60 years from '66: England 2-1 Portugal

Sir Geoff Hurst reflected on the day that saw England book their place in the World Cup Final in 1966.

Having beaten Argentina 1-0 in the quarter-final to reach the last four, the Three Lions came up against Portugal at Wembley in the semi-final.

With the tournament’s top goalscorer Eusebio leading the line for Portugal, two of the best teams in the tournament locked horns.

“A completely different game in the semi-final against a great Portuguese side and people like Eusebio – one of the true greats,” explained Hurst, who was speaking at Wembley Stadium recently as part of the 60-year commemoration of our last senior World Cup victory.

“I have got a lovely picture at home of Eusebio kissing my wife on the cheek, while I am watching! He was one of the true greats.”

The breakthrough came around the half-hour mark when Portugal goalkeeper José Pereira could only clear a long ball as far as Bobby Charlton, who guided it home from the edge of the area.

Charlton, who described the game as ‘probably my best performance in an England shirt’, made it 2-0 with a thunderous drive from 18 yards.

Eusebio converted a penalty to give Portugal hope following Jack Charlton’s handball, but England held on to book their place in the final.

Hurst said: “I do jokingly say that when I came on an made an impact in the finals, I scored the winner in the quarter-finals, made the winner in the semi-finals and scored a hat-trick in the final.”