10 Years Ago Today: David Beckham's Free Kick Saves England's Bacon

Saturday 6th October 2001, England played Greece in a 2002 World Cup qualifying match at Old Trafford, trailing 2-1 to Greece. England captain David Beckham, at the peak of his powers, stepped up to take an injury time free kick.

If England lost, they would have to face Ukraine in a play-off match to guarantee their place in South Korea and Japan. In the 93rd minute of the game, Beckham scored what was probably his greatest ever free kick to level the match 2 - 2, guaranteeing England their place at the world's greatest football tournament. 

Playing in the home stadium of Beckham's club, Manchester United, it was surely his finest moment as a player. It was the moment that cemented Beckham's forgiveness amongst the English fans, whose relationship with Beckham had been turbulent since the events of the 1998 World Cup. A one-time figure who evoked negative passions, thanks to his sending off against Argentina at France in 1998, this free kick had confirmed the love between the fans and the player.

To this day Beckham's legend and legacy can almost be traced back to this one single event.

With the current England team on the verge of qualification for the Euro 2012 tournament, they can look back on this moment and draw inspiration from it. It was a team that was full of great players who worked together as a team for one purpose. Ultimately, they failed in their mission to win the World Cup, but it was a great journey to get there.

If Beckham had his way, he'd probably put himself in the team and on the plane to Poland and Ukraine next year to see if he could re-create moments of glory like this.