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Few moments in sporting history have provoked such fierce debate – but on Monday night Sky Sports conclusively proved what England fans have known all along: Geoff Hurst's controversial extra-time goal in the 1966 World Cup Final did cross the line.

From Bobby Moore's touch map to the state-of-the-art treatment of the infamous goal and the 'Russian' linesman, Sky Sports opened their treasure chest of machinery to analyse England's finest hour.

Using statistical data from Opta, the SkyPad touchscreen — plus virtual reality from EA Sports — Sportsmail's Jamie Carragher and Sky's Ed Chamberlain studied the action from Wembley Stadium 50 years ago when England beat West Germany 4-2 after extra time to become champions of the world for the one and - so far - only time.

Sky Sports recreated Geoff Hurst's famous second goal against West Germany in the 1966 World Cup final

They also showed the view of 'Russian linesman' Tofiq Bahramov, who awarded Hurst's controversial goal

West Germany goalkeeper Hans Tilkowski watches helplessly as the ball bounces away from his goal

An aerial view fails to confirm whether or not Hurst's second goal of the game actually crossed the line

But this computer-generated image proves that the linesman was right to award Hurst's strike in extra-time

Hurst went on to complete a famous hat-trick after West Germany were caught on the break at Wembley

Sky's treatment proved beyond doubt that Hurst's second goal of the game DID cross the line, and showed how his West Ham team-mate, captain Moore, delivered a sublime performance at both ends of the pitch.

Carragher said: 'There has been so much talk about whether the ball crossed the line. Our technology was able to prove once and for all, that it did cross the line when Sir Geoff Hurst fired in the goal, via the crossbar, that gave England a decisive 3-2 lead in extra time [vindicating the award of a goal by linesman Tofiq Bahramov, who was actually from Azerbaijan]. The Germans can't complain any more.'

Carragher wrote in his exclusive Sportsmail column on Saturday: 'I grew up listening to stories about what happened during the game. But it was fascinating to be able to give it the treatment we do for matches in the Premier League now.

'Take the performance of Moore. Could you imagine how much we would be raving about a central defender if he did that in a World Cup final now?

'We pay so much attention to numbers in this day and age, it often gets forgotten how good the giants of previous generations were.'

Using Sky's pioneering analytical technology, Carragher also marvelled at the performance of Alan Ball - and analysed the six goals that were scored on that sunny afternoon 50 years ago this summer.

Hurst (left) raises his arms in celebration and looks towards the linesman after scoring England's third goal

Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher examines the 1966 World Cup final alongside presenter Ed Chamberlain

Bobby Moore's touch map from the 1966 World Cup final shows how influential he was against West Germany

But Carragher, who won 38 England caps between 1999-2010, was critical of both West German goals. The first followed a 'poor header' from full-back Ray Wilson while the second was a result of England being outnumbered in their own penalty area when defending a free-kick in the last minute.

'I think with it being so late in the game, panic sets in, 'we're going to give something away' and you see how many England players end up in the wall,' said Carragher. 

'There's four in the wall and then Geoff Hurst makes it five and that ends up being a problem because they get outnumbered at the back post. There are five England players and seven German players in the box so it's no surprise with way the goal comes. Ricochets, deflections, balls bouncing around – they've just got more players and Weber puts it in. To lose a goal so late and in those circumstances is a real body blow for England.'

What came next has gone down in football folklore but Sky have, at long last, ended one of the longest ever pub debates.

England captain Moore is lifted into the air as he shows off the Jules Rimet trophy with his team-mates

Sportsmail columnist Carragher was impressed by the performances of Moore and midfielder Alan Ball

Hurst grabbed the headlines but it was Ball and Moore that really caught Carragher's eye. Analysing England's fourth goal – and Hurst's third – he said: 'Bobby Moore chests it down. Late on, last couple of minutes, World Cup Final, extra-time but he doesn't look to launch the ball forward. He passes it out, gets it back again and that just sums him up as a player. This is not a long long ball, it's a long pass – there's a difference. Of course Germany are pushing up but look at Alan Ball's run, it means the German defender isn't sure because of that run by Ball. It means Geoff Hurst has now got time, space – but what a finish. The perfect hat-trick in a World Cup final.'

Moore is lavished with praised by his former colleagues. Hurst, who said he didn't expect to be in the squad let alone score in the final, calls Moore his hero even though they are only eight months apart. 

The 'greatest player I've ever played with,' says Hurst while goalkeeper Gordon Banks said: 'I've never seen a man who could anticipate a pass like he could.'

Jimmy Greaves, who of course did not play in the final, added: 'One of the greatest players of all time but also one of the lads.'