Introduction

In 1966, England won the European Championship, a momentous occasion that marked a significant milestone in the history of football. The legendary Bobby Moore captained England to victory in front of their home crowd at Wembley Stadium, beating West Germany in a thrilling final that went into extra time.

The lead up to the tournament

The 1966 European Championship was the third edition of this prestigious tournament. It was the first time the tournament featured a knockout phase, with sixteen teams competing for the title. With the final scheduled to take place at Wembley Stadium in London, England was given automatic qualification.

In the months leading up to the tournament, England had played a series of friendly matches against several European teams to prepare for the competition. The team was in good form, having won six of their last eight games. Their final match before the tournament was a 0-0 draw against Denmark.

The group stage

England was drawn in a group with Uruguay, Mexico, and France. Their first match was against Uruguay, and they won 1-0 thanks to a goal from Geoff Hurst. In their second match, against Mexico, England won 2-0 with goals from Bobby Charlton and Roger Hunt. The final group stage match saw England beat France 2-0, with goals from Bobby Charlton and Martin Peters.

The knockout stage

England's quarter-final match was against Argentina, a team that had knocked them out of the 1962 World Cup. This time, however, England prevailed, winning 1-0 thanks to a goal from Geoff Hurst. Next up was Portugal, who had beaten Hungary in the quarter-finals. England won comfortably 2-1, with goals from Bobby Charlton and Bobby Moore, to set up a final against West Germany.

The final

The final was played on 30 July 1966, in front of 96,924 fans at Wembley Stadium. England took the lead early on, with a goal from Geoff Hurst after just 12 minutes. However, West Germany equalized ten minutes later through Helmut Haller. The score remained 1-1 until the end of regulation time, which meant that the match would go into extra time.

In the 101st minute, Geoff Hurst scored his second goal of the match, putting England in front once again. In the final minute of extra time, Bobby Moore made a crucial interception to deny West Germany a goal-scoring opportunity. Seconds later, England broke upfield, and Geoff Hurst completed his hat-trick with a stunning finish to seal England's victory.

The aftermath

England's victory in the 1966 European Championship was a historic moment for the country and for football. The players became instant heroes, and their names will forever be etched in the annals of footballing history. The tournament also marked the beginning of a new era in which football was becoming increasingly popular all over the world.

In conclusion, England's victory in the 1966 European Championship was a moment of great significance for football and for the country as a whole. It was a moment of triumph that would inspire generations of footballers and fans, and it remains one of the greatest achievements in the history of English football.