Tuesday 7 June 2016 19:41, UK
Sir Geoff Hurst believes England's Tottenham contingent could have the same impact as West Ham's 1966 heroes at Euro 2016.
World Cup final hat-trick scorer Hurst was part of a trio of Hammers along with captain Bobby Moore and midfielder Martin Peters, who scored the other goal in the 4-2 Wembley win over West Germany.
Spurs could have five players in the starting line-up when England kick off their campaign against Russia on Saturday, and Hurst says the combination of Dele Alli and Harry Kane has echoes of his successful partnership with Peters 50 years earlier.
"Having five players from the Spurs side, and the manner in which they played as a team this year, I think is healthy," said Hurst.
"Particularly the Dele Alli-Harry Kane partnership, which I would liken to myself and Martin who played at club level for a long time, since we were kids in fact.
"Our goal against Argentina in the quarter-finals in 1966 was between Martin and I, and was honed on West Ham's training ground at Chadwell Heath. You see that in the combination that Alli and Kane have.
"Two players playing in attack who have a good understanding with each other are extremely dangerous, and for me more dangerous than any individual. It's an exciting combination."
England boss Roy Hodgson may not have settled on his starting line-up yet as he bids to end 50 years of hurt.
But Hurst insists that is not a problem with an exciting young squad who can at least restore some pride after the disappointment of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
"Nobody can accuse Roy Hodgson of being negative with the attacking line-up he's picked," he added. "And the beauty of young players is they play without that fear, they are not necessarily aware of that expectation like the senior players.
"In 66, at the end, the Charlton brothers were in tears but the younger players like Alan Ball, Martin and me weren't aware of the magnitude of the occasion.
"I don't buy into the borderline hysteria that we should have a settled team. Me and Martin scored the goals in the final, but we'd sat on the bench in the first game. That illustrates how things evolve in a tournament.
"Success would be reaching the quarter-finals or semis, but what we want to see is some good performances and for the team to make us proud. Not what we saw in Brazil, two games and out.
"You can't win every game but we have to see some good performances. That to me is imperative."
Hurst was speaking at the Swindon offices of MAN Truck & Bus UK for the launch of the MAN TGX 66 Legends Edition Truck, which was commissioned to celebrate 50 years since England's World Cup win.
