Sir Geoff Hurst says ‘It’s Coming Home’ as he backs Tuchel to steer England to World Cup glory
Sir Geoff Hurst has tipped Thomas Tuchel to ‘bring the World Cup back this year’ – and become England’s favourite German.
The football legend – the last surviving member of the Three Lions’ 1966 World Cup winning team – admitted he would have preferred an English manager leading the squad into next week’s summer soccer showpiece.
But he said Tuchel had the chance to become a hero in two nations’ eyes.
Hurst, whose hat-trick inspired England 4-2 triumph over West Germany 60 years ago, said it was ‘astonishing’ the Three Lions had gone six decades without lifting the trophy again.
He said he was ‘hoping’ Tuchel’s team will end 60 years of hurt by winning the tournament in the US, Mexico and Canada. And he said he will be ‘very disappointed if England do not at least reach the semi-finals.
“We are third or fourth favourites and a big football nation,” he said. “What is amazing about things is that we have not won the World Cup in 60 years.
“It’s astonishing – 60 years for a major football nation and we have not won the World Cup. We’re hoping to bring the World Cup back this year.
“I will be very disappointed if we don’t go at least to the semi-finals. We will see what we can do with a German manager.”
England and Germany have been staunch soccer rivals since Hurst’s iconic ‘ghost goal’ in the ‘66 final. His extra-time shot hit the underside of the crossbar, bounced on the goal line and spun back out into play.
Swiss referee Gottfried Dienst was unsure what had happened but awarded the goal after consulting Soviet linesman Tofiq Bahramov. It gave England a vital 101st minute lead – but has been disputed by much of Germany ever since.
Hurst went on to seal the Three Lions’ only major football tournament victory by hammering home a fourth goal in the last seconds as fans stormed the hallowed Wembley turf – prompting the BBC’s Kenneth Wolstenholme’s immortal words: “Some people are on the pitch! They think it’s all over.”
Then – as Hurst’s shot hit the back of the net – the commentator added: “It is now.” The victory inspired one of the most intense rivalries in sport.
Since then Germany have knocked England out of three World Cups and a European Championship – twice on penalties. The Three Lions have only KO’d their rivals once – in the round of 16 at Euro 2020.
Football Association chiefs hoped Tuchel’s appointment would help smooth over the rivalry. Asked if he ever imagined England would have a German coach leading the nation into a World Cup Hurst replied: “Overall I am slightly more comfortable with the national manager being the same nationality as the country.
“That’s not a criticism of any foreign manager. That’s just my own view. English managers overall have been slightly more successful.
“But listen, if we win the World Cup we will think Tuchel is the greatest German person we’ve ever, ever heard of. It’s as simple as that.
“If we don’t then he will get criticism – German or otherwise – for his selections.”
Sir Geoff, who spoke to the Daily Star as he performed the starting-stall draw for Saturday’s Epsom Derby at the Peninsula Hotel in London, urged fans to reserve their judgement on Tuchel’s controversial squad selection until after the tournament.
The 52-year-old manager deployed a ‘band-of-brothers’ tactic of selecting 26 players on chemistry and teamwork over talent – mirroring winning manager Sir Alf Ramsey’s strategy in 1966.
Hurst, who was controversially selected to start the final ahead of fit-again superstar striker Jimmy Greaves, said: “You can talk about a squad when somebody picks it – whether a player is too old or a player is surprised to be in.
“It all comes down, to me, to the manager. The manager is there to manage. He’s the one that trains with them, plays with them, mixes with them and sees what they’re like as personalities. And he is best to judge.
“It’s as simple as this in sport and in football. If we are successful it’ll be fantastic. But if we are not successful then there will be a lot more criticism.
“But that’s football – that’s probably any kind of sport. You expect that. I understand more than anybody how big it is to win a World Cup and I would be as happy as anybody in this country if we were to do so.
“Some people think that because of what we achieved and I scored a hat-trick that I don’t want England to do the same. I get that from time to time. But that is absolute nonsense.”
