A stunning 93rd minute free-kick from captain David Beckham earned England a dramatic 2-2 draw with Greece and a place at next summer's World Cup finals in Japan and Korea. England had to come from behind twice following a below par performance at Old Trafford, but with group rivals Germany drawing 0-0 with Finland in Gelsinkirchen, Sven Goran Eriksson's side maintained their advantage on goal difference to secure their place at the finals.
Uncharacteristically out of sorts from the start, the home side fell behind in the 36th minute when lively striker Angelos Charisteas drove the ball past Nigel Martyn from 15 yards. Substitute Teddy Sheringham made an immediate impact when he scored with his first touch in the 68th minute, cleverly looping the ball over Greek 'keeper Antonis Nikopolidis with a near post header from a Beckham free-kick.
However, England's joy was short-lived as Greece went ahead a minute later when their nervous defence failed to handle a routine free kick and Nikolaidis finished from close range to stun the home crowd once again. But with time running out and the possibility of a play-off with Ukraine looming, Beckham crowned a superb display with a stunning equaliser from 25 yards in injury time.
Filed by Shane Murray
