Sir Geoff Hurst, the only surviving member England’s 1966 World Cup-winning team, sends a message to the Three Lions as Gareth Southgate’s side bid for Euro 2024 glory

Sir Geoff Hurst has sent the England squad a message of support as Gareth Southgate‘s side bid for Euro 2024 glory on Sunday against Spain.

Hurst was England’s hat-trick hero in the 1966 World Cup final against West Germany.

The 82-year-old is the only surviving member of Sir Alf Ramsey’s squad, who earned a 4-2 victory in the final at Wembley.

The triumph remains the sole senior title won by the England men’s senior team.

Southgate’s side will bid to etch their name into history by overcoming Spain at the Olympiastadion in Berlin, after falling short against Italy on penalties in the Euro 2020 final.  

Boss Gareth Southgate and captain Harry Kane will be hoping to lead England to the European Championship title

Hurst, 82, is expected to watch the final at home and sent a message wishing the team ‘all the best’

Hurst took to social media to wish England luck as they bid to win the European Championship for the first time. 

‘Wishing the England team all the best. I will be supporting you along with whole country,’ Hurst wrote.

‘Come on England!! All the best Geoff.’

Hurst is expected to watch the final from home, with The Sun reporting the legend declined an invitation from the Football Association to attend the showpiece. 

Speaking ahead of Euro 2024, Hurst expressed his belief that Southgate’s squad is the best group of players England have had since 1966.

Hurst, who spent the majority of his career at West Ham, had also spoken of his sadness at being the last surviving member of the World Cup winning side.

‘It’s no fun getting old. There’s an element of lottery about it,’ Hurst, 82, told The Times. ‘About how long you’ve got and what you might get.

England are competing in their second straight European Championship final, after falling short at Euro 2020

Hurst’s hat-trick in the 1966 World Cup final led England to their only major senior men’s honour

‘Every time I see a picture [of the 1966 team] or see a game we played, I feel extreme sadness. To go through what we did together… They were a great bunch of lads and a great bunch of players.’

A number of the 1966 England side have died in recent years. Ray Wilson passed away in 2018 aged 83, Gordon Banks (81) and Martin Peters (76) went in 2019, while Jack Charlton (85) and Nobby Stiles (78) died in 2020.

Roger Hunt was 83 when he passed in 2021 and George Cohen the same age when he died in 2022.

Captain Bobby Moore died of bowel cancer aged 51 back in 1993, Alan Ball suffered a fatal heart attack aged 61 in 2007 and Sir Bobby Charlton died last year aged 86.

Ramsey himself died of a heart attack in 1999 at the age of 79.