]

Hi

I don't know about the 4 you have highlighted but you did get me wondering about a programme I have from 1989

It is a testimonial for Oleg Blohkin and was played on 28th June 1989

USSR V Rest of the World

[Merseman]

James73 wrote:

Hi I don't know about the 4 you have highlighted but you did get me wondering about a programme I have from 1989 It is a testimonial for Oleg Blohkin and was played on 28th June 1989 USSR V Rest of the World

I've a Lev Yashin 60th birthday Dynamo/USSR v World Stars also 1989.

He also had a testimonial in 1971 which was Dynamo Moscow v World.

Must say - both sound surprisingly bourgeoisie for Soviet Union!



There must be loads of testimonials/tributes with very 'mixed' squads.

Veterans, friends, ex-teammates, etc.



Since making the previous post I've acquired Russia in 1997 leaving:

20 Jul 1967 - Scandinavia v Soviet Union
@ Olympic Stadium, Helsinki - SPL 60th anniversary

09 Sep 1998 - Turkey v Rest of the World
@ Inonu, Istanbul - TFF 75th anniversary

16 Dec 1998 - Italy v Rest of the World
@ Stadio Olimpico, Rome - FIGC centenary

[seand]

Real Madrid played a "FIFA Select" World XI 18-12-2002 to celebrate their centenary


And thanks to the wonder of RSSSF.con, here's another list of supranational games:
http://rsssf.com/tablesc/contreps3770.html

PLus FIFA XI games:
http://rsssf.com/miscellaneous/fifa-xi.html