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Geoff Hurst's crucial second goal in the World Cup final comes under the MNF microscope

A Geoff Hurst effort crashes back off the underside of the bar ...
Image: Geoff Hurst's effort crashes back off the underside of the bar...

It's official - Geoff Hurst's crucial second goal for England against West Germany in the 1966 World Cup final was correctly awarded.

That is the conclusion reached by the Sky Sports Monday Night Football team after they used modern technology to try and answer definitively whether the goal, one of the most famous and controversial in football history, should have stood.

Jamie Carragher and Ed Chamberlin marked the 50th anniversary of England's triumph by analysing the historic match in a Monday Night Football special.

Ed Chamberlin Jamie Carragher
Image: The Monday Night Football gang analysed the 1966 World Cup final

And the duo used statistical data from Opta, plus the Sky Pad touchscreen and virtual reality from EA Sports, to provide a unique insight into England's 4-2 success.

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Hurst was the hero of the afternoon with a hat-trick but his second goal, which put England 3-2 ahead in the 11th-minute of extra-time, remains the fuel for countless arguments.

Having received the ball in the penalty area from an Alan Ball cross, the forward turned and unleashed a shot which crashed down off the underside of the crossbar.

Football officials have taken a lot of stick over the years ...
Image: Football officials have taken a lot of stick over the years...

Azerbaijani linesman Tofiq Bahramov decided the ball had crossed the line and gave the goal, paving the way for England to claim their only World Cup win, which Hurst secured in the dying seconds when he rifled home his third goal of the game.

And Carragher used EA Sports technology to show that the whole of the ball had indeed crossed the line at the fateful moment when Hurst put England 3-2 up.

... but they do get it right sometimes!
Image: ....but they do get it right sometimes!

"The linesman has got it spot-on," said the former England defender. "He is maybe not in a great position but that proves it once and for all.

"It is not even close. There are two, three inches there.

"It has gone down in history - was it over the line, was it not? Thankfully, today we can put that all to bed."

Carragher was impressed by Hurst's turn in the box that led to the goal, and also thought it was significant that Roger Hunt celebrated a goal when the ball landed close to the line rather than diving in to try and apply a finishing touch.

"That is a fantastic touch from Hurst," said Carragher. "And I think what is also telling is the reaction of Roger Hunt.

"You would expect him to be putting it in, but he is wheeling away."

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