Soccer: Germans get Hurst onside

Geoff Hurst, the England striker who scored three goals in his team's World Cup final victory over Germany, is now promoting that country as a tourist destination.

The German National Tourist Office has recruited Hurst, the hero of the 1966 final, to promote the World Cup host ahead of this year's tournament. Posters of Hurst standing in front of famous German monuments are appearing at stations on the London Underground.

One poster of Hurst pictures him standing by Berlin's Brandenburg Gate.

"I might have scored three times in '66 but, for some things, you can't beat the Germans," the poster reads.

There's one of Hurst overlooking a picturesque Bavarian village saying: "Germany. So much to see you may need extra time."

It was in extra time at Wembley when Hurst scored the third England goal, which the Germans still say shouldn't have counted.

His shot hit the underside of the crossbar, bounced and then came back into play. A linesman flagged that the ball had crossed the line and, despite German protests, the goal stood.

That made it 3-2 and England went on to win 4-2 for their only World Cup triumph.

The Germans have won the World Cup three times. So far, Hurst hasn't mentioned that.

- NZPA