England football hero Geoff Hurst: I want Germany to win Euro 2008

But now football legend Sir Geoff Hurst has said he is backing Germany to win Euro 2008 - which kicks off tonight without England -and says that English football fans should do the same.

‘The old rivalry should be all over. Well, at least for now,’ he told The Sun.

Sir Geoff Hurst appearing in an advertising campaign for the German Tourist Board.

 ‘Since England won’t be playing in the European Championships, I’ll be backing Germany.’

 Hurst’s football career was tightly bound with Germany with his greatest moment taking place in the 66 final and both his debut and final international matches were with them as his opponents.

Hurst has quite an affection for Germany and has spent numerous holidays there in the past.

In 2006 Hurst sparked outrage when he appeared in a tongue-in-cheek German tourist board ad campaign for the 2006 World Cup which was held in Germany

He also believes that German and the English have a great deal in common.

‘Whether some people care to admit it, they are very much like us – determined, strong and proud.

‘They’ve even got a sense of humour, I’ve found.’

Geoff Hurst lifts the World Cup in 1966 alongside Bobby Moore

‘I think the 2006 World Cup gave everyone a different view of Germany and a lot of people will have added it to their holiday list.

‘I stayed in Baden-Baden where the England team and the media were staying and I loved it so much that my wife Judith and I stayed on for four or five days after the tournament. It was fantastic.

I had seen quite a lot of Germany before then, playing for England and on pre-season tours with West Ham, so I was happy to do a poster campaign promoting Germany before the World Cup.

‘There was some tongue-in-cheek reaction to that but – having seen more of it in 2006 – I love the place.