GERMANY WILL WEAR black armbands for tonight’s World Cup qualifier against the Republic of Ireland to pay tribute to former forward Helmut Haller, who scored the opening goal of the 1966 World Cup final.
Haller died at his home in Augsburg on Thursday aged 73 after suffering from a lung infection.
The German Football Federation (DFB) have asked for a minute’s silence to be observed before Tuesday’s World Cup qualifier against Sweden in Berlin while the team will wear armbands at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium for the Group C match.
Haller made 33 appearances for West Germany between 1958 and 1970, scoring 13 goals including six at the 1966 World Cup when he opened the scoring in the final after 12 minutes before England’s famous 4-2 victory.
He famously took the match ball back to Germany after the Wembley final, only to return it later after England’s Geoff Hurst had scored a hat-trick in the final to help the hosts lift the Jules Rimet trophy.
“Helmut Haller is one of the outstanding personalities of German football,” said DFB president Wolfgang Niersbach after Haller played for Germany at three World Cups.
“His amazing performances, particularly at the 1966 World Cup, are unforgettable.
“We were in contact up until very recently and his death really saddens us.”
Haller won three league titles during his time in Serie A while playing for Bologna and later Juventus in Italy.
“We will not forget him, he did so much for Germany and for the national team,” said team manager Oliver Bierhoff.
