10 years on

[accessory]

Today marks the 10th anniversary of arguably the greatest night EVER in English football, at least on overseas turf.

A decent Germany side, who would go on to finish runners-up in the following year's World Cup, were humilated 5-1 by a rampant England side that for once displayed its full potential.

The buzz in Leicester city centre that night was incredible. Pubs and clubs were packed as thousands celebrated the amazing win long into the night.

And the party atmosphere continued the following day as a crowd, estimated at over 200000, swarmed into Victoria Park for a free concert (previously arranged) organised by the council and Radio 1, and which featured Kylie Minogue, Dido, Craig David, Victoria Beckham and Coldplay among others.

It was a weekend none of us who were fortunate enough to witness it will ever forget. Who'd ever have believed that the architect of this amazing triumph would have ended up in Leicester?

I suspect at least one of the heroes of the side that appeared at the Olympiastadion will also play a role for us during the next few months.

PS Apologies for the multiple posts - the laptop went into a bit of a spasm..

[Fox You Forest]

110 years on?

[Yojoe36]

Spam much?

Oh and yes, that game was like mental. Sven-Goran Eriksson!!!

[Heart-Shaped Fox]

Sven lived off that game for years.....

When Heskey was in his prime.

[Guest MattP]

Germany: Kahn, Worns (Asamoah 46), Böhme, Linke, Nowotny, Hamann, Rehmer, Ballack, Jancker, Deisler, Neuville (Kehl 78).

Still to this day will never know how that team got to a world cup final. Well I do, Kahn and Ballack on their own.

I don't actually take any pleasure from the result looking back, we achieved nothing, the most promising side we had in years and they got to a couple of quarter finals in the worst era of international football ever.

I wonder how far England would of got in the world cup the year after had we had the the Germany manager in charge rather than Sven.

[purpleronnie]

Still to this day will never know how that team got to a world cup final. Well I do, Kahn and Ballack on their own.

I don't actually take any pleasure from the result looking back, we achieved nothing, the most promising side we had in years and they got to a couple of quarter finals in the worst era of international football ever.

I wonder how far England would of got in the world cup the year after had we had the the Germany manager in charge rather than Sven.

Ahh I thought it would be the managers fault.

[Darkon84]

Still to this day will never know how that team got to a world cup final. Well I do, Kahn and Ballack on their own.

I don't actually take any pleasure from the result looking back, we achieved nothing, the most promising side we had in years and they got to a couple of quarter finals in the worst era of international football ever.

I wonder how far England would of got in the world cup the year after had we had the the Germany manager in charge rather than Sven.

I don'th think you take any pleasure from anything, other than moaning and slagging our manager off.

Grow up and get a hobby.

[The Doctor]

Still to this day will never know how that team got to a world cup final. Well I do, Kahn and Ballack on their own.

I don't actually take any pleasure from the result looking back, we achieved nothing, the most promising side we had in years and they got to a couple of quarter finals in the worst era of international football ever.

I wonder how far England would of got in the world cup the year after had we had the the Germany manager in charge rather than Sven.

Hamann was a quality player back then as well while Neuville & Jancker weren't bad either.

England were fantastic that night, one of the few performances where I will give England the slightest bit of credit.

Edit: corrected spelling, were > where.

[Guest MattP]

Ahh I thought it would be the managers fault.

Who else do you blame for that limp wristed effort going out to a ten man Brazil with Bowyer and Butt in the centre and Scholes on the left wing?

[Guest MattP]

I don'th think you take any pleasure from anything, other than moaning and slagging our manager off.

Grow up and get a hobby.

Excuse me?

I get pleasure from watching my teams develop and win trophies, I also follow the England cricket team religiously, I dont criticise the management of it because they are getting it right and have achieved exactly what the aims set were.

Why should I give praise to people who have so far failed in their objectives to the teams I support at both club and International level in football?

I'm not going to close my eyes and just scream "In Sven we trust" at every opportunity, I consider myself a bit brighter than that.

[Guest MattP]

Hamann was a quality player back then as well while Neuville & Jancker weren't bad either.

England were fantastic that night, one of the few performances where I will give England the slightest bit of credit.

Edit: corrected spelling, were > where.

Neuville wasnt great, couple of great seasons at Leverkusen in that super team they had but nothing special.

Come on! Jancker was absolutely awful! Think he ended up in the Chinese league or something eventually!

[Ric Flair]

Today marks the 10th anniversary of arguably the greatest night EVER in English football, at least on overseas turf.

A decent Germany side, who would go on to finish runners-up in the following year's World Cup, were humilated 5-1 by a rampant England side that for once displayed its full potential.

The buzz in Leicester city centre that night was incredible. Pubs and clubs were packed as thousands celebrated the amazing win long into the night.

And the party atmosphere continued the following day as a crowd, estimated at over 200000, swarmed into Victoria Park for a free concert (previously arranged) organised by the council and Radio 1, and which featured Kylie Minogue, Dido, Craig David, Victoria Beckham and Coldplay among others.

It was a weekend none of us who were fortunate enough to witness it will ever forget. Who'd ever have believed that the architect of this amazing triumph would have ended up in Leicester?

I suspect at least one of the heroes of the side that appeared at the Olympiastadion will also play a role for us during the next few months.

PS Apologies for the multiple posts - the laptop went into a bit of a spasm..

You've just bought back some stunning memories with this pal. I remember arm wrestling some great tank in the boozer after the game and him sending me flying in to a table full of pint glasses. The next day at One Big Sunday I was so hungover and I feel asleep standing up, only to be awoken by a load of head bangers to Alien Ant Farm that was beaming out on the screens during an interval. Brilliant weekend that was. I love Sven just as much todaya s I did then.

[Darkon84]

Excuse me?

I get pleasure from watching my teams develop and win trophies, I also follow the England cricket team religiously, I dont criticise the management of it because they are getting it right and have achieved exactly what the aims set were.

Why should I give praise to people who have so far failed in their objectives to the teams I support at both club and International level?

Sorry, its just that over the last couple of weeks, almost every post I have seen of yours, has been having a dig at someone (particularly Sven) or something. It may be that its coincidence that im only seeing these posts, and not others, and I know there are plenty of other moaners on here too, but come on mate, if you arent pleased by remembering a 5-1 victory over the old enemy, then I dont know what would please you

I expect when you watched the England v Germany game 10 years ago you sat there yawning and bored because it is exactly the sort of result you beleived we should have been acheiving?

Is every England manager other than Sir Alf, a failure then?

[Miquel The Work Geordie]

Come on! Jancker was absolutely awful! Think he ended up in the Chinese league or something eventually!

So did Gascoigne, hardly as if both went there in their prime, is it?

Christian Worns wasn't a bad centre half, and, before his body / mind just plain broke, Sebastian Deisler was a real, real talent.

[Guest MattP]

I loved it on the night of course I did....I thought I might finally be on the verge of watching an England side that was going to challenge for a world cup again, looking back I can't help but be a tad upset.

I'm still behind Sven here, he has the season to get Is promoted, I wouldn't dismiss him at any point this year. I'm a tad concerned we are a bit short in the team and at some of his decisions but he has my total support.

[Darkon84]

I loved it on the night of course I did....I thought I might finally be on the verge of watching an England side that was going to challenge for a world cup again, looking back I can't help but be a tad upset.

I'm still behind Sven here, he has the season to get Is promoted, I wouldn't dismiss him at any point this year. I'm a tad concerned we are a bit short in the team and at some of his decisions but he has my total support.

Much more balanced post

Now you put it like that, I can see where you're coming from in the first part.

And good to see you're still behind Sven, I may have just mis-interpreted some of your posts before.

Either way, I think I might have to watch the highlights now

[purpleronnie]

Who else do you blame for that limp wristed effort going out to a ten man Brazil with Bowyer and Butt in the centre and Scholes on the left wing?

The players.

[Corky]

Brilliant night.

Unfortunately, on the same day, Leicestershire lost the C & G Trophy final on the way to losing both one-day titles that year.

[I am Rod Hull]

People need to pull their heads out of Svens arse...

[Guest MattP]

So did Gascoigne, hardly as if both went there in their prime, is it?

Christian Worns wasn't a bad centre half, and, before his body / mind just plain broke, Sebastian Deisler was a real, real talent.

Weren't bad but it wasn't a great time, don't forget they drew at home to Finland on the last day to let us into the World Cup. Not many German sides would of done that.

Had they won that game Beckhams free kick is never spoke about again.

[Guest MattP]

The players.

Agree to an extent.

Though with 30 mins left v ten man Brazil needing a goal having 2 defensive midfielders on and Scholes on the left wing is a massive tactical failure.

[Guest MattP]

Brilliant night.

Unfortunately, on the same day, Leicestershire lost the C & G Trophy final on the way to losing both one-day titles that year.

Knew there was something that put me in a mood that night, wasn't the Boswell game was it?

[purpleronnie]

No doubt the manager at the time made mistakes but a lot of the time players didn't perform. Thats the difference between ourselves and other nations, we always seem to think its the managers fault when we lose in major tournaments.

Every manager we get at the time of the appointment and through most of the qualifying are the best thing since sliced bread but as soon as we go out its the managers fault.

No doubt when capello goes the whole scenario will start over. At least when we failed to qualify expectations seemed to be lowered but were raised again as soon as capello was given the job.

I do think the mood in most of the press and with fans has changed over the past few years and most now realise our players are good but not great and qualying for tournaments and getting to through the group stages is pretty much the level our palyers are at.

[Corky]

Knew there was something that put me in a mood that night, wasn't the Boswell game was it?

Yes.

[DB11]

The only thing I remember about ten years ago, has a far, far different mood to it.