Soccer: England scrape into World Cup

England skipper David Beckham sent his country into the World Cup Finals

with a last-minute free-kick at Old Trafford this afternoon.

Beckham, outstanding despite a dismal England display, struck with a 25-yard freekick just seconds after Germany had drawn at home with Finland.

It had looked as though England were destined to be sent scuttling into a

play-off with Ukraine following the worst display of Sven-Goran Eriksson's

reign as coach.

But man of the match Beckham had other ideas on his home ground to salvage

the point which saw his country through.