- It's October 6th, 2001.
We're at Old Trafford in Manchester England.
Greece leads the Three Lions two to one in the 93rd minute
and has the opportunity to keep England
from qualifying for the 2002 World Cup.
With David Beckham lining up for a free kick,
the English National Team
is looking for a miracle in the closing seconds.
But how'd we get here?
How'd England put themselves in position
for possibly yet another heartbreak on a national level?
How has a Greek team with nothing to play for
nearly pulled this off?
Before we get to a moment that will define English football,
either through success or failure,
we need to rewind.
(pensive music)
Although they're not completely dead,
with stoppage time running out
England has put themselves in a situation
few expected coming into today.
They entered the match tied with Germany atop their group
with each nation down to their last match.
Whoever finished the stage in first place
would automatically advance.
While the squad in second
would need to win a playoff to qualify.
Thanks to a 5-1 victory over the Germans a month earlier,
England more or less controlled their own destiny
thanks to goal differential.
At worst they had to match Germany's result
against a tough Finland squad
but with the games being played simultaneously
wouldn't know their fate until close to the final whistle.
Having won five straight games
including a two-nil victory over Greece
there was reason for optimism about the British chances
that is if you didn't take into account
the national team's history.
Since winning it all as the host nation in 1966
their World Cup record has been marred
by soul-crushing defeats.
In the tournament following their victory
they led West Germany two-nil in the 70th minute
of the quarter finals.
But two German goals in the final 20 minutes
led to extra time
which led to this 108th minute dagger
to knock out the defending champions.
In 1986 defeat was even crueler
thanks to Maradona's “Hand of God goal”
which was controversial enough
to overshadow the incredible individual effort he displayed
on his way to what would become Argentina's game winner.
In the following World Cup
they again were sent home by West Germany.
This time in the semifinals via penalty shootout.
British keeper Peter Shilton
dove the correct direction on each attempt
but failed to stop a single shot.
And after failing to qualify in 1994
England once again met Argentina in the '98 tournament.
In the round of 16 with the match tied two apiece
Beckham was given a red card in the 47th minute
for this heel tap to the Argentine who had just fouled him.
This match too was decided by a shootout
and England was again sent packing.
When they returned home
effigies of Beckham were being burned
and a long wait was in store for a chance at redemption.
And now that the chance is here
England has nearly squandered it.
To make matters worse
they're doing so against a team that's
not only long eliminated from making the tournament
but also in disarray as an organization.
The Greek national team
has never been a football superpower.
Their lone World Cup appearance came in 1994
where they lost all three games they appeared in
by a combined 10 goals to none.
It hasn't been much better
in group play to qualify for 2002.
They've won two of seven matches
and one of which came against Albania
the only Group 9 squad lower than Greece in the table.
It should be noted
they also gave Albania their only win in this stage as well.
And while they were looking toward the future
when they hired Otto Rehhagel to manage the team
it only led to more changes and uncertainty.
His first game with Greece was a 5-1 defeat against Finland
during which King Otto clashed
with striker Grigorus Georgatos who retired
from the national team following the match
citing "unplayable conditions."
But while both sides were feeling out the new relationship
there was some reason for hope.
The new manager convinced some of Greece's best players
to return to the national team
and following the debacle against Finland
had a game-day roster with seven new faces to it.
That said no one was planning for overnight results
and expectations were modest.
But whether it was a German coach
trying to help his home nation
or England falling into old habits
Greece has taken control of this match
and if you had only watched this game
you likely wouldn't have guessed
England was heavily favored.
Obviously at 2-1 it's been competitive
but Greece has stunned the Brits.
England had their chances early on
including this free kick from Beckham in the seventh minute
that the Greek keeper turned away.
But while Greece's defense
swarmed each time they were threatened
the English failed to show the same urgency.
Greece was able to do as they pleased
in the middle of the pitch
which after Gerard was nutmegged
was on display as Greece patiently picked their spots.
- [Sports Announcer] I have to say Marty.
I hate to see it
but the Greeks have actually worked the ball
through their midfield
much better than England so far.
- [Will] Not long after that
in the 36th minute
Greece worked their way to England's end line.
A deflection sent the ball to a Greek forward
whose first touch put it in the back of the net.
England had no answers before halftime
and while they had some solid attempts after the break
the Greeks were quick to show they weren't sitting
on their one goal advantage.
They kept Nigel Martyn on his toes in the 49th minute.
(crowd cheering)
- [Sports Announcer] Might just be the save
that sends England through you know.
- [Will] Well in order for that to be true
England had to score
and with those hopes in mind
called on Teddy Sheringham.
The 35-year old striker was subbed on
for Robbie Fowler in the 68th minute
and within 10 seconds of hitting the pitch
Sheringham headed in a Beckham free kick
for the equalizer.
With that plus the fact
that Germany was still tied nil-nil with Finland,
England was back on top of the group.
That lasted less than a minute.
Greece was able to send the ball into the crowded box
where Nikolaidis was played onside by Gary Neville
and Greece was back up by one goal.
- [Sports Announcer] It's bedlam
at Old Trafford.
- [Will] England's urgency picked up from there
but the closest thing to relief came
when four minutes of stoppage time were added.
- [Sports Announcer] Oh four minutes.
That's a welcome sight I have to say.
- What also helped
was the German result was in the books
but that only confirmed England needed a goal.
And to do that they turn to
well you know.
We can finally talk
about the beautiful elephant in the room.
David Beckham is no stranger to situations like this
or to these surroundings.
He's called Old Trafford home
for much of his football career.
He joined Manchester United's youth program in 1991
where he was part of a young and successful core
that included his national team teammates
Gary Neville and Paul Scholes.
He made his Premier League debut for United in April 1995
and a year later became a household name
thanks to this absurd goal from 60 yards out
that came on their opening day game against Wimbledon.
After the incident and effigies of the 1998 World Cup
he had an unforgettable '98-’99 season
for much better reasons.
Facing Tottenham in their final game
of their Premier League season
Beckham found the far post for the equalizer
and after Andy Cole scored in the 47th
United took home their fifth championship in seven seasons.
Later that month down one-nil in stoppage time
of the Champions League final
Beckham sent in a pair of corners
that both resulted in goals
including this one from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
for the game winner against Bayern Munich.
Those two victories plus an FA Cup win over Newcastle
gave Manchester the first ever Premier League Treble.
And after United again won the Premier League
following the '99 2000 season
Beckham was named team England's captain
an achievement that was not lost on the man
whose celebrity status has grown immensely
over the previous seasons.
Partly for what was done on the pitch
and partly due to him becoming the husband of Posh Spice.
And while United's manager Sir Alex Ferguson
at times took issue with the latter
it was hard to find problems with Beckham
as the leader of the national squad.
At times today he's looked like the only hope
that England's got and had been playing
similarly throughout qualifying.
They had Beckham to thank for their first victory
in group play after he scored
the game winner against Finland.
They haven't lost since
which includes a win over a somewhat different Greek team
in which Beckham put in a free kick from 25 yards out.
Freezing the keeper as it looked like he was going
near post before it bent back into the middle.
And throughout this free match with Greece
he's attempted to recapture that magic.
He had a chance at the start of the second half
from a location not too different
from where he scored in the last game against Greece.
And while the opportunity didn't affect the scoreboard
Andy Gray brought up the potential mind games in play
which could let this attempt impact future shots.
- [Sports Announcer] I think that was all
when you get mind games in football match.
The goalkeeper would be very aware of where he was being beaten.
As well with David so he’s tried the reverse.
- [Will] He very nearly had an equalizer
in the 77th when he tried this time for the near post
but found only the side of the net.
Again in the 88th a Beckham run ended with a foul
setting up the skipper for a free kick
as Martin Tyler sang his praise.
- [Sports Announcer] At times it has been
almost a one man band, their World Cup rescue mission.
- [Will] The ensuing set piece was cast aside
for a corner but as the final whistle drew near
the deficit stood for England.
Beckham has one last chance for glory.
It's a situation where he has found plenty of success
in the past but today it's eluded him.
The same can be said for team England
whose failings in World Cup play make this feel as though
their fate has already been sealed.
Their opponents have played the role of spoiler beautifully
and for the moment
Greece's football future has a bit more hope
than it did 24 hours ago.
With this result,
their new coach would also be gifting his home country
a World Cup birth adding insult to injury for the Brits.
But it comes down to the English captain,
who in three years has gone from public enemy number one
to the hero of Manchester and now can become
a national savior.
Welcome to a moment of history.
- [Sports Announcer] Arguably the most recognizable
footballer in the world.
(crowd cheering) Yes!
Yes for England!
David Beckham has done it big time!
- [Will] Hey thanks for watching.
Since you're still hanging around,
I bet you'll like this Rewinder
about the greatest Premier League finishes of all time
or here's another video.
It's like red pill blue pill situation
but the result either way is just a good video you'll enjoy.
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