England v West Germany 23-02-1966

"This was to prove a dress-rehearsal for the World Cup Final just five months later. Nobby Stiles, wearing the number-nine jersey but playing in midfield, scored the only goal of the match and of his international career. Some of the less-educated football reporters wrote that Stiles had played at centre-forward and that 'Ramsey's gamble of playing him as a spearhead' paid off with a goal. They were yet to understand that jersey numbers were becoming meaningless. Little had been learned since back in the 1950s when Nandor Hidgekuti completely baffled England's defence by playing a withdrawn role in the number nine jersey. Geoff Hurst made an impressive England debut, and Keith Newton's first England game ended just before half-time when he limped off to be replaced by substitute Ray Wilson. The Germans claimed an equaliser when Heiss turned in a cross from Held, but the referee disallowed it after consulting a flag-waving linesman. The shape of things to come! The appearance together of Stiles and Hunter meant the game became a bruise on the memory of several of the Germans."