Why do we bother?, all they needed to do was beat the worst team in the group and nice and easily qualify for the World Cup next year. But for 93 minutes of this game England produced a performance of such appalling mediocrity not seen for a long time, and were only saved by a injury time goal from the one player who looked interested David Beckham. Beckham was supreme chasing everything while his team-mates did their hair and makeup. England out of jail, Germany could only draw 0-0 with Finland so the point was enough for England to top group 9.

About this time last year England were in a mess, they were just about to lose to Germany in the last game at Wembley, a game that saw Kevin Keegan resign after a chorus of boos signalled the final whistle. Howard Wilkinson took temporary control a few days later in a terrible 0-0 draw in Finland. England were bottom of group 9 and the World Cup looked a distant dream. In stepped Sven Goran Eriksson and seven wins from eight games later England are on the brink of qualification for Japan/Korea 2002. Five of those eight games were qualifiers and they all ended in victory to push Eriksson's team to the top of the table.

A win in this final game against Greece at Old Trafford would guarantee England finished in top spot unless Germany score a hatfull against Finland in their last game. No surprises in the team named, Seaman, Campbell and Owen all out injured Martyn, Keown and Fowler their replacements.

England team: Martyn, G. Neville, Ashley Cole, Gerrard, Ferdinand, Keown, Beckham, Scholes, Fowler, Heskey, Barmby

Greece started the game looking like they may be willing to come forward and not sit back for 90 minutes as a lot of people thought. Skipper Beckham had the first chance of the game with a free-kick from 35 yards causing Nikopolidis some problems in the Greece goal. 

Paul Scholes picked up a yellow card on 9 minutes for a silly challenge.

The game was scrappy in the early stages with Greece performing better than expected and causing England some concern, Charisteas twice going very close in the opening 20 minutes in a hushed Old Trafford.

This was a truly shocking opening 30 minutes from England, looking nothing like the composed footballing side of recent games. An edgy scrappy performance with misplaced passes a plenty and Nigel Martyn being the busier of the goalkeepers.

Greece further quietened the crown on 36 minutes when Charisteas who had looked dangerous hit a low shot past Martyn into the corner of the net to take a deserved lead.

England were abject in the first 45 minutes, by far the worst performance under Eriksson, and the Swede will have to work his magic at half-time.

Andy Cole replaced Nick Barmby at half-time as England tried to get back into the game, and the Manchester United striker had a great chance on 47 minutes but his close range effort was well stopped by the keeper.

Paul Scholes almost equilised on 58 minutes when he stretched to loop the ball over the Greece keeper but Nikopolidis did well to collect the ball. Beckham had a great chance a few minutes later but he did not connect fully with his shot.

Greek goalscorer Charisteas should have made it 2-0 on 67 minutes but Martyn pulled off a fantastic save.

Teddy Sheringham came on for Fowler on 68 minutes and scored straight away, back heading a Beckham free-kick over the Greek goalkeeper to get England back into it. Sheringham scoring the fastest ever goal by an England substitute. But amazingly then Greece went up the other end and scored again through Nikolaidis to stun Old Trafford.

Captain Beckham, the one bright spark on this day went very close on 77 minutes with another curling free-kick but it hit the side netting.

Steve McManaman replace Ashley Cole as England tried one last time to pull of a win.

With time running out England won another free-kick just outside the box and Beckham stepped up to take his seventh dead ball attempt on goal and curled the ball home to get his side out of jail for an undeserved draw and qualification for the World Cup.

Take Beckham out of today's side and you get your local pub side, he was the only one who looked a professional footballer.

Maybe this is a wake up call, a lot of work remains to be done by Sven Goran Eriksson and his players. Oh yeah, cheers Finland.

© Copyright law 1998-2002 do not copy this writing