England's World Cup qualifying campaign will begin with a home game against Germany.

The road to the 2002 finals begins on 7 October with one of the crucial matches of the group.

The campaign will also finish on home soil just under a year later on 6 October 6 2001 against Greece.

The most difficult task, that of playing away in Germany, will take place on 1 September 2001.

It took the five members of the group seven hours to agree the fixture list.

"I think we have found a solution where everyone has got something and nobody has got everything," said England coach Kevin Keegan.

"That is novel, a five-team group is sometimes more difficult to organise than a six-team group.

"I'm delighted with the way the fixtures have been worked out. But obviously only the results will justify whether it's good or not."