Old Trafford had experienced this feeling countless times before. David Beckham was stood over a set piece with his team desperately needing a last gasp goal to turn embarrassment into euphoria.
The number seven, exhausted from his 10 mile Saturday afternoon jaunt around his home turf, had one strike to determine whether 6th October, 2001 would go down as another frustrating failure in the history of the England national team OR whether it would mark the moment 'Goldenballs' would complete his transition from the 'foolish boy' of St.Etienne in 1998 to national hero.
Five free-kicks had come and gone without beating Nikopolidis in the Greek goal, but even the best sometimes need some time to find their range. England fans could scarcely believe the team that had triumphed 5-1 against the Germans in Munich's Olympiastadion only a month prior were now resolving to struggle against Greece.
One set piece had already successfully found the head of Teddy Sheringham, who flicked his effort into the far corner to initially bring England level at 1-1 earlier in the second half, before Nikolaidis restored Greece's lead just a minute later.
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This time though there would be no other target apart from the top left corner. Two and a half minutes into injury time, Beckham began his trademark run up, almost as if he already knew the outcome of his next movement, but daren't believe it could be executed as memorably as it would be.
As the ball nestled into the top corner, sending the Stretford End delirious, German hearts sank, knowing they know faced a two-legged slog against Ukraine in order to qualify for the 2002 World Cup.
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Typically, nine months later, it would be Rudi Völler's men who were appearing in the World Cup final in Yokohama, rather than Sven Goran Eriksson's perennial quarter-finalists. But let's not allow another international tournament failure mar such a memorable moment.
Featured Image Credit:Topics: Football News, Football, David Beckham, England, World Cup
