The world cup is one of the great prizes a country can win in athletics.  The fact that that games only occur every 4 years add to the allure of the world cup title. Each 4 years the games are played in a different country, and every so often, the host country plays well, and when this happens, the crowds go wild.

It was on this day, July 30th, 1966, that England defeated Germany in the world cup final.  It would be England’s first world cup victory, and it would occur in front of a home crowd at Wembley Stadium in London.

England got down 1 – 0 early, but Geoff Hurst scored a goal 18 minutes into the game to tie it up.  Hurst would go on to score 3 goals in the game cemented his legacy in England for the rest of his life.  England would win the match 4 – 2.  Since the 66′ World Cup, England has never again reached the finals.  They have had high profile teams, but they have had disappointing performances in the world cup.