As a nation looked on in nervous anticipation, England faced the Germans in one of international football's most intense and long standing rivalries. A win was vital for an automatic place in Japan - Germany had lost only once in 60 World Cup qualifiers - this was to be England's ultimate test. Against all odds, England turned the soccer world upside down and sent shockwaves through the international game as they crushed Germany 5-1. This was the moment when the brightest young talent emerging from England's premier teams were to fulfil their potential and condemn the Germans to one of their worst World Cup defeats ever. The match was pulsating from start to finish. Just six minutes after kick-off, Jancker's goal inflicted a stunning blow to England's chances and made this mammoth task even greater, but within minutes Owen, our white-hot striker, scored the first of an historic hat-trick which revived English hopes. This was the catalyst for a memorable victory as each player courageously rose to the occasion.