West Ham United and England legend Sir Geoff Hurst popped up with a vital goal for the Three Lions on this day in 1966.
After topping a group of Uruguay, Mexico and France, Sir Alf Ramsey's men were paired with Argentina in this last-eight clash at Wembley.
An ill-tempered affair saw the South Americans' skipper Antonio Rattin dismissed after just 35 minutes, though it took some ten minutes for him to leave the field.
Goalless at the break, the deadlock was broken with just 12 minutes left. Hurst, drafted in virtue of Jimmy Greaves' injury, darted across the near post to meet fellow Hammer Martin Peters' left-wing centre, glancing a header into the far corner.
On this, only his sixth international outing, Hurst had sent England into the last four, where they would meet Eusebio's Portugal.
After topping a group of Uruguay, Mexico and France, Sir Alf Ramsey's men were paired with Argentina in this last-eight clash at Wembley.
An ill-tempered affair saw the South Americans' skipper Antonio Rattin dismissed after just 35 minutes, though it took some ten minutes for him to leave the field.
Goalless at the break, the deadlock was broken with just 12 minutes left. Hurst, drafted in virtue of Jimmy Greaves' injury, darted across the near post to meet fellow Hammer Martin Peters' left-wing centre, glancing a header into the far corner.
On this, only his sixth international outing, Hurst had sent England into the last four, where they would meet Eusebio's Portugal.