because players. combined great british team that s not the case even if it is true the real reason great britain has four separate teams it s all to do with timing the football as we know it was invented in england in the mid nineteenth century with the first international match being played in eight hundred seventy two england against scotland in glasgow and. how exciting. for came along in ninety nine for england scotland ireland and wales had only been playing each other in tournament for twenty years they were deemed too well established to combine over the next one hundred and fourteen years these four proud footballing nations won one world cup between them is not very good but there have been times that great britain has played together nine hundred forty seven is match of the century for exam. a british eleven featuring stanley matthews against