From Pele to Hurst, world's best were foiled by Banks

It says much about the brilliance of Gordon Banks that the World Cup-winning England goalkeeper never rated his legendary save from Pele as the greatest stop of his glittering career.

Banks, who has died aged 81, earned his place in the pantheon of England icons when he flung himself to his right to turn Pele's goal-bound header over the crossbar in the group stages of the 1970 World Cup.

Such was the accuracy and force of Pele's effort that the Brazil great thought he had scored and was beginning to celebrate before being stopped in his tracks by Banks's breathtaking intervention.

"I heard Pele shout 'Goal!' after he headed it," Banks said.

"Definitely. He thought it was past me."
"I was able to anticipate that it was going to bounce up and I could flick it over."
Asked in 2016 if denying Pele was his crowning glory, Banks replied: "No, that was a penalty (save) from Geoff Hurst against Stoke in the League Cup semi-final in 1972."
- Cat-like reflexes -
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