The **1966 FIFA World Cup**, held in **England**, was the first World Cup won by the host nation. The **playoff stage** (quarterfinals, semifinals, and final) was particularly dramatic, featuring upsets, controversial decisions, and historic moments. Here are the **key highlights** of the knockout phase:
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### **1. Quarterfinal Upsets**
#### **A. North Korea vs. Italy (1–0)**
- **Date**: July 23, 1966
- **Venue**: Ayresome Park, Middlesbrough
- **Highlight**:
- **North Korea**, ranked **lowest in the tournament**, stunned **Italy** (one of the favorites) with a **single goal** in the **88th minute** by **Pak Seung-jin**.
- Italy, who had won the **1934 and 1938 World Cups**, were eliminated in the **first knockout round**—a shock that still resonates today.
- Italy’s **star player, Luigi Riva**, was **substituted** (a rare move at the time) but failed to score.
- This remains the **biggest upset in World Cup history** (by FIFA’s ranking margin).
#### **B. Portugal vs. North Korea (5–3)**
- **Date**: July 25, 1966
- **Venue**: Hillsborough Stadium, Sheffield
- **Highlight**:
- **Portugal**, led by **Eusébio** (who won the **Golden Boot** with **9 goals**), avenged their **1960 European Championship final loss to the USSR** by beating North Korea **5–3**.
- Eusébio scored **4 goals**, including a **hat-trick in 7 minutes** (23rd–30th minutes).
- This was the **first time a team scored 5 goals in a knockout match** at the World Cup.
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### **2. Semifinal Drama: West Germany vs. England (2–0)**
- **Date**: July 26, 1966
- **Venue**: Wembley Stadium, London
- **Highlight**:
- **England**, playing in front of their **home crowd**, faced **West Germany** in a **tense semifinal**.
- **Bobby Charlton** scored **both goals** (30th and 78th minutes), securing England’s first **World Cup final appearance**.
- **Controversy**: Some German fans **booed their own team**, and England’s **defensive tactics** (including a **last-minute injury-time tackle** by **Nobby Stiles**) drew criticism.
- This set the stage for the **first all-British World Cup final** (England vs. West Germany).
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### **3. The Final: England vs. West Germany (4–2)**
- **Date**: July 30, 1966
- **Venue**: Wembley Stadium, London
- **Highlight**:
- **England won their first (and only) World Cup** in a **dramatic final**.
- **Goals**:
- **England**: **Geoff Hurst (2 goals)**, **Martin Peters**, **Bobby Charlton**.
- **West Germany**: **Helmut Haller**, **Wolfgang Weber**.
- **Controversy**:
- **Geoff Hurst’s third goal** (90th minute) was **highly debated**—some claimed it **crossed the line**, while others said it **did not**. **Referee Gottfried Dienst (Switzerland) awarded it**.
- **No replay or VAR existed** at the time, so the goal stood.
- **Post-Match**:
- England’s **captain Bobby Moore** lifted the trophy, ending a **44-year wait** for a British nation to win the World Cup.
- **Sir Alf Ramsey** (England manager) became a national hero.
- **Legacy**:
- This remains **England’s only World Cup win** (they have not advanced past the **quarterfinals since 1990**).
- The **1966 trophy** is one of the most iconic in football history.
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### **4. Other Notable Playoff Moments**
#### **A. Soviet Union vs. Hungary (2–1)**
- **Date**: July 23, 1966
- **Venue**: Goodison Park, Liverpool
- **Highlight**:
- The **Soviets** advanced with a **last-minute winner** (Ivan Chislenko in the **87th minute**).
- This was the **first time the USSR reached the semifinals** at the World Cup.
#### **B. Portugal’s Exit (Quarterfinals)**
- **Date**: July 25, 1966
- **Venue**: Hillsborough Stadium, Sheffield
- **Highlight**:
- **Portugal** lost **5–3 to North Korea** in the **third-place playoff** (after losing to West Germany in the semis).
- Eusébio scored **2 goals** but could not prevent the upset.
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### **5. Key Statistics from the Playoff Stage**
| **Stage** | **Matches** | **Goals** | **Top Scorer** |
|------------------|-------------|-----------|-------------------------|
| **Quarterfinals** | 4 | 10 | Eusébio (Portugal) – 5 |
| **Semifinals** | 2 | 4 | Bobby Charlton (England) – 2 |
| **Final** | 1 | 6 | Geoff Hurst (England) – 3 |
| **Total** | **7** | **20** | **Eusébio (9 total in tournament)** |
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### **6. Why 1966 Playoff Stage Stands Out**

**Biggest Upset Ever**: **North Korea over Italy** (still the **biggest ranking gap** in World Cup history).

**Eusébio’s Dominance**: Scored **9 goals** (including **4 in one knockout game**).

**England’s Triumph**: First (and only) World Cup win, with **controversial but historic moments**.

**First All-British Final**: England vs. West Germany at **Wembley**.

**No Replays or VAR**: Decisions like **Hurst’s third goal** remain debated.
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### **Final Thought**
The **1966 playoff stage** was **unpredictable, dramatic, and full of surprises**—from **North Korea’s miracle** to **England’s emotional victory**. It remains one of the most **entertaining and controversial** knockout phases in World Cup history.
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