Hurst's Crucial Shot Under The Microscope

Geoff Hurst's second goal for England against West Germany in the 1966 World Cup final was correctly awarded - according to analysis by Sky Sports News.

Sky's Monday Night Football team used modern technology to try to answer definitively whether the goal, one of the most famous and controversial in football history, should have stood.

Jamie Carragher and Ed Chamberlin marked the 50th anniversary of England's triumph by analysing the historic match.

They used statistical data from Opta, plus the Sky Pad touchscreen and virtual reality from EA Sports to provide a unique insight into England's 4-2 success.

Hurst was the hero of the afternoon with a hat-trick, but his second goal, which put England 3-2 ahead in the 11th minute of extra-time, remains the fuel for countless arguments.

Having received the ball in the penalty area from an Alan Ball cross, the forward turned and unleashed a shot which crashed down off the underside of the crossbar.

Azerbaijani linesman Tofiq Bahramov decided the ball had crossed the line and gave the goal, paving the way for England to claim their only World Cup win, which Hurst secured in the dying seconds when he rifled home his third goal of the game.

And Carragher used EA Sports technology to show the whole of the ball had indeed crossed the line at the fateful moment when Hurst put England 3-2 up.

"The linesman has got it spot-on," said the former England defender. "He is maybe not in a great position, but that proves it once and for all.

"It is not even close. There are two, three inches there.

"It has gone down in history - was it over the line, was it not? Thankfully, today we can put that all to bed."

Carragher was impressed by Hurst's turn in the box that led to the goal, and also thought it was significant that Roger Hunt celebrated a goal when the ball landed close to the line rather than diving in to try to apply a finishing touch.

"That is a fantastic touch from Hurst," said Carragher. "And I think what is also telling is the reaction of Roger Hunt.

"You would expect him to be putting it in, but he is wheeling away."