WORLD CUP QUALIFICATION

The World Cup 2006 is to be held in Germany and England will be at the finals after finishing top of their qualification group.

England were handed a good qualification draw after being placed in the first pot of seeds. The top European seeds were the Czech Republic, France, Sweden, Spain, Turkey, Italy, Portugal and England. Germany do not have to qualify for the World Cup 2006 as they are the hosts.
 

England were in qualification group 6: 1 England 2 Poland 3 Austria 4 Wales 5 Northern Ireland 6 Azerbaijan

The World Cup

England's World Cup 2006 qualifying game schedule is shown below:
4 September 2004:   Austria (away) - Austria 2 England 2
8 September 2004:   Poland (away) - Poland 1 England 2
9 October 2004:      Wales (home, Manchester United ground) - England 2 Wales 0
13 October 2004:    Azerbaijan (away) - Azerbaijan 0 England 1
26 March 2005:       Northern Ireland (home, Man Utd ground) - England 4 N Ireland 0
30 March 2005:       Azerbaijan (home, Newcastle Utd ground) - England 2 Azerbaijan 0
3 September 2005:  Wales (away) - Wales 0 England 1
7 September 2005:  Northern Ireland (away) - N Ireland 1 England 0
8 October 2005:     Austria (home,  Manchester United ground) - England 1 Austria 0
12 October 2005:   Poland (home,  Manchester United ground) - England 2 Poland 1

England had to play against both Wales and Northern Ireland in the World Cup 2006 qualification group but before the games began were still favourites to qualify top of the group.

 
4 September 2004       Austria 2 England 2
                                   Northern Ireland 0 Poland 3
                                   Azerbaijan 1 Wales 1
 
The England line up in Austria was James, G Neville, Terry, King, A Cole, Beckham (captain), Gerrard (Carragher 82), Lampard, Bridge (J Cole 84), Smith (Defoe 76), Owen
 
In the game away in Austria England went 2-0 up with goals from Lampard (24 mins) and Gerrard (64 mins). England got their first goal from a free kick inside the penalty area after the Austrian goalkeeper Manninger picked up a back pass - David Beckham took the free kick and gave the ball to an unmarked Frank Lampard who scored. Steven Gerrard hit an excellent long range shot into the top corner to give England a 2-0 lead but Austria replied with a free kick from Kollman after 71 minutes. The game will be remembered for what happened 2 minutes later when the England goalkeeper David James let a distant hopeful shot from Ivanschitz go underneath him as he dived over it and Austria had a 2-2 draw.

8 September 2004       Poland 1 England 2
                                   Austria 2 Azerbaijan 0
                                   Wales 2 Northern Ireland 2

The England line up away in Poland was Robinson, G Neville (Carragher 32), Terry, King, A Cole, Beckham (captain, Hargreaves 89), Gerrard , Lampard, Bridge, Defoe (Dyer 87), Owen

Poland denied England a place in the World Cup 1974 (with a 2-0 victory in Poland and a 1-1 draw in the final game at Wembley) but in the World Cup 2006 qualification match England beat Poland 2-1 away in Chorzow. Paul Robinson replaced David James in goal after his error in Austria and Jermain Defoe started up front. Defoe scored after a good turn in the penalty box to escape his marker after 36 minutes but Zurawski replied for Poland just after half time. England got the winner after 58 minutes when Glowacki just beat Michael Owen to a good cross from Ashley Cole to score an own goal past the Polish goalkeeper Dudek.

After this game the group table looked like this:
    
 

9 October 2004        England 2 Wales 0
                                 Azerbaijan 0 Northern Ireland 0
                                 Austria 1 Poland 3

The England line up against Wales was Robinson, G Neville, Ferdinand, Campbell, A Cole, Beckham (captain, Hargreaves 85), Butt , Lampard, Rooney (King 87), Defoe (Smith 70), Owen

Rio Ferdinand returned from suspension and Sol Campbell returned from injury to replace John Terry and Ledley King in central defence for England. Wayne Rooney also returned after breaking his foot during Euro 2004 as England started with three strikers up front. After only four minutes Frank Lampard hit a powerful drive from the 18 yard line and the ball came off the heel of Michael Owen to deflect the shot into the net - Lampard was later given the goal. England continued to dominate the possession and had several more chances to score before David Beckham made the score 2-0 in the 76th minute - from the left side of midfield Beckham curled a superb 25 yard shot into the far corner of the net. Beckham later received a hairline rib fracture and a yellow card after two clashes with Ben Thatcher and will not now travel to Azerbaijan.

13 October 2004       Azerbaijan 0  England 1
                                  Northern Ireland 3 Austria 3
                                  Wales 2 Poland 3

The England line up away in Azerbaijan was Robinson, G Neville, Ferdinand, Campbell, A Cole, Jenas (Wright-Phillips 72), Butt , Lampard, Rooney (J Cole 85), Defoe (Smith 55), Owen (captain)

In the game away in Azerbaijan, Jermaine Jenas was chosen to replace David Beckham on the right wing on his first England start. It was a windy and rainy in Baku but England got a hard earned victory with a goal from Michael Owen after 22 minutes - a cross from Ashley Cole into the box was met by Owen with a late run into the penalty box and he headed the ball into the net for his 28th goal for England in 65 appearances.
 

After this game the group table looked like this:
    
 

26 March 2005          England 4  Northern Ireland 0
                                  Poland 8  Azerbaijan 0
                                  Wales 0  Austria 2

The England line up at Old Trafford, Manchester was Robinson, G Neville, Ferdinand, Terry, A Cole, Beckham (captain, Dyer 72) , Lampard, Gerrard (Hargreaves 72), J Cole, Rooney (Defoe 80), Owen

In the game at home to Northern Ireland, John Terry, Frank Lampard and Joe Cole from Premiership leaders Chelsea started for England. Sol Campbell and Wayne Bridge were both injured. England dominated possession in the first half and had several chances but the score was still 0-0 at half time. Just after half time, Joe Cole came in from the left wing and intercepted a bad pass from Tony Capaldi - from the edge of the penalty area he then curled his shot past the left hand of the Northern Ireland goalkeeper, Maik Taylor to make the score 1-0 after 47 minutes. Five minutes later Michael Owen scored from close range to make it 2-0 after good approach play from Frank Lampard and Wayne Rooney. After 54 minutes the score was 3-0 when Rooney went past two players on the right wing before his low drive across the goal was knocked into his own net by Chris Baird (just beating Michael Owen to the ball). Lampard got the fourth goal after 61 minutes when his shot from outside the area took a deflection off Colin Murdock's head to go past Taylor into the goal. Wayne Rooney and especially Joe Cole had impressive games for England.

30 March 2005          England 2  Azerbaijan 0
                                  Poland 1  Northern Ireland 0 
                                  Austria 1  Wales 0

The England line up at St James Park, Newcastle was Robinson, G Neville, Ferdinand (King 77), Terry, A Cole, Beckham (captain, Dyer 77) , Lampard, Gerrard, J Cole, Rooney (Defoe 84), Owen

In the game at home to Azerbaijan, England dominated play and had many chances to score in the first half but hit the post twice, had one goal disallowed and many shots were saved by Kramerenko (Azerbaijan goalkeeper). After 51 minutes, England eventually took the lead with a volley from Gerrard 18 yards out that went in off the crossbar. Ten minutes later David Beckham made the game safe when he received a long ball from Frank Lampard, beat the offside trap and put the ball past the goalkeeper to make the score 2-0 to England. Michael Owen missed several chances in this game and picked up a yellow card so he will miss the game away against Wales.
 

4 June 2005               Azerbaijan 0  Poland 3
3 September 2005     Wales 0  England 1
                                  Northern Ireland 2 Azerbaijan 0 
                                  Poland 3  Austria 2

The England line up in Cardiff was Robinson, L Young, Ferdinand, Carragher, A Cole, Beckham (captain), Lampard, Gerrard (Richardson 84), Wright-Phillips (Defoe 67), J Cole (Hargreaves 76), Rooney

In the game away to Wales, Luke Young replaces the injured Gary Neville at right back and England started five midfielders and only Wayne Rooney in attack. England had more of the ball and had chances to score early on through Joe Cole and Wayne Rooney but Paul Robinson needed a good save to deny the Welsh attacker John Hartson. Joe Cole gave England the victory after 53 minutes when his shot was deflected into the goal by Wales' Danny Gabbidon.

7 September 2005     Northern Ireland 1  England 0
                                  Poland 1  Wales 0
                                  Azerbaijan 0  Austria 0

The England line up in Belfast, Northern Ireland was Robinson, L Young, Ferdinand, Carragher, A Cole, Beckham (captain) , Lampard (Hargreaves 80), Gerrard (Defoe 75), Wright-Phillips (J Cole 54), Rooney, Owen

Michael Owen came back from suspension in the game away to Northern Ireland but England kept five in midfield with Wayne Rooney on the left and only Owen up front. Shaun Wright-Phillips stayed on the right side of midfield and David Beckham had the midfield holding role. In the first half Rooney looked unhappy with his new position and was lucky not to be sent off. He also got into an argument with David Beckham on the pitch and at half time. Beckham did hit the post in the first half and Frank Lampard and Michael Owen forced good saves in the second half but it was David Healy who won the game for Northern Ireland - after 72 minutes he received a good chip from Davis and fired an accurate shot past Paul Robinson into the net. At the end of the game some England fans were asking for manager Sven-Goran Eriksson's resignation but it was his first defeat in a qualification game.

Poland had now played one more game than England and were now five points clear of England at the top of the table. England would need to beat Austria and Poland in their final two games to top the group but could not lose second and a play-off place.

8 October 2005         England 1  Austria 0
                                  Northern Ireland 2 Wales 3

The England line at Old Trafford, Manchester was Robinson, L Young, Campbell (Ferdinand 65), Terry, Carragher, Beckham (captain), Lampard, Gerrard, J Cole (King 62), Crouch, Owen (Richardson 81)

In the game at home to Austria, Jamie Carragher moved from central defence to left back to replace the injured Ashley Cole and Peter Crouch was selected in attack as Wayne Rooney was suspended. Sol Campbell was preferred to Rio Ferdinand to start in central defence but Campbell became injured in the second half and Ferdinand replaced him. In the game, England were awarded a penalty after 24 minutes when the tall Crouch headed the ball to Michael Owen who was then held back by Austria's Scharner. Frank Lampard had just taken over the penalty taking duties from David Beckham and he scored with the spot-kick to give England a 1-0 lead. Beckham was then sent off after receiving two yellow cards and England were lucky to hold on for the victory.

The top two European second placed teams qualify automatically for the World Cup 2006 with the other six European second placed teams having to play off against each other to qualify. After the games on 8 October, it became clear that the second placed team in group 6 would automatically qualify and so both England and Poland would be going to the World Cup. The only issue left was who would qualify top of group 6.

12 October 2005         England 2  Poland 1
                                    Austria 2  Northern Ireland 0
                                    Wales 2  Azerbaijan 0

The England line up at Old Trafford, Manchester was Robinson, L Young, Ferdinand, Terry, Carragher, Wright-Phillips (Crouch 67) , Lampard, King, J Cole (Smith 87), Rooney, Owen (captain, Jenas 83)

In the game at home to Poland, Wayne Rooney returned from suspension, Wright-Phillips replaced the suspended Beckham and Ledley King started in place of the unfit Gerrard. England delivered a much improved performance with King, Wayne Rooney and Frank Lampard doing especially well. Michael Owen scored first in the 44th minute when he redirected Joe Cole's strike into the net. Poland then made it 1-1 just before half time with their first meaningful attack - Frankowski scored with a superb volley to meet a cross from Kosowski. In the second half Owen could have scored again before he set up Lampard to volley home after 80 minutes and give England a deserved victory.

The final qualification group 6 table is shown below:

The draw for the World Cup finals was held on 9 December 2005.

The World Cup 2006 finals will be held between 9 June and 9 July 2006 with the final in Berlin, Germany.
 

See all England's results between Euro 1996 and the end of 2005 here.