1966 World Cup final goalscorer Helmut Haller dies at 73

Helmut Haller scored for West Germany in the 1966 World Cup (Bongarts/Getty Images)

Helmut Haller, who scored for West Germany in the 1966 World Cup final against England and took the match ball home before returning it to the Football Association 30 years later, has died at the age of 73, his home club Augsburg said yesterday.

Haller, a blond, stocky striker who gave the Germans an early 1-0 lead at Wembley with a turn and shot after a rare Ray Wilson error, won 33 caps and scored 13 goals for his country. He also featured in the 1962 and 1970 World Cups and played for 11 years in Italy, winning three league titles with Bologna and Juventus.