Channel 4 has received criticism for airing the 1966 World Cup final before of the Euro 2024 final on Sunday.
England will meet Spain in the final at 8 p.m. UK time in Berlin, with Gareth Southgate’s squad only one game away from putting an end to 58 years of suffering.
To commemorate the event, Channel 4 has opted to display the last major trophy won by England’s men’s team, the World Cup in 1966.
The tournament was held in England, where Sir Alf Ramsey’s squad defeated West Germany 4-2 in the final, with striker Geoff Hurst scoring three goals.
It’s a moment that went down as one of the very best in English sporting history, but it seems not everyone is keen to see the game all over again.
In fact, in response to the news, many users on Twitter have complained about the decision, with many viewers simply sick to the back teeth of the constant football.
User Titan1641 said, ‘As if there isn’t enough football on TV that day already not to mention tennis. Bloody sick of it already,’ serving a dig at Wimbledon too.
Scottish comedian Eleanor Morton responded by calling it ‘unhinged behaviour’ by the broadcaster, while Murd73 said: ‘For f**king crying out loud.’
The final was level at 2-2 after 90 minutes, with Geoff Hurst completing his hat-trick in the very last seconds of the game – in fact, it was so close to the end of the game that some fans invaded the pitch as Hurst took the shot.
The user @DeathofBuckley said that footage of the 1966 World Cup final was nothing more than “grainy footage of old men” and that it would be “better if they showed the Lionesses winning Euro 2022.”
Alternatively, others suggested Channel 4 broadcast the 1982 World Cup final between West Germany and Austria, the 1996 Brit Awards, or an AI version of the 1966 final in which England loses.
Others drew attention to the fact that Channel 4 had made the same choice prior to the England vs. Italy Euro 2020 final, which took place at the brand-new Wembley Stadium.
Italy won that game on penalties after the game itself was drawn 1-1, with England missing three times in the fateful shootout.
England’s performances at Euro 2024 have been criticised, while manager Gareth Southgate has been hammered by some for his team selections, but England still made it to their second consecutive European Championship final.
The men’s team are looking to replicate the success of the women’s team, who won the Women’s Euro 2022 tournament at Wembley, beating Germany 2-1 in the final.
To date, it remains the greatest sporting achievement by an English football team since the World Cup final in 1966. The men’s team are aiming to win England’s first major trophy on foreign soil.