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Football nostalgia: 50 years on, a trivial look at the 1966 WC final

Updated on: 30 July,2016 12:00 AM IST  | 
mid-day online correspondent |

It-s the 50th anniversary of the 1966 World Cup final. On this special day, let-s look at some interesting facts from the game that sa England wn their only World Cup trophy

Football nostalgia: 50 years on, a trivial look at the 1966 WC final

Englands national soccer team captain Bobby Moore holds aloft the Jules Rimet trophy as he is carried by his teammates following Englands victory over Germany (4-2 in extra time) in the World Cup final on July 30, 1966 at Wembley stadium in London.(From L

It-s the 50th anniversary of the 1966 World Cup final. On this special day, let-s look at some interesting facts from the game that sa England wn their only World Cup trophy


50 years ago on this date, England beat West Germany 4-2 after extra-time to win the 1966 World Cup final at Wembley.


Well, there are some interesting facts about the match that you don’t know. Well, most of you that is.


While almost all football fans know that 1966 World Cup is the only time the England football team lifted the coveted trophy. Most people will also know that Sir Geoff Hurst scored a hat-trick in the final and that it remains the only treble in a World Cup final. That if you have been reading this article, that this is the 50th anniversary of that all-important day in English football.

England football team 1966
England-s national soccer team captain Bobby Moore holds aloft the Jules Rimet trophy as he is carried by his teammates following England-s victory over Germany 4-2 in extra time in the World Cup final on July 30, 1966 at Wembley stadium in London.From Left: Gordon Banks, Alan Ball, Roger Hunt, Geoff Hurst - who scored three goals - , Ray Wilson, George Cohen and Bobby Charlton. Pic/ AFP 

But there are some facts you don’t know.

Here are some of them:
.
The official attendance at Wembley on July 30, 1966 was 96,924.

But the Wembley wasn’t actually sold out – the stadium still had space for 76 more fans.

The television audience for the match was 32.3 million.

If game had finished 2-2, then England and West Germany would have reassembled at Wembley the following Tuesday for a World Cup Final replay.

During the final, England midfielder Nobby Stiles’ false front teeth were in the pocket of reserve player Ian Callaghan.

Footballers and their superstitions! Both Bobby Moore and Martin Peters liked to be the last to put their shorts on in the dressing room. On the day of the final, Moore made sure he was last by putting them on in the tunnel.

A 24-year-old Muhammad Ali was at the final, but left half way through.

George Best was at the final with his friend Mike Summerbee. On the way there, Best picked up a speeding ticket coming down on the M1 in his white Jaguar.

Alan Ball wasn’t told he was playing until after breakfast on the day of the final.

The only slow-motion machine in Britain at the time was at Wembley. Despite that, it failed to prove whether England’s third goal was over the line.

The controversial Hurst goal that West Germany claimed did not cross the line after hitting the crossbar was scored in the 101st minute.

Alan Ball was 21 on the day of the final, the youngest of England-s World Cup-winning team.

England captain Bobby Moore’s shirt number was 6.

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