| Wembley stadium provided the setting for the match that is for
ever remembered for Geoff Hurst's extra-time heroics and the histrionics
of Soviet Union linesman Tofik Bakhramov.
England could – and should – have won the match in regular
time. They had recovered from conceding an early German goal from
Helmut Haller, Hurst heading the equaliser from Bobby Moore's quickly
taken free-kick. But the German defence gave little away in the
second half and only 13 minutes remained when Martin Peters scored
to give England a 2-1 lead. As England hung on for the final whistle,
Jack Charlton was adjudged, harshly, to have fouled on the edge
of the box. The free-kick, blasted at the wall by Lothar Emmerich,
fell to Wolfgang Weber, who shot past Gordon Banks' desperate lunge.
"You've won it once, now go and win it again," England
manager Alf Ramsey famously urged during the break before
extra-time. "Look at them," he said, pointing at the prostrate
Germans, "they're finished!".
England were fitter and fresher, and Alan Ball found the energy
to run on to a pass from Nobby Stiles.From his cross, Hurst's shot
on the turn hit the underside of the bar and bounced past keeper
Hans Tilkowski. The goal was disputed by the Germans and Swiss referee
Gottfried Dienst consulted Bakhramov, who pointed to the centre-spot.
Hurst completed his hat-trick with virtually the final kick of the
game. By then, there were people on the pitch, and England were
world champions.
Bakhramov went on to become general secretary of the newly formed
Azerbaijan federation on the break-up of the Soviet Union. The Azeris'
national stadium, in the capital, Baku, has been re-named in his
honour.
Line-ups
England: Banks - Cohen, J Charlton, Moore, Wilson
- Stiles, B Charlton, Ball - Peters, Hunt, Hurst.
Goals: Hurst 18, 101, 120, Peters 77.
West Germany: Tilkowski - Hottges, Schulz, Weber,
Schnellinger - Beckenbauer, Overath, Haller - Seeler, Held, Emmerich.
Goals: Haller 12, Weber 90.
Referee: Dienst (Switzerland).
Att: 94,000. |
