Zoophonic
Well-known member
Am old enough and probably lucky enough to remember watching as a kid the World Cup final in 1966. My emotions even then at such a young age were up and down. West Germany scoring early on through “Porky” Haller Geoff Hurst equalising almost immediately and then Martin Peters putting us on the brink of a glorious win. And then it happened. The anguish that those pesky Germans can inflict on your psyche. A last gasp equaliser cruelly denying the celebrations. We went on to win thanks to a Russian linesman and a breakaway 4th but wind forward 4 years later and the Germans made me cry again. This time it was fatal coming from 2 goals down to win 3-2 after England had played them off the park for an hour. The catalyst was Bobby Charlton subbed off to save him for the semis. He had shackled Beckenbaur throughout the match and his absence freed up the Kaiser to reek havoc. He scored their first and ran the show after that.
We then went 12 years before making a World Cup again and yet again we played Germany in the second group stages as they were then. And it was that 0-0 stalemate that sent us out because even though we drew against hosts Spain Germany‘s victory against the hosts was enough to not only send them through tbut all the way to the Final.
The next angusih I was there to see. 1990 WC SEMI final in Turin in 1990. A game that etches on the memory more than any other. A game we could and should have won. Chris Waddle before ridiculously skying that last penalty hitting the inside of the post in extra time that would have won the match. Into penalties and German were clinical. Shilton got nowhere near their four penalties.
It wasn’t long before German next inflicted punishment on my mental state. 1996 and I was again present. Again we sparred, held them off and then could have won it. Gazza a hair’s breadth from scoring the golden goal that would have put us in the final. We lose again on penalties. Our own captain marvel becoming the latest of “the penalty missers“. Who remembers the winning penalty from Andreas Moller and the strut of celebration.
It doesn’t stop there. 2010 World Cup and we meet Germany again in the second round. We go 2-0 down but get one back and then one of those moments again. Frank Lampard Smashes the ball in from the underside of the bar and goes clearly over the line. The referee and his officials miss it. No VAR. Karma for 1966? Germany went on to beat us comfortably but that injustice was the talking point.
Anyway it’s about time we end this 1966 karma if that is what it is. We need to beat them. The country needs it.
Come on England.
We then went 12 years before making a World Cup again and yet again we played Germany in the second group stages as they were then. And it was that 0-0 stalemate that sent us out because even though we drew against hosts Spain Germany‘s victory against the hosts was enough to not only send them through tbut all the way to the Final.
The next angusih I was there to see. 1990 WC SEMI final in Turin in 1990. A game that etches on the memory more than any other. A game we could and should have won. Chris Waddle before ridiculously skying that last penalty hitting the inside of the post in extra time that would have won the match. Into penalties and German were clinical. Shilton got nowhere near their four penalties.
It wasn’t long before German next inflicted punishment on my mental state. 1996 and I was again present. Again we sparred, held them off and then could have won it. Gazza a hair’s breadth from scoring the golden goal that would have put us in the final. We lose again on penalties. Our own captain marvel becoming the latest of “the penalty missers“. Who remembers the winning penalty from Andreas Moller and the strut of celebration.
It doesn’t stop there. 2010 World Cup and we meet Germany again in the second round. We go 2-0 down but get one back and then one of those moments again. Frank Lampard Smashes the ball in from the underside of the bar and goes clearly over the line. The referee and his officials miss it. No VAR. Karma for 1966? Germany went on to beat us comfortably but that injustice was the talking point.
Anyway it’s about time we end this 1966 karma if that is what it is. We need to beat them. The country needs it.
Come on England.
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