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Friday, 1 June 2007, 06:56 GMT 07:56 UK

Wembley milestone

In 2000 midfielder Dietmar Hamann scored the last ever goal at the old Wembley stadium when Germany beat England 1-0 in a World Cup qualifier.

With England facing Brazil in their first game at the new Wembley on Friday, Manchester City midfielder Hamann gives BBC Sport his memories of what it was like playing at the home of football.

By Dietmar Hamann
Former Germany midfielder

As an away team Wembley was an intimidating place to play - so it will do England a lot of good to return there after seven years.

There is an aura about the ground and the place itself - it is pretty similar to Anfield for visiting teams.

Our victory in 2000 was a big result for us because we had not beaten a top team for years.

So to go to Wembley for the last ever game there and win 1-0 was a massive result for us.

ENGLAND 0-1 GERMANY
Venue: Wembley Stadium
Date: 7 October 2000
Attendance: 76,377


Dietmar Hamann scored the winner for Germany in 2000 Scoring the winning goal really made no difference to me, but it is obviously now in the record books and people will remember it for years.

I do not get asked that often about the goal - seven years is a long time in football.

But more recently people have spoken to me about it because the new stadium has opened and the FA Cup final returned there.

That game back in 2000 probably meant more to the English than the Germans.

It was always a big result winning away to England, but the fact that it was the last game at Wembley probably meant more to them than us.

We did not go there looking to spoil the party, but we had to get a result and look after ourselves and that is what we did.

I think it is probably the ground with the most tradition and the one with the longest history.

I have had the chance to play there twice - the FA Cup final in 1999 and then in 2000 against England and I very much enjoyed playing there.

In the old stadium the atmosphere was special so I would be surprised if they could better that.

I have not been to the new stadium yet but I have seen the pictures and it looks magnificent.

Growing up watching football you do not really think about one day visiting these stadiums because there is always lots of places where you would like to play.

But it was always something special when I heard there was a Cup final or an international on at Wembley.

It was a fantastic stadium, the atmosphere was amazing and hopefully I will get the chance to go back there and see what it is like now.




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Related to this story:

England & Germany face friendly (31 May 07 |  Internationals )
Lineker on Beckham and England (31 May 07 |  Internationals )
Terry determined to save McClaren (31 May 07 |  Internationals )
Shorey and Brown set for England (31 May 07 |  Internationals )
The new Wembley Stadium (16 May 07 |  Football )
End of the road for England (29 May 07 |  Internationals )
England v Germany - in pictures (07 Oct 00 |  Photo Galleries )
Wembley's sad farewell (07 Oct 00 |  World Cup 2002 )

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