The Defining Moment
West Germany 1966
West Germany reached the Wembley final as a solid, competitive side led by Franz Beckenbauer then a 20-year-old midfielder and the experienced striker Uwe Seeler. Helmut Haller gave the Germans the lead, and when England seemed to have sealed it at 2-1, Wolfgang Weber equalised with the last kick to force extra time. But then came the most controversial moment in World Cup history: Geoff Hurst's shot struck the crossbar, the ball bounced on the line did it cross? and the ghost goal that still divides opinion was given. Hurst completed his hat-trick and the 4-2 final score was cruel for a Germany side that had fought to the very last breath. The Wembley wound would fuel the rivalry with England for decades.
