The one match which really broke that trend was the quarter final between Portugal and North Korea, whose surprise progress through the group stage had included a 1-0 win over Italy.
The Asian side raced into a 3-0 lead inside 25 minutes, only for Portugal to charge back with the aid of four goals from Eusebio, to win 5-3.
Portugal’s run was to end in the next round however, as hosts England beat them 2-1 to set up a final against West Germany.
England came from behind to lead 2-1, and were seemingly moments away from lifting the trophy when a goal in the 89th minute from Wolfgang Weber took the match into extra time.
A controversial Geoff Hurst goal in the first extra period put England back into the lead, and the same player was to make it 4-2 right at the end, completing what is still the only hat-trick ever scored in a World Cup final.
Managed by the enigmatic Alf Ramsey and captained by Bobby Moore (as immortalised above), this was England's finest hour.
Nearly half a century on though, it remains the only time they have ever won a major international tournament, or even played in the final of one.
