England's most notorious international opponents who the Three Lions defeated in 1966 to claim the World Cup on home soil.

Since then, a fierce and competitive footballing rivalry has been played out in various tournaments - often in the later stages.

The first full international meeting between the two nations was played in Berlin in May 1930, with a 3-3 draw being the result. England won the next meeting 3-0 at White Hart Lane - which was the first time the Germans travelled to English shores.

The next time the two sides clashed, in May 1938, the game would be remembered mainly for the English players performing a Nazi salute in front of 110,000 people before kick-off, rather than the 6-3 win.

By the time the two nations faced each other in 1966, the newly formed West Germany had claimed a World Cup, but it was England who were to triumph on home soil in a game that remains the high point of the Three Lions' illustrious history.

In front of a packed and passionate Wembley crowd Germany took the lead after 12 minutes but this was quickly cancelled out by Geoff Hurst before Martin Peters put England into a 2-1 lead, which they held until the 89th minute.

Germany equalised through a scrappy goal which took the game into extra-time, but England regrouped, dominated the added period and took the lead again through Hurst with a hotly disputed goal via a decision from a Russian linesman.

Hurst grabbed a fourth for England in the last minute to complete his hat-trick, prompting the famous words from commentator Kenneth Wostenholme - "Some people are on the pitch. They think its all over, and it is now!" - as Hurst powered his shot into the net.

Germany got their revenge four years later with a 3-2 victory in the 1970 World Cup quarter-final and also inflicted a two-legged defeat in the 1976 European Championships.

Despite valiant efforts by the Three Lions, Germany would again be England's foe in Italia '90 and Euro '96 - knocking them out of both tournaments at the semi-final stage on penalties.

England ended the barren run in Euro 2000 with a 1-0 win thanks to an Alan Shearer header but it was in 2001 that they recorded perhaps their most stunning win over their fierce rivals.

A Michael Owen hat-trick in Munich brought back memories of Hurst's glorious treble of 1966 and, along with goals from Emile Heskey and Steven Gerrard, the Three Lions romped to a 5-1 victory and set them on their way to qualifying for the 2002 World Cup.

This was despite losing to the Germans 1-0 in the home leg, which the last ever game at Wembley before it was rebuilt.

That sad farewell to the old stadium was the last time that England met their great rivals - though they face each other again at the new Wembley in a friendly match later this year.

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