Team England secured their place at the 2006 World Cup finals with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Austria at Old Trafford today. At this stage of the qualification campaign, the result is all important and England secured the vital three points through a first-half Frank Lampard penalty after Michael Owen had been impeded in the area.

It was a close game and England came under some pressure in the second half, especially when reduced to 10 men, following the captain David Beckham’s sending off. England held on for the win, though, and that result, coupled with Holland’s win later in the evening in the Czech Republic, meant that automatic qualification had been sealed with one game to spare. England face Poland at Old Trafford on Wednesday in a match which will decide the Group winner. – 8 October 2005