Clockwatch: England 2-2 Greece

Minute-by-minute action from England's 2-2 draw with Greece at at Old Trafford, that earned them a place in the 2002 World Cup.

---

1500 BST: Demis Nikolaidis and Angelos Charisteas kick off for Greece at Old Trafford.

1 minute: Paul Scholes makes an early break for England but is thwarted by a last-ditch Greek tackle on the edge of the box.

4 mins: Former Leicester player Theo Zagorakis hits a free kick wide of the far post from 35 yards out for Greece.

7 mins: Greek goalkeeper Antonis Nikopolidis dives athletically to his right to save a curling 35-yard free kick by David Beckham.

9 mins: England midfielder Scholes is booked for a reckless late tackle on Charisteas.

10 mins: Giorgos Karagounis drives forward from midfield for Greece and fires a long-range shot. England keeper Nigel Martyn dives low to his right to save.

England have made a nervous start and Greece have enjoyed the better early chances.

England midfielder Scholes prepares to shoot

14 mins: Greek captain Zagorakis is booked for dissent.

17 mins: Karagounis hits an excellent long pass into the area to Nikolaidis. The Greek forward strikes a shot on the half-volley from an acute angle that beats Martyn but goes narrowly over England's crossbar.

20 mins: Charisteas takes the ball on his chest 20 yards out from England's goal before lashing a shot that goes fractionally high of the crossbar.

Greece are continuing to have the better of the game.

29 mins: England captain Beckham fires a 23-yard free kick disappointingly high of the Greek goal.

31 mins: Zagorakis volleys through a crowded England area after a free kick and Martyn shows good reactions to save.

Full-time: Beckham rescues disappointing England with a fantastic free kick at Old Trafford. The home side had been desperate for most of the match against a surprisingly impressive Greek side, but Beckham proved their saviour.

33 mins: Christos Patsatzoglou beats Ashley Cole down the right wing and crosses into the box from the by-line.

Rio Ferdinand makes a weak clearance and Charisteas shoots low past Martyn from the right corner of the area.
England 0-1 Greece

43 mins: Greek sweeper Costas Konstantinidis heads a threatening Beckham ball out of the Greek area.

45 mins: Ferdinand does well to steal the ball from Nikolaidis, who had temporarily got goal-side of him inside the England area.

45 mins: Heskey makes a rampaging run down the right and fires a low pass across the Greek goal.

Michalis Kasapis lunges to intercept and almost sends the ball into his own net.

Half-time: England coach Sven Goran Eriksson brings home favourite Andy Cole on for Nick Barmby. Emile Heskey switches out to the left wing.

46 mins: Nikopolidis dives low to his right to gather a 25-yard Beckham free kick.

47 mins: Steven Gerrard chips a lovely ball over the top of the Greek defence to Andy Cole. The Manchester United striker finds himself one-on-one with Nikopolidis but shoots straight at the Greek keeper.

49 mins: Karagounis gets in front of Gary Neville and shoots from the edge of the area. Martyn gets down low to save.

51 mins: Robbie Fowler does well to control an over-hit Gerrard pass before hitting a half-volley high over the crossbar.

55 mins: Scholes feeds Beckham down the left and the England captain crosses into the area. Greek keeper Nikopolidis does well to gather the ball ahead of Andy Cole.

58 mins: Gerrard lobs into the area and Scholes lunges to meet the ball, but Nikopolidis is again alert and saves one-handed.

61 mins: Scholes finds unmarked Beckham inside the area. England's captain takes a good first touch but strikes his shot straight at Nikopolidis.

64 mins: Beckham hits a corner in from the left and the ball is deflected out to Scholes. The Manchester United midfielder's subsequent shot is deflected but the Greek keeper again gathers cleanly.

68 mins: Eriksson brings on Sheringham and he scores within seconds of his introduction.

Beckham sends in a free kick from the left and Sheringham gets ahead of Konstantinidis to send a header over the top of Nikopolidis.
England 1-1 Greece

69 mins: Greece go ahead within moments of England's equaliser. Nikolaidis beats England's offside trap and holds off Rio Ferdinand before shooting past Martyn from eight yards.
England 1-2 Greece

77 mins: Beckham's 22-yard free kick goes marginally wide of the far post.

Greece celebrate their second goal

79 mins: England bring on Steve McManaman for Ashley Cole and revert to a back three.

81 mins: Nikopolidis fumbles Heskey's left-wing cross but Greece manage to clear. England are desperately piling forward in search of a goal.

84 mins: Sheringham links up well with McManaman on the edge of the area before shooting, but his effort is blocked.

90 mins: Greece repel wave after wave of English attacks. Gerrard strikes a half volley from 30 yards but Greece's keeper again saves.

90 mins: England captain Beckham scores with a sensational 30-yard free kick, three minutes into injury-time.

Because Germany only drew with Finland, the goal means England automatically qualify for the World Cup.
England 2-2 Greece

---

Teams:

England: Martyn, G Neville, Ashley Cole, Ferdinand, Keown, Beckham, Gerrard, Scholes, Barmby, Heskey, Fowler.
Subs: Wright, Southgate, Carragher, Murphy, McManaman, Andy Cole, Sheringham.

Greece: Nikopolidis, Patsatzoglou, Fissas, Dabizas, Vokolos, Konstantinidis, Zagorakis, Kasapis, Charisteas, Karagounis, Nikolaidis.
Subs: Venetidis, Basinas, Georgiadis, Chalkias, Lakis, Machlas, Vrizas.