sportbible homepage
sportbible homepage
  • Football
  • Boxing
  • UFC
  • Home
  • Football
    • Premier League
    • Champions League
    • World Cup
    • England
    • Transfer News
    • Manchester United
    • Liverpool
    • Arsenal
    • Real Madrid
    • Barcelona
  • Formula 1
    • Red Bull
    • Ferrari
    • McLaren
    • Mercedes
    • Max Verstappen
    • Lewis Hamilton
    • Lando Norris
    • George Russell
    • Charles Leclerc
  • Boxing
  • UFC
  • More Sport
    • Tennis
    • Golf
    • NBA
    • NFL
    • Darts
    • Athletics
    • Rugby
    • Wrestling
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Archive
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Snapchat
TikTok
Threads
YouTube
Submit Your Content Here
  • LADbible
  • Tyla
  • GAMINGbible
  • LADbible Group
  • UNILAD
  • FOODbible
  • UNILAD Tech
David Beckham listening to commentary of his free-kick vs Greece is emotional

Home> Football

Updated 13:35 6 Oct 2022 GMT+1Published 13:33 6 Oct 2022 GMT+1

David Beckham listening to commentary of his free-kick vs Greece is emotional

David Beckham curled in a last-gasp free-kick against Greece to send England to the World Cup.

Josh Lawless

Josh Lawless

google discoverFollow us on Google Discover

21 years ago today, David Beckham sent England to the World Cup with a stunning free-kick against Greece at Old Trafford.

Sven Goran-Eriksson's side were trailing 2-1 to Greece and a play-off game against Ukraine looked to be on the cards if they were to reach the 2002 World Cup.

The Three Lions captain had already taken five free-kicks from the game and though one of his set-piece crosses with found the head of Teddy Sheringham, who scored an equaliser to make it 1-1, his long-range efforts were not successful.

Advert

With time running out and the 93rd minute rapidly approaching, he whipped in an absolute beauty that nestled past Nikopolidis in the Greek goal and booked England's place in the showpiece.


20 years later, Beckham, for the first time, decided to listen back to commentary of one of his greatest goals and shared the video to his followers on Instagram.

Alan Green described the drama on BBC Radio 5 Live and Beckham was quite clearly getting goosebumps.

"It had to be Beckham, England's Man of the Match!" was the line Green delivered when the net bulged.

Beckham was a true set-piece specialist and would regularly practice his free-kicks.

Rare footage posted by Scott Allison, a UEFA A licensed coach, shows Beckham taking free-kicks from distance on the Old Trafford pitch, a day prior to England's crunch clash.

Beckham has a number of attempts from an array of angles and distances, with each effort serving as a different stage in finally reaching perfection.

That comes in the very final strike as the former Manchester United No.7 perfectly finds the net.

Image: Alamy
Image: Alamy

They say practice makes perfect and Beckham's worldie proves that phrase rings true. That moment summed up Beckham as a player and helped create a legacy that means many view him as one of the best English players ever.

Featured Image Credit: Image: David Beckham

Topics: David Beckham, England, Football World Cup

Josh Lawless
Josh Lawless

Josh is a sports journalist who specialises in football and WWE. He has been published by Curzon Ashton FC, Late Tackle, Manchester City FC, The Mirror, Read Man City and Manchester Evening News. He provides coverage of professional wrestling and has covered two WrestleMania events for SPORTbible.

X

@joshlawless_

Recommended reads

David Munyua and Peter Wachiuri interview: 'We wish for major PDC players to come and visit Kenya'Getty / Instagram/@wachiuridartsMark Selby lifts lid on backstage talks over Crucible as landmark agreement reachedGettyBarry Hearn sends message to Ronnie O'Sullivan over snooker future as Crucible prediction madeGettyTyson Fury explains why his 14-year-old son Prince has “no choice” but to become a boxerGetty

Advert

Choose your content:

11 hours ago
15 hours ago
  • Getty Images
    11 hours ago

    Paul Pogba's Monaco salary revealed as 'it wasn't about the money' claim made

    Pogba was previously one of the highest earners in world football.

    Football
  • Netfix
    11 hours ago

    The trailer for Ronaldinho's new Netflix documentary has just dropped and it looks incredible

    The documentary will cover moments from Ronaldinho's life, including the 'unexpected episode' that landed him in a Paraguayan prison.

    Football
  • Panini
    11 hours ago

    The biggest Panini World Cup sticker album ever has arrived and there are some big changes

    It will cost a pretty penny to complete this year's album.

    Football
  • Getty
    15 hours ago

    Football Supporters' Association issue statement as FIFA World Cup final ticket prices revealed

    FIFA's latest World Cup ticket prices have emerged through open sale - and fans are not happy.

    Football
  • Brooklyn Beckham Breaks Silence After Blocking David, Victoria and His Brothers
  • David Beckham sends emotional public message to son Brooklyn after he misses 50th birthday amid family 'feud'
  • David and Victoria Beckham send message to Brooklyn Beckham on 27th birthday
  • David and Victoria Beckham 'Feud' With Son Brooklyn Takes Brutal Turn