England finally managed to beat Hungary on this day in 1965.

After four defeats in a row against Hungary, one of the best teams in the world in the 1950s, England finally claimed a victory on this day in 1965.

Ferenc Puskas and his ‘Mighty Magyars’ had won 6-3 at Wembley in ’53, inflicting on England their first-ever loss at home to Continental opposition, and then confirmed their clear superiority at that time with a 7-1 drubbing in Budapest six months later.

Then Hungary won 2-0 in another Budapest friendly in 1960 and 2-1 in Rancagua during the Chile World Cup two years later. England were certainly due a victory and a 52,000 crowd were delighted that it came in a Wembley friendly 45 years ago today.

It could have been argued that both sides were a pale shadow of their famous predecessors, but Alf Ramsey’s England were building towards the World Cup and there were some encouraging signs. Certainly the defence was starting to have a solid look about it.

England played some excellent football in the first half and scored the all-important goal on 17 minutes. George Eastham, the Arsenal inside-forward, sent Terry Paine on a run down the right and his pass inside was collected by Jimmy Greaves and fired past ‘keeper Gelei.

England continued to put together some fine passing movements after that, but their finishing was disappointing. Even the normally lethal Greaves missed a couple of sitters.