Sven Goran Eriksson is fast becoming an English legend after rewriting the record books with a vital 2-0 World Cup win against Greece.

The amazingly cool Swede has replaced Hagar the Horrible as the country's most popular Viking after making it five wins out of five in Athens.

Man-of-the-match David Beckham rifled home a sensational free-kick after Manchester United team-mate Paul Scholes gave England the lead after 64 minutes.

The huge win put England second in Group 9 - and gives them a chance of overtaking Germany at the top.

Eriksson said: "It was a very good way to finish the season - and means everything is now possible in our group.

"We played very well and deserved our win.

"We played with a lot of patience and waited for our opportunities.

"We will now see what happens after the players have a well-deserved holiday, but it is all possible and we now look forward to the game against Germany in September."

Eriksson saluted Beckham.

He said: "I am very happy with David. He is behaving like a true captain. He is playing good football and scoring lots of goals.

"I did not realise he had been criticised for not scoring enough goals for England before I arrived. I have to say I have no complaints.

"It is wonderful for me to get five wins right away, and three of those have been very important World Cup victories.

"I am very proud and very happy with the performance of my players.

"They were very patient and mature, which you have to be in international football.

"Greece played well - but we played better."