Editing Gordon Banks (section)

=== 1966 World Cup ===
Banks entered the [[1966 FIFA World Cup]] as England's first-choice goalkeeper, and his understudies Ron Springett and [[Peter Bonetti]] never took to the field during the tournament. England opened the tournament with a goalless draw against [[Uruguay national football team|Uruguay]], with Banks a virtual spectator as the highly defensive Uruguayans rarely ventured out of their half.<ref>{{harvnb|Banks|2002|p=109}}</ref> They then defeated [[Mexico national football team|Mexico]] 2–0, with Banks again rarely troubled throughout.<ref>{{harvnb|Banks|2002|p=113}}</ref> A 2–0 win over [[France national football team|France]] then took England through the group stage without Banks conceding a goal.<ref>{{harvnb|Banks|2002|p=116}}</ref>

England beat Argentina 1–0 in the last eight, with Geoff Hurst scoring with a header; the match was sullied by the first-half [[Ejection (sports)|sending off]] of Argentinian midfielder [[Antonio Rattín]], who refused to leave the pitch after being dismissed for dissent.<ref>{{harvnb|Banks|2002|p=122}}</ref> In contrast to the previous games, the semi-final against Portugal proved to be a fair contest between two sides of talented players eager to attack from the start of the match.<ref>{{harvnb|Banks|2002|p=125}}</ref> Yet there was panic in the buildup to the game as trainer [[Harold Shepherdson]] forgot to buy [[chewing gum]], which Banks used to make his hands stickier and better able to handle the ball, and so Shepherdson had to run to a nearby [[Newsagent's shop|newsagents]] to purchase gum as the teams were in the tunnel.<ref>{{harvnb|Banks|2002|p=127}}</ref> Bobby Charlton scored two goals, but Portugal made a strong finish and won a penalty on 82 minutes after Jack Charlton handled the ball in the penalty area.<ref>{{harvnb|Banks|2002|p=129}}</ref> [[Eusébio]] converted the penalty after sending Banks the wrong way, and the game finished 2–1 in England's favour.<ref>{{harvnb|Banks|2002|p=130}}</ref> This was the first goal Banks had conceded for England in 721 minutes of regular play since giving up Scotland's last goal after 81 minutes of the Home International clash in April. This remained a record for an England goalkeeper until 2021 when it was broken by [[Jordan Pickford]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/pickford-breaks-england-goalkeeper-record-stretching-back-1966-2021-07-07/|title=Pickford breaks England goalkeeper record stretching back to 1966|work=Reuters|date=8 July 2021|access-date=19 July 2021}}</ref>

England's opponents in the [[1966 FIFA World Cup final|final]] were West Germany. It was England who dominated the final, but it was Banks who was beaten first. A weak header from Ray Wilson handed a chance to [[Helmut Haller]], who sent an accurate but relatively weak shot into the corner of the net; Banks had been unsighted by Jack Charlton, and he failed to adjust his position in time to reach the ball.<ref>{{harvnb|Banks|2002|p=134}}</ref> England equalised through a Geoff Hurst header within six minutes and went ahead late in the second half through [[Martin Peters]].<ref>{{harvnb|Banks|2002|p=135}}</ref> With seconds left in the game, [[Lothar Emmerich]] sent a [[Free kick (association football)|free kick]] into the England penalty area, and the ball fell to [[Wolfgang Weber]], who guided the ball over a lunging Ray Wilson and an outstretched Banks into the net to take the game into extra-time.<ref>{{harvnb|Banks|2002|p=136}}</ref> In extra time, the Germans sent shots in at the England goal, which Banks managed to catch and control without any great danger.<ref>{{harvnb|Banks|2002|p=137}}</ref> Hurst scored two goals to complete his [[hat-trick]], and though many claimed his second goal never [[Cross (association football)|crossed]] the line Banks always maintained his belief that the officials called the decision correctly.<ref>{{harvnb|Banks|2002|p=138}}</ref> Between these goals, Banks had to deal with a fiery shot from [[Sigfried Held]] and was later exposed only for [[Uwe Seeler]] to come just centimetres away from connecting with the ball.<ref>{{harvnb|Banks|2002|p=139}}</ref>