On the pitch, Robson's England failed to make the final stages of the 1984 European Championships, their hopes of qualification effectively ended in the autumn of 1983 when they lost 1–0 to Denmark at Wembley. Robson resisted calls to quit and the Football Association kept faith in him. At the time, the England team was in a period of transition, with the experienced Mick Mills, Phil Neal, Paul Mariner, Trevor Brooking and Trevor Francis coming to the end of their international careers. However, an impressive set of younger players, including striker Gary Lineker, winger Trevor Steven and midfielder Chris Waddle, comfortably sealed qualification for the 1986 World Cup in Mexico. A month before the tournament started, the team went to train in high altitude conditions in Colorado Springs, followed by a spell in Los Angeles, where they beat the tournament hosts 3–0 in a friendly at the Memorial Coliseum.