Sir Geoff Hurst hits out at 'nonsense' England World Cup myth as Three Lions prepare for opener

EXCLUSIVE: Sir Geoff Hurst hits out at 'nonsense' England World Cup myth as Three Lions prepare for opener As England prepare for their first match of the World Cup next week, Sir Geoff Hurst highlighted what it would mean to him if the Three Lions went all the way Sir Geoff Hurst insists he will be the happiest man in the country if England win the World Cup - contrary to what some 'negative' people may assume. Sixty years have passed since Hurst's hat-trick against West Germany sent the nation into bedlam. His tripartite of strikes featured two of the most iconic goals in this country's history. His first was the powerful drive which cannoned off the underside of the crossbar and was controversially deemed to have crossed the line, and the World Cup clinching fourth, where he stuck it into the roof of the net as Kenneth Wolstenholme said: "Some people are on the pitch, they think it's all over...it is now!" Standing tall at the age of 84 years old, Sir Geoff is the final living member of the starting XI who lifted the Jules Rimet trophy at the old Wembley Stadium. Less than a week before the Three Lions begin their World Cup campaign, Hurst insists it would mean everything if England ended sixty years of hurt. While promoting Budweiser's 'Let it Pour' campaign, Hurst exclusively told the Mirror: "Well, you get some negative people in all walks of life. One or two people; they don't think I want England to win the World Cup because we've done it once. That is nonsense. "Nobody understands better than me what it's like to be involved, nobody, in winning a World Cup. And that's not winning it on the day, it's living it 60 years on. I would probably be the biggest cheerer in the country if England won the World Cup." JOIN US ON FACEBOOK! Latest news, analysis and much more on Mirror Football's Facebook page When Sir Bobby Charlton passed away aged 86 in October 2023, Sir Geoff became the last surviving member of the starting team who beat the Germans. "When I realised what we went through as a team and the success, I think we were way beyond the football," the West Ham icon added. "We got together probably 10 years afterwards, playing golf together. "A couple of days the wives came and went shopping. The bond was very strong. It fills me with great sadness. Naturally, I see images and pictures and people talking about it almost every day. It does bring me a great deal of sadness that these players I played with are no longer around." AS the tournament kicks off today with Mexico vs South Africa at the Azteca, the England icon cannot wait for World Cup fever to grip the nation again, as it did when he and Sir Alf Ramsey's side were so successful. He added: "It's going back to my experience all those years ago. Many people who were not at the game, who were not necessarily football fans, were just as enthusiastic and excited about the national team in the major sport being successful. "It goes beyond the sport of football, an event like this, it's outside of that. People who don't share any great interest in the game suddenly become excited." England begin their World Cup campaign with an opening fixture against Croatia in Dallas, Texas, on Wednesday June 17. To launch Budweiser's global Let It Pour campaign, Sir Geoff Hurst celebrated the unveiling of an 8-metre interactive mural and hidden pub at Studio 48, 48 Chalk Farm Road, London (NW1 8AJ). Open to the public on Saturday 13th June from 1pm to 4pm, 18+ fans can step inside for exclusive merchandise, photos, and a meet-and-greet with fellow England legend David Seaman. Get the latest World Cup news straight to your inbox by _signing up to our Make Football Great Again newsletter now!