Against their biggest rival, Germany, and needing a win in FIFA World Cup qualifying, England defeated Germany 5-1 in Munich on this day in soccer history in 2001. It was only the second FIFA World Cup qualifying home loss for Germany ever.
Michael Owen knocked in a hat-trick to lead the way for the Three Lions with Steven Gerrard and the unlikely Emile Heskey finished off the scoring.
--- Get in the Gear of the England Football Team. The World Soccer Shop has the best selection of official England soccer jerseys and other official England soccer gear. And the World Soccer Shop also has a great selection of German national team soccer gear. ---
The result could not have been predicted early in the match with the Die Mannschaft taking a seventh minute lead through Carsten Jancker.
Sven Goran Eriksson , who was managing in his first really big match for England was surprised by the result saying, "I can't believe that we can beat Germany 5-1 away, it seems like a dream, it's unbelievable. I said to the players: 'I don't know what to say to you.' I told the players before the game, if you play football as you can play we can beat any team, even Germany away but I can't believe it was 5-1."
Germany’s Franz Beckenbauer was equally impressed.
"I have never seen a better England team and I have never seen an England team playing better football," he said. "They had pace, aggression, movement and skill. It was fantasy football with England on a high."
