“He was probably the best player that day and if it had not been for his impact the result could have been totally different. He did not have a nerve in his body and he was an inspiration to us all. He was a sensational little player with great touch and vision. I am very sad and shocked by the news.”
— Bobby Charlton on England teammate Alan Ball‘s performance in England’s 4-2 overtime win over West Germany in the 1966 World Cup final. Ball, the youngest player on the 1966 England team, died late Tuesday night of a suspected heart attack after trying to tackle a bonfire that had got out of control in his backyard.