2002 World Cup - Greece 0 England 2

Personal triumphs for David Beckham and coach Sven Goran Eriksson mean England are still in contention for at least a November play-off place after a well earned win in Athens.

Eriksson has now won five games in a row since taking charge in February and he surpasses the 1946 record of four straight wins set by the first England coach Walter Winterbottom.

Beckham was exceptional throughout the Athens match and sealed the win with a soaring free kick in the 87th minute but it was his attitude that lifted England to take the lead when the Greek team made a good start to the second half.

His chasing and passing helped to orchestrate the ability of England to respond when the Greeks seemed about to take control of the game.

It was also noticeable that the Manchester United star contributed most of his best work from the contre of midfield and his play making set England up for an excellent win.

Paul Scholes scored his 13th goal in 35 games for the national team in the 63rd minute after good work from Philip Neville.

The defender won a challenge and fed Emile Heskey on the left wing who was running into space and the penalty area. Heskey looked as if he was thinking of shooting but nudged the ball through to an unmarked Scholes in front of goal to go to ground and stab the ball in.

Beckham launched a brilliant free kick three minutes from the end when he took his effort from the right hand side and twenty five metres out - which tends to favour the left-footed player - and swerved the ball up and over the defensive wall to score.

Beckham had set up a great chance in the 13th minute with a first time cross from the right at an angle to the far post which was too god for the strikers running in to try and get to the ball. England almost took the lead three minutes later when Steven Gerrard hit a swerving cross thought the middle of the penalty area for Robbie Fowler to jump well only for goalkeeper Nikopoulis to tip the ball over from the Liverpool striker's header.

Beckham hit the side neting with a viciously curling free kick in the 26th minute and Fowler launched a fantastic pass more than sixty metres into the run of Michael Owen who carried the ball to goal only to hit his shot into the side netting.