Brian Moore dies hours before game.

ITV's former 'voice of football' Brian Moore has died just hours before England's 5-1 triumph against Germany, it was revealed last night.

Moore, 69, died early yesterday at his home in Kent, surrounded by his family, ITN said.

He joined LWT in 1967 and his commentating career spanned three decades before he retired at the end of the 1998 World Cup final in France.

Friends and former colleagues last night paid tribute to Moore.

Ex-Arsenal goalkeeper and sports commentator Bob Wilson said nobody had a bad word to say about him.

'I am just very privileged to have known him the way I got to know him,' he told ITV.

'I think that if I had to give a tribute to Brian as a commentator it would be that I don't think there is anyone in the world of football, and football is a big world, who had a bad word to say about him.'

Moore began his journalistic career sub-editing for World Sports, then worked on the Exchange Telegraph for two years and The Times for three.

In 1961 Moore became a presenter for BBC Radio and commentated on the 1966 World Cup Final. He joined ITV in 1968 and commentated on its flagship Midweek Sports Special from 1978 until 1986.

One regret of his career was when he asked Kevin Keegan live on air whether David Batty would score in the 1998 World Cup shootout against Argentina. Keegan said yes to Moore's question - and Batty promptly fluffed his effort.

Moore said his faith was an important part of his life and he attended church every Sunday. He turned to Christianity after a heart scare in 1986.

He had life-saving heart surgery in 1987 and 1995 for blocked arteries.

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MOORE ... died aged 69