SIR Bobby Charlton led out the Boys of '66 and a giant screen played out those familiar images.

The ball which crashed against the underside of the crossbar, Geoff Hurst's famous third goal, still the only hat-trick recorded in a World Cup final, and of course the great Bobby Moore lifting the trophy.

The surviving members of the England side which beat West Germany 4-2 at Wembley - Hurst, Big Jack Charlton, Roger Hunt, Alan Ball and the rest - were present in the futuristic World Cup stadium here, which looks like a giant white Michelin tyre, to launch a spectacular opening ceremony to the 18th World Cup.

They were among a parade of 158 champions from the seven countries which have won the World Cup and who formed the largest group of international football stars ever gathered.

England were first, by the way, not because of any privilege but because they were ranked on a least-won-first-out basis. Or in other words, save the best until the last.

Which, of course, is Brazil, with five World Cup triumphs.