Pom-bashing gathers pace

The shock 3-1 defeat of David Beckham's star-studded side was the latest in a series of sporting humiliations suffered by British teams against Australia.

The visitors were inspired by goals from Tony Popovic, Harry Kewell and Brett Emerton to complete one of the most famous days in their country's soccer history.

The Sydney Morning Herald proclaimed: "Australia 3 Easybeats 1 - Socceroos crush England in historic win".

The earliest editions of the newspaper read: "First it was the cricket (4-1), then the Davis Cup tennis (4-1) and now Australia has stunned England in one of the biggest upsets in soccer history, thumping David Beckham's star-spangled team 3-1."

The Fox Sports website ran the headline: "Roos Rule Britannia", while The West Australian newspaper delighted in: "Kewell on fire as England in ashes".

The paper said the victory proved the World Cup qualifying tournament's Oceania group - which Australia are favourites to win - deserved its new automatic place in the finals.

It continued: "Sparked by a sick but dazzling Harry Kewell, Australia proved it deserved a place at the World Cup with an historic 3-1 win over England this morning."