Eddie McIlvenny captained the USA to victory over England

Greenock-born Eddie McIlvenny captained the USA to a shock 1-0 win over England in Brazil 55 years ago.

But in the new film, "The Game of their Lives", an American footballer who wears the captain's armband.

Eddie McIlvenny died in 1989. His wife Sheila is unhappy his memory has not been properly portrayed in the film.

The movie, which was released in America at the weekend, tells how a group of mostly amateur footballers beat the experienced professional might of England stars such as Tom Finney and Billy Wright.

One of the actors, Louis Mandylor, said: "It's a true story, that's what makes it for me... because if we were to create something like this in Hollywood so to speak, people would say, 'Get out of here! That'll never happen in a million years'."

'Not true'

However, Sheila McIlvenny said: "It is not the true story, not at all. I think he would have accepted it but I don't think he would have been happy with it because it wasn't the truth."

McIlvenny had played for Wrexham before emigrating to the US to join the Philadelphia Nationals club team in 1948.

A year after the famous victory over England, he was snapped up by Manchester United manager Matt Busby.

However, he made only a handful of appearances in his two years at Old Trafford.

The USA were mainly a team of amateurs

His achievement as USA captain is commemorated in the Scottish Football Museum along with the fact that the side's manager was also a Scot.

Richard McBreatry, a historian in the museum, said: "Bill Jeffrey, the Scottish manager of the USA realised the old rivalry between England and Scotland and thought that by having Eddie as the captain he would galvanise the American side.

"Really I think that helped inspire what was a fantastic performance.

"Maybe they're going for an American audience primarily and they thought maybe by having an American as the hero, or captain, would be better than having a Scot in the role."

A Scot is in the cast of the movie. Gerard Butler plays the USA goalkeeper Frank Borghi who kept a clean sheet.