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Greece 0 England 2 (Scholes 63, Beckham 87) World Cup football home page _________________________________________________________________________ This World Cup 2002 group qualifying match away to Greece in Athens took place on 6 June 2001. England were confident after having won their last four matches in a row under their manager Sven Goran Eriksson. The England team was: Seaman P Neville Keown Ferdinand Ashley Cole Beckham Gerrard Scholes Heskey (Butt 87) (McManaman 75) Owen Fowler (Smith 80) Greece: Nikopolidis, Mavrogennidis, Dabizas, Fissas, Ouzounidis, Goumas, Bassinas, Zagorakis, Machlas, Karagounis, Bryzas Erikkson started with all three of his Liverpool strikers on the pitch by playing Emile Heskey out on the left wing - Robbie Fowler had the first good chance making the Greek goalkeeper, Nikopolidis save well to give away a corner. In the 33rd minute of the game, Michael Owen was sent clear by Fowler but he
could only fire the ball into the side netting. England went into the break on
top but did not have a goal to show for it.
In the second half, the Greek team improved but went a goal down after 63 minutes - Heskey, who was having a good game out left, received a ball from Phil Neville in central midfield - from inside the box on the left Heskey crossed to Scholes who slid in to score from four yards out. With three minutes to go, England made it 2-0 from a Beckham free kick - Beckham himself was fouled out near the right wing - his swerving free kick had the Greek keeper rooted to his spot as the ball went in at the near post.
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