July 30 – Tales From Two Finals – 1930 and 1966

Two big World Cup finals today from the OTFD archives…

1930 – The First World Cup Final

WHEN England won the World Cup at Wembley in 1966 their victory coincidentally fell on the same day as the first ever World Cup final in 1930.

On home soil Uruguay had made it all the way to the final thanks to victories over Peru, Romania and Yugoslavia. Their opponents were South American rivals Argentina, who defeated France, Mexico, Chile and the USA to reach the final. They had to play one more game that Uruguay because the odd number of entrants (13) meant Argentina’s group had four nations in it, rather than three.
Read more here…

1966 – Three Lions Roar to World Cup Victory

It was a match that had everything, two fiercely rival teams, plenty of goals, controversy, extra time and a pitch invasion. Oh, and it was the World Cup final at Wembley. It was on this day that the Three Lions roared their loudest and England reached the pinnacle of their footballing achievement by winning the World Cup in 1966. All you English get misty eyed and read the whole story here.

And while you’re at it, get our forthcoming book England: On This Day ordered for a day-by-day account of the Three Lions throughout the ages!