ENGLAND legend Sir Geoff Hurst told Gareth Southgate’s young lions: “Beat Germany and you’ll go on and win it!”
The hero, whose hat-trick conquered our old foe in 1966, lined up with The Sun’s mascot Harry Mane — and also had advice for England’s star striker.
He said: “There’s nothing quite like an England versus Germany game at Wembley and the hairs still stand up on the back of my neck every time it happens.
“It’s a massive, massive game — one of those do-or-die occasions which will produce moments we’ll never forget.
“German teams never give up and we have a hell of a fight on our hands. But this time it’s a fight we can win — and once we clear this obstacle it’ll take a hell of a team to stop us.”
A win tomorrow will send England to Rome for a quarter-final with Sweden or Ukraine. Another victory would tee up a semi-final back at Wembley against either Denmark or Czech Republic.
Sir Geoff, 79, believes glory beckons for our young side — and he is unconcerned at striker Harry Kane’s lack of goals so far. Sir Geoff was a sub for the 1966 group games and did not score.
But he got the only goal against Argentina, laid on another against Portugal before his epic hat-trick in the final against West Germany.
He said: “I got off to a much slower start than Harry Kane in 1966. I didn’t even get a kick in the first three games. But I took my chances in the knockout stages just like I believe Harry will.
“He has the class, power and skill to come alive at the business end of the tournament and I would love to see him score a hat-trick in the final like I did.”
The old foes have not clashed at the Euros since 2000, when England won 1-0.
But the Germans hit back with a 4-1 hiding the last time they met in a major tournament — at the 2010 World Cup. England also famously crashed out on penalties to them twice — at the 1990 World Cup then again at Euro 96.
But if tomorrow’s game ends in a shootout, Sir Geoff is confident they can get revenge. He said: “We hopefully shook off that hoodoo when we beat Colombia on penalties at the last World Cup.
“No England fan likes the prospect of a shoot-out — least of all against the Germans given our track record. But I’m sure England now practise hard at spot-kicks and study video of their opponents before games to make it less of an ordeal. It’s going to be tough and tight.
“I’m sure England have the grit and talent to win — even if it goes to penalties.”
He also said the 45,000-strong crowd will sound like there’s double there, and called on them to roar like our mascot.
He said: “I love The Sun’s Harry. We had a lion mascot called World Cup Willie in ’66 – and he roared us all the way to the final. Everyone should get behind this lion — and our lions on the pitch.”
- FAKE replica England shirts are shifting in their thousands after fans refused to pay £69.95 for the official Nike tops.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
