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England reach World Cup finals

09/10/2005

England have qualified for the World Cup finals in Germany next summer after Holland's 2-0 victory over the Czech Republic in Prague guaranteed they would finish as one of the two best runners-up.

Sven-Goran Eriksson and the England team, however, will be looking to win group six and will do so if they beat Poland, who also qualified for the finals thanks to Holland's win, at Old Trafford on Wednesday.

They will have to win on Wednesday without captain David Beckham, who was sent off for two bookable offences during England's 1-0 win over Austria.

Holland's victory came thanks to first-half goals from Hamburg's Rafael van der Vaart and AZ Alkmaar's Barry Opdam and made sure that the Dutchmen also qualified for the finals.

Manchester United goalkeeper, Edwin van der Sar, also saved a first-half penalty from Tomas Rosicky after Aston Villa striker Milan Baros was brought down in the area.

"I'm delighted that we now know we will be taking part," Eriksson said after qualification was assured.

"It has been a difficult start to the season for us but, together with our victory against Austria, this is the reward for all the hard work that has been done over the past year."

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