Stiles was also part of the Manchester United side which became the first English club to win the European Cup two years later, when they beat Benfica in the final at Wembley.

A statement issued by the Stiles family read: "The Stiles family are sad to announce that Nobby Stiles passed away peacefully today (30/10/2020) surrounded by his family after a long illness."

Stiles was credited with playing a key role in neutralising the threat of Portuguese star Eusebio, at the time the deadliest striker in Europe, in the World Cup semi-final.

In total he won 28 caps, the lowest number of any of the World Cup-winning side, but he remained perhaps the most beloved figure in the team.

For, in his own celebrated words, he was "the fella with no teeth who danced round Wembley."

The sight of the diminutive midfield terrier doing a jig on the famous turf, Jules Rimet trophy in one hand and false teeth in the other, is one of English football's most cherished memories.

He played every minute of England's victorious 1966 campaign, doing the dirty work so the likes of Geoff Hurst and Bobby Charlton could steal the show.

In the win over Portugal, Stiles marked Eusebio out of the game and he was also a key figure in the final against West Germany, his energy a galvanising force as the contest headed into extra-time before England won 4-2.

Australian Associated Press