The match report of England’s famous World Cup win against West Germany appeared in the Guardian on the Monday after the final.
The previous day’s Observer had a news report from Trafalgar Square where fans unable to get match tickets danced in the fountain, singing: “We gave them [West Germany] a bloody good hiding and so say all of us.”
Prime Minister Harold Wilson, who had taken the afternoon off from dealing with the country’s economic difficulties, was also quoted in the Observer, saying: “The final was a marvellous game.”
On a negative note, both the Guardian and the Observer reported that the German press had criticised some Fleet Street editors for their ‘militaristic nationalism’ when backing the host nation England.
The preparations for England’s first hosting of a World Cup began after it got more votes than West Germany at a meeting of the International Football Federation in Rome in 1960.
The Guardian kept its readers up to date as the competition’s opening ceremony loomed. Tales of Soho clip joints being shut down, North Korea still not confirming their participation a few months ahead of the opening game, and Sheffield’s unusual decision to put a librarian in charge of its World Cup preparations filled the paper.
A useful guide in the Guardian guide also listed the 16 teams competing, telling readers about the tournament’s star players like Pelé (Brazil), Beckenbauer (West Germany), Eusébio (Portugal) and Charlton (England).
Disaster almost struck when the competition’s Jules Rimet trophy was stolen. In the months before the tournament it was being displayed at a venue in London from where it was snatched. Luckily it was found after being dumped in a street in Upper Norwood. A dog called Pickles made the discovery when out for a walk with its owner.
