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Saturday, 6 October, 2001, 16:22 GMT 17:22 UK

England qualify - your reactions

England captain David Beckham put in a memorable performance

A dramatic late goal from England captain David Beckham is enough to see England qualify for the World Cup finals.

What did you make of the match?



Have Your Say

Most expected a comfortable victory by England to see them through to the World Cup Finals.

But the Greeks had other plans and took Sven's men to the wire, with an early goal from Angelos Charisteas piling on the pressure.

An inspired substitution led to Teddy Sheringham scoring with his first touch, but a minute later the visitors were ahead again through a goal from Demis Nikolaidis.

However, David Beckham, who put in a great skipper's performance, scored with a sensational 30-yard free kick to level things three minutes into injury-time.

Meanwhile, Germany could only manage a draw in Finland, condemning them to a play-off tie with the Ukraine.

But was Saturday's show good enough to inspire England to go all the way or is there still work to be done?



Have Your Say


While I hail Beckham's fantastic strike, am I alone in thinking his roving performance in the middle of the park took all the other midfielders out of the game? There's no doubt he tried hard, and there's no doubt he's an amazing player with an incredible work-rate, but it looked like he decided HE was going to take the game to the Greeks, and suddenly it was the Beckham show. The other midfielders looked disoriented and uncertain wtih Beckham going everywhere and doing everything himself.
Minn, Singapore

What was going on? Nick Barmby was completely ineffective on the left flank, while Gerrard looked like as if he just had had too many alcopops.
Louis, UK

Goodbye Fowler and don't come back. You were obviously not up to the job yesterday.
Dave, UK

We shouldn't play any more Liverpool players in the England squad until they learn to apply themselves. Fowler, Gerrard and Heskey were all a simply a waste of space. Michael Owen can play of course.
Richard, UK


Don't forget the two high-class saves when England were 0-1 down!
Johnny LI, China

Who cares about how bad the English performance was yesterday? Over the last year or so, since Sven's appointment, we've deserved a place in Japan and Korea, especially with results like the win in Greece and THAT game in Munich. God save our gracious Sven!
Tom, England

Most of the England players seemed mesmerised by the confident passing of the Greek side. Only Beckham showed the commitment and determination to consistently challenge for the ball. England needed a combative midfielder, like Paul Ince used to be, to break up the opponents play and win the ball in their half.
Graham, England

Also should say thanks to Martyn. Don't forget the two high-class saves when England were 0-1 down!
Johnny LI, China

All teams that win major trophies have to have some luck. Today we got lucky. Long may it continue.
John, UK

Who cares about the performance or the result? We are through to the World Cup Finals!
Leon Frere-Smith, England

Don't forget about the amazing performances of Sheringham and Martyn. Without these two players we wouldnt even be there! Teddy has proven the critics wrong. Thank you England for finally putting a smile on my face after the horror month of September.
Craig Barber, England


I am going to call all my children David Beckham
Tom Richards, Peru

At the age of 35, Teddy Sheringham has not only reinvented himself but also proven himself to be one of the smartest footballers around. Congratulations England!
Joe Goh, USA

I am going to call all my children David Beckham.
Tom Richards, Peru

All teams have their ups and downs, not to mention a team with so many youngsters. Having said that, England's defence has to be seriously evaluated and if drastic changes have to be made, then so be it! England needs more games before going to the Korea/Japan. Players have to learn to be mentally strong and determined like Beckham, besides developing consistency, which is what world-class players are all about.
Michael, Malaysia

Owen is still badly missed...the others, with the exception of David Beckham, are terrible.
Jes, Singapore

If that's the best we have - God help us. Apart from Beckham the rest looked like non-leaguers. With due respect to Greece (who were clearly the better side) I cringe to think what sides with pace and skill (like Italy, France and the South American teams) will do to our defence. Wake up call - one good win over Germany doesn't make us world class - as today's result shows.
Rich Foster, USA (Englishman in USA)

England continue to be inconsistent and their defence is undisciplined and amateurish. Let's not glorify this match or Beckham's last-minute goal. A draw against a weakened Greece team, which has lost all of its Group 9 away games, is no great sporting feat.
Miles Bonnington, UK


There is no better link-up than Beckham and Sheringham
Ben Chapman, UK

Oh how we need Michael Owen back fit and well...
Steve Watson, UK

Phew! That was close!
Kam Gill, UK

This was just the game England needed - enough to send us through, but also make us realise we're not world-beaters. What I hope it does do is convince Eriksson once and for all that Fowler is not the man England need. Sheringham proved he should've been on from the start. There is no better link-up than Beckham and Sheringham, and this was proved beyond all doubt today.
Ben Chapman, UK

David Beckham played a true captain's role. Apart from him, England were very poor. We owe a lot to his inspirational performances since becoming England captain.
Peter, England

David Beckham. What a player. Every time Greece started a counter-attack, Beckham won the ball back. Every time Gerrard or Scholes was dispossessed, there was Beckham, absolutely magnificant.


David Beckham has done the country proud
Chris, England

Not the greatest of performances, but Germany aren't a good enough team to deserve the privilege of automatic qualification, and England battled through it. I thought we struggled up front, Cole did well, but we obviously needed Owen. Well done to Nigel Martyn as well, kept us in the game.
Alex Allen, England

It was fitting that Beckham scored the goal to move us through. He has come a long way from France 98 and has turned into a great leader.He truly has become a great English captain. Brilliant result, now we have to get tickets for Japan!
Paul Tyler, USA

Wow! What else can we say except David Beckham has done the country proud. He showed such passion and determination that he deserved that goal. The Greeks were good - they have a good defence, a good midfield, and a good strike force (we'll forget about their 'keeper, 'cos I'm a Blackburn fan). However, despite their great attempts and the fact that England were dire, we proved we can do it in the end - Japan here we come! Thanks David and Teddy!
Chris, England

Beckham was truly superb. But the rest of the team was dreadful. I lost count of the number of unfinished passes and schoolboy errors.
Dan, Hong Kong

Sir Beckham, Lord Beckham, King Beckham, we are SOOO not worthy! Forgiven for 98? What do you reckon?
Sean McNulty, Australia

Excellent performance by Beckham, but his team-mates were very poor. England were very lucky and I don't think they will go far in Japan/Korea.
Derek, Scotland


Hopefully the team can learn from this near calamity
James K, England

There was only one performance of note today - David Beckham. He was doing the work for Gerrard and Scholes who just did not perform. Scholes has been awful all season and despite his obvious talent must be a little concerned at his current form. England today were very lucky. We all know that they can play but unless you have players who are willing to keep hold of the ball and wait for openings, at international level you will be punished.

Today this possibly should have happened. Only the worst German team for a long time failing to beat Finland and the magic and desire of Beckham saved our blushes. Hopefully the team can learn from this near calamity and put all this down as experience and gone on and win WC2002
James K, England

Today's match confirms that England at last has a player and captain ready to assume the mantle of the late great Bobby Moore.
David Morris, UK

The only player who wanted to play out there was David Beckham, all the others only seemed bothered about making the numbers up. England didn't pressurise, didn't work as a team and can't defend. A 91 year old with bad legs could have got through the England defence.

If England are going to go anywhere in 2002 the other players need to find Beckham's desire to win and the defence to sort themselves out. The midfield had a bad day and there was no real quality central midfielder to bring on instead, such as Joe Cole or Frank Lampard. There was also no movement from Fowler.
Andrew, England


David Beckham's performance was the most passionate performance I have ever seen
Graham Currie, Scotland

So England have sneaked through to the World Cup Finals. What a captainīs performance from David Beckham! Looking forward to the summer. England will have to develop more strength in depth and not just rely on one or two world class players.
Rob Murphy, Spain

Fantastic. It wouldn't have been as fun if England had walk away with it. It's what football's all about, ups and downs...how can anyone complain when you have just witnessed the greatest individual performance of all time. Beckham embodies English football.
Matt, England

I am Scottish and proud of it, but David Beckham's performance was the most passionate performance I have ever seen. Absolutely awesome. Seldom is there justice in football, but my God, did Beckham deserve that goal. Well done England.
Graham Currie, Scotland

People should stop watching football because it is not a clear game any more. England 2 - 2 Greece. How? With a non-existing foul!
Costas, Greece

Well done England, even though the referee gave Beckham many chances to score...
Harris, Greece


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