West Ham inflicted a horrible night on frightened Frankfurt in 1976

Germans are being tamed wherever you look at West Ham's training ground in Romford.

Inside the media room, the old boys are watching back grainy footage of the night they defeated Eintracht Frankfurt 3-1 in their European Cup Winners' Cup semi-final second leg in April 1976 – the greatest win in the Boleyn Ground's history.

There are chuckles when they see how wet it was, with goalkeeper Mervyn Day saying there was 'a lake' in his penalty box. A collective 'oof' as Keith Robson watches himself whip the ball into the top-left corner. Admiration as Trevor Brooking bags their third goal. A sigh of relief as the referee blows the final whistle, confirming West Ham had completed the comeback after losing the first leg in Frankfurt.

Outside the media room and at that very moment, club captain Mark Noble is walking by with his two pet German Shepherds. A cute little coincidence, as West Ham look to repeat history on Thursday night at the London Stadium.

This is the club's first European semi-final since 1976. They beat Frankfurt back then and as fate would have it, David Moyes's men will need to do so again if they're to reach the Europa League final in Seville on May 18.

Day, Robson and Pat Holland gathered to reminiscence about the soggy night they got the better of the Germans. Brooking couldn't make the reunion, and nor could Billy Bonds, captain for that famous win 46 years ago.

As they watch back the game, they're struck by nostalgia.

'When the draw came through, we were gobsmacked at the weirdness,' says Day. 'We've got a connection with it. From our point of view it's a better game than Barcelona – and one West Ham have a better chance of winning.

'It's a long time. For a club like this, which has had a cup-winning and