On July 30, 1966, England achieved its greatest triumph in football (soccer) history by winning the FIFA World Cup for the first and only time. The tournament was held in England, and the host nation reached the final against West Germany at the iconic Wembley Stadium in London.
In a thrilling and closely-fought match, England took the lead through a goal from Geoff Hurst in the 18th minute. However, West Germany equalized in the 89th minute through Wolfgang Weber, sending the game into extra time.
The extra time period produced one of the most controversial and memorable moments in football history. In the 101st minute, Geoff Hurst's shot struck the crossbar and bounced down on the goal line. The referee, after consulting with the linesman, awarded the goal to England, despite German protests that the ball had not crossed the line. This goal, known as the "Wembley Goal" or the "Ghost Goal," put England 3-2 ahead.
With just seconds remaining in the match, Geoff Hurst scored his third goal, completing a historic hat-trick and sealing a 4-2 victory for England. As the final whistle blew, the Wembley crowd erupted in joy, and the England players celebrated their momentous achievement.
The 1966 World Cup triumph remains the pinnacle of English football, and the names of the players, including captain Bobby Moore, goalkeeper Gordon Banks, and hat-trick hero Geoff Hurst, are forever etched in the annals of English sporting history. The victory also marked a significant moment for the nation, coming just 20 years after the end of World War II and symbolizing a resurgence of English pride and spirit.
