ENGLAND'S World Cup clash with Brazil tomorrow has captured the imagination of the entire country but for one Worcestershire man the match will evoke extra special memories - good and bad.

Dr Neil Phillips was the team doctor during England's 1970 Mexico campaign and watched at close quarters their memorable group match with Brazil.

However a year earlier Dr Phillips had witnessed a darker side to the traditional Brazilian image of Samba, sun and sexy football during a 1969 tour of the continent to acclimatise for the Mexico tournament the following year.

At the time England's reputation was at an all time low in South America following the 1966 World Cup and the notorious match with Argentina in which captain Rattin was sent off.

England's final match of the tour was in Rio in the Maracana stadium in front of a 135,000 sell out crowd.

"It wasn't a pleasant experience because there was a lot of animosity towards us and the word had been spread that we were cheats because of what happened with Argentina in the 1966 World Cup," said Dr Phillips.

"We didn't get a good reception wherever we went and prior to the match against Brazil we were told to arrive two hours before kick off due for security reasons.

"We drove into the stadium and pulled up outside the dressing room. We entered the dressing room and they locked the door behind us and then put the central heating on. It was absolutely boiling and we were hammering on the doors trying to get out.

"Alf threatened not to play the match and we had to get the players under the showers to cool them down."

England lost that match 2-1 despite leading by a Colin Bell goal with 10 minutes to go.

The following year the two sides clashed in Guadalajara during the '70 World Cup and Dr Phillips remembers a brilliant match played in stifling heat.

"Alf said it was the best performance put in by any of his teams during his time as manager and the match was an absolute credit to both sides," he said.

The match was played in the midday sun to allow for the eight hour time difference and peak television audiences back home in Europe.

"The temperature was 115 degrees and in those days the US Army would stop doing square bashing if it got above 85 degrees because it was considered that the stress from the heat was too great."

As team doctor with the England set up from 1963-74 Dr Phillips was an intergal part of Alf Ramsey's team and when asked to describe the doctor's role Bobby Moore replied "he's one of the squad".

Dr Phillips is unstinting in his praise of Sir Alf Ramsey and said no player ever had a bad word to say about England's greatest manager.

"The great thing about Alf was that he was honest, truthful, loyal to all his players. I'm not aware of any player ever having any criticism of him."

Like millions of others Dr Phillips will be glued to his screen tomorrow morning willing England on and believes they have a wonderful chance of emulating Alf's 1966 team and lifting the World Cup.