Sixty years on, the argument over Geoff Hurst's second goal in the 1966 World Cup Final has not moved an inch. England and West Germany were into extra time when Hurst smashed the ball against the underside of the crossbar. It came down on the line, near it or over it, depending on who you ask. The referee consulted his linesman and the goal stood.
West Germany protested. England celebrated, went on to win 4-2 after extra time and took home the only World Cup they have ever won.
Did Hurst's shot cross the line?
The call belonged to the Soviet linesman Tofiq Bahramov, who ruled that the ball had gone over. Modern technology and later analysis point the other way and suggest it never fully crossed. So England's one world title rests partly on a goal that probably should not have counted, which is an awkward thing to keep on the mantelpiece.
Honest answer, then: probably not. What keeps the goal on this list is where it happened. A doubtful goal in a group game is forgotten within a week. A doubtful goal in the 101st minute of a World Cup Final is still being argued over in pubs more than 60 years later, and Hurst, who completed his hat-trick in the final minute, gets to enjoy all of it.
- Country and opponent: England against West Germany
- Round and minute: the 1966 Final, 101st minute
- Final score: England 4-2 West Germany, after extra time
- Standing: the most debated goal in World Cup history
Tomorrow: number 15.
