England v Greece
International Friendly
Old Trafford, Manchester United FC
16 August 2006
06 October 2001
VIDEO: England 2-2 Greece

An amazing last-gasp free-kick from England captain David Beckham secures World Cup Qualification.


The start of the new season sees the England team facing Greece in an International Friendly on 16 August in Manchester.

They will be looking to gain some much needed momentum for the upcoming Euro 2008 qualifiers against Andorra and Macedonia.

The new season will also start a new era as Steve McClaren takes the reins from departing manager Sven-Goran Eriksson. He will also be looking to show what he can do at international level after leading Middlesbrough to the UEFA Cup final last season.

The game is back at Old Trafford, also the venue for the last game played against Greece, a truly memorable encounter, when David Beckham scored a sublime free kick to equalise in injury time and send England to the 2002 World Cup Finals. One of the great moments for the England senior team and their huge army of fans.

England’s record has been very impressive against Greece with no losses and six wins in eight encounters. The game prior to the 2-2 draw at Old Trafford was once again a World Cup qualifier, this time it was the away fixture.

England prevailed in a 2-0 win with David Beckham once again unleashing a lethal free kick to score the second goal and seal the win for the Three Lions.

Five of England’s nineteen goals scored against Greece came in a friendly at Wembley in 1994 where David Platt scored a brace; his 22nd and 23rd goals for England.

Other results include a 2-1 away win in February 1989 after being a goal behind when Greece’s Dimitris Saravakos scored a penalty in the first minute of the game and a 3-0 win at Wembley in April 1971, the first ever encounter between the two teams.

Greece will themselves be looking to get back on track after failing to qualify for the World Cup in Germany and will want to go into the Euro 2008 qualifiers in good form as they bid to defend their crown.

They currently lie in 32nd position in the FIFA world rankings and Otto Rehhagel will be hoping that his side will finally break their duck against England on 16 August.

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