'It was just like 1966' says Wor Jack

For Jack Charlton, watching England's Lionhearts emerge triumphant from their titanic struggle with Australia brought memories of his all-conquering team's achievements in 1966 flooding back.

The sporting discipline may have been different, but the rollercoaster ride was virtually identical to the glorious Wembley win over West Germany 37 years ago.

The comparisons with that famous summer's day are irresistible. The opposition taking a shock lead, England roaring back in front only to be denied by a last-gasp equaliser taking the clash into extra-time. For Big Jack, it was as though history was repeating itself.

And, on Saturday morning, just as he had been on June 30, 1966, Charlton was left celebrating a moment that would never be forgotten.

And he is well placed to comprehend the emotions Martin Johnson, Jonny Wilkinson and Co will be going through.

"They've probably still got hangovers," he said. "They'll just be taking it all in now.

"It didn't take too long for it to sink in for me but you only properly realise what you've achieved later.

"It's when people recognise you everywhere you go and keep asking for your autograph, that's when you understand it. I'm sure that's what will happen to these lads."

Charlton, who got a taste of the World Cup as both an England player and as manager of the Republic of Ireland in 1990 and 1994, was, by his own admission, "anxious as hell" as he watched Saturday's final at home in Northumberland.

"I'm not a rugby man, but this was England and I'd been following it whenever I could," he said.

"I was anxious as hell because we looked like we weren't going to win. It brought it all back for me, when Australia got back into the game seconds from the end and it went into extra time.

"It was just like 1966. Thanks to the drama of extra time, it will be talked about forever. It had tension and was everything that a final should be."