David Beckham scored THAT free-kick against Greece to send England to the World Cup exactly 21 years ago, but it almost never happened.
The Manchester United legend has had many memorable moments in his career, but perhaps none more so than the special goal on October 6, 2001 when representing his country.
The Three Lions needed just one point to seal their place in the 2002 World Cup, before Teddy Sheringham was knocked down and awarded a free-kick in injury time as he led 2-1 against Greece.
Beckham single-handedly lifted his nation’s spirits by scoring the incredible long-range set-piece to secure automatic qualification for the finals in Japan and South Korea.
Former Man United and Tottenham striker Sheringham wanted to get his hands on the ball, however, after scoring the equalizer earlier.
Beckham stuck to his decision given his record of free-kicks scored at club level.
Speaking in July, Sheringham opened up on what happened and said: “I had already scored to make it 1-1 in the game so I was buzzing. I felt three meters high and got the free kick late in the game, taking advantage of a push from the defender.
“Becks probably had five or six free kicks in that game, and they went everywhere; he had hit the wall, he had hit the Z row, so when we got the last one, I actually said to him ‘Becks, I’m gonna get this one.’
“He just said ‘Go away, Ted. You can’t even come from here.
“He was right. I had scored a few free kicks in my career but I saw Becks training daily so I knew he was better. If you had to put money on someone who puts the ball in the top corner in the last minute of a game, you would put it on them.
“He told me to leave in the most polite way he could think of at the time and ended up scoring. That’s what the best players want.
The former Real Madrid and LA Galaxy star felt he had repaid the nation after his red card against Argentina knocked England out of the 1998 World Cup in France.
“That’s when the English fans forgave me for what happened a few years before,” Beckham said.
“For me personally, it was redemption for what had happened – because until then there was always this cloud around the send-off.”
The 46-year-old knocked out Diego Simeone, now Atletico Madrid manager, in the last round of 16.
“That goal against Greece was when I felt that the real English fans, and the fans who didn’t like me for a few years, all of a sudden said, ‘OK, that’s it, we can move on. something else now.
“It was a special moment for me.”
In 2001, 20 years after the iconic moment in English football history, Becks spoke about it on Instagram while listening to the commentary for the first time.
He wrote: “20 years ago today and the first time I heard this commentary… Representing my country, captaining my country, scoring a goal for the fans and doing it all at Old Trafford…..”