England had done it! After a magnificent game and superb performance they had reached the World Cup Final for the first time.

What a contrast to the débâcle of the Argentine game. Fine sporting football played by two teams determined to win - and full marks to Portugal, who contributed so much to a fabulous night's entertainment for the crowd in the stadium and the millions watching on television. It was a joy to watch with, thankfully, hardly an interruption from the referee's whistle.

The first half clearly belonged to England. Good approach-play by Martin Peters, Bobby Charlton and Alan Ball set up some half-chances, notably to Geoff Hurst. Three times the West Ham player was in a good position but failed with the finish. The Portuguese defenders were unsure under pressure and Pereira had to be on his toes at all times as England came forward. Nobby Stiles was assigned the task of a man-to-man marking job on the silky-skilled Eusébio and did his job well as the Portuguese danger-man was kept quiet for long spells.

After 30 minutes' play England got their 'noses in front' with a splendid goal. The move began with Ray Wilson's long forward-pass being chased by the ever-willing Roger Hunt. Pereira came 'roaring' out of goal to meet Hunt and blocked the ball with his knees, but in a 'flash' the ball ran out to Bobby Charlton and the England maestro cleverly first-timed it through the gap, along the ground and into the empty net. The crowd went wild with delight.

England then had to consolidate, led by Bobby Moore at his assured best. Jack Charlton played well against the 'giant' Torres and both George Cohen and Wilson were solid and dependable full-backs. The half ended with England still a goal up.

If the first half had been England's then the second belonged to Portugal.

Fine play by Graça, Coluna, Augusto and Simões pinned England back for a long spell and Eusébio and Torres began to cause problems. Portugal had one real flaw in their play, though, and that was to take just a little too much time on the ball. It gave England the vital time to fall back and cover in depth with Peters and Ball doing their fair share of defending.

But the red tide of Portuguese attacks kept coming and although they rarely threatened, the relief of a second England goal with ten minutes to go was felt all round. The build-up was excellent as Jack Charlton passed to Ball, on to Moore and then Cohen. The full-back then sent a long ball forward into the inside-right position for Hurst to chase. Hurst cleverly gained possession and waited for support. He did not have to wait long, for there was Bobby Charlton 'roaring' in.

Hurst laid the ball perfectly into his path and 'wham!' It flew past Pereira and all the England players leapt in the air with delight.

There was a lovely moment as the players went back to the middle for the kick-off. As Bobby Charlton approached Augusto, the Portuguese player held his hand out warmly to congratulate the scorer. It emphasised the spirit in which the game was played.

With only ten minutes to go, one could forgive the fans for thinking that the game was won, but far from it! Two minutes later Portugal set up a 'grandstand finish' by pulling a goal back. Torres outjumped everyone to send a header goalwards and only Jack Charlton's hand could prevent the goal. Penalty! Up stepped Eusébio, and Gordon Banks was given no chance, beaten for the first time in this World Championship. Seconds later Simões seemed certain to score after another Torres header, but from nowhere the little terrier Stiles came to make a magnificent tackle to save the day.

Torres then shot wide after Jack Charlton and Wilson had collided, and a rocket by Eusébio bounced out of Banks's arms for Stiles to hack away for a corner.

The suspense was agonising and there was still time for one last attack. Eusébio, with lovely skills, slid dangerously towards goal before sending a square pass to Coluna. The Portuguese skipper hit a screamer that arrowed towards the top corner. For a split-second England's hearts were in their mouths, but spectacularly, Banks flew across goal leaping upwards to make a superb tip-over save to keep England's lead intact.

It was a magnificent climax to a magnificent match. The final whistle blew shortly afterwards and the joyous scenes will live long in the memory. It was sad that somebody had to lose but Portugal won many friends after this display and everyone in the stadium felt sympathy for Eusébio. One of the world's greatest players left the field in tears as he was overcome with emotion.

But it was tears of joy all the way for England and now they faced the mighty West Germans in the Final.
  

This was THE classic match of the 1966 World Cup.  It lacked the drama of the Final, but the football played by both teams had rarely been bettered at Wembley. The match belonged more to Bobby Charlton than anybody. He moved with the grace of a Nureyev on grass and the power of a panther. His reward was two superb goals, one drilled low into the net from a rebound after a Roger Hunt shot had been blocked, and the second, a real beauty, rifled high into the net from twenty-five yards. Seven minutes from the end England's magnificent defence conceded their first goal of the tournament when Eusébio scored from the penalty spot after Jack Charlton had handled a header from José Torres. Nobby Stiles performed a disciplined containing role on the great Eusébio, fresh from his stunning four-goal performance against North Korea in the quarter-final at Goodison after the Koreans had rushed three goals into the lead. Eusébio left the pitch in tears as the two teams got a standing ovation for producing a match that would live long in the memory.
  

Portugal had won Group Three, defeating the holders Brazil 3-1 at Goodison Park along the way. In the quarter-finals they had beaten the popular North Koreans at the same venue in a remarkable match which saw them come back from being three goals down after 22 minutes to win 5-3. They had never previously qualified for a World Cup. Their last appearance at Wembley had been a World Cup qualifyiong defeat in 1961. They had also lost to England in Lisbon three years later. England were also appearing in the semi-finals for the first time and had yet to concede a goal.
With half an hour gone Pereira saved at the feet of Hunt but Bobby Charlton drove home the rebound. England added a second with 11 minutes remaining. Hurst held off the challenge of Carlos to lay the ball back for Charlton to score again. But within three minutes Portugal had breached England's defence. A cross from Simões eluded Banks and a header from Torres was punched off the line by Jack Charlton. Eusébio, who had scored four goals in the quarter-final, sent Banks the wrong way from the penalty. England hung on to reach the World Cup final for the first time. A memorable night for Ray Wilson who won his 50th cap.
     

In complete contrast to the previous match, against Argentina, the Semi-final tie against Portugal was a model of good football and sportsmanship. Both teams were acclaimed with tumultuous applause by the 95,000 spectators which filled Wembley Stadium on a pleasant summer's evening. England deserved their victory but Portugal gave them the hardest tussle of the Competition. Only a brilliant save by Banks in the closing seconds prevented the game going into extra-time.

After missing three 'gilt-edged' chances in the first twenty minutes, Bobby Charlton scored the opening goal. Hunt raced on to a long through-ball from Wilson. Pereira, racing from his goal, reached the ball in the 'nick of time' but only succeeded in pushing it to Charlton, who promptly put it in the net. Eusébio, the mainspring of the Portuguese attack, was closely marked throughout by Stiles, and he was seldom given the chance to execute one of his lightning thrusts and shots at Banks. Nevertheless, he worked industriously and could never be given any 'rope'. The whole Portuguese team played with great skill, determination and courage.

England appeared to have made the game safe ten minutes from the end when Bobby Charlton scored with a powerful shot from the edge of the penalty-area. The move began with Cohen passing the ball along the right wing where Hurst gathered it as an opponent attempted to intercept, and then pulled the ball back from the goal-line for Charlton to hammer home.

Portugal then staged a brave comeback, scoring through Eusébio for a handling offence in the penalty-area. But England had played well enough to raise high hopes of their ultimate success in the Final.
     

Source Notes

TheFA.com
Original newspaper reports
Rothman's Yearbooks
Mike Payne's England: The Complete Post-War Record (Breedon Books Publishing Company, Derby, U.K., 1993)
Norman Giller, Football Author
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CG