Shearer's goal sparks celebration

CHARLEROI (BELGIUM), JUNE 18. Alan Shearer headed England to its first championship victory over Germany since the 1966 football World Cup final on Saturday night and put the defending titlist in danger of going out in the first round of the European championship here.

Shearer powered in a far post header from David Beckham's cross in the 53rd minute to revive England's chances of qualifying for the quarterfinal and spark celebrations not only in the stadium but in millions of homes back home.

The result ended Germany's amazing domination over England in major championships in the past 34 years. The Germans had knocked the English out of the 1970 and 1990 World Cups and the 1996 Euros either in the quarterfinals or the semifinals and twice via penalty shootouts.

``People back home have waited so long - so have I - this is magnificent,'' coach Kevin Kegan said. ``The character came through. It might carry us a long way through this tournament if we just believe in ourselves. I'm delighted for the fans.''

Keegan, who has played several seasons for German club Hamburg after leaving Liverpool in late 1970s, noted he was 12 years old when England last beat Germany in a championship.

The game was played against a background of fan violence during the buildup and English fans also attacked the police on their way out of the stadium.

The Germans were forced to face the English without AC Milan striker Oliver Bierhoff, who suffered a calf muscle injury in training, while Real Madrid's Steve McManaman and Arsenal captain Tony Adams were sidelined for England after picking up injuries in the 3-2 loss to Portugal.

On a warm, sunny evening before a noisy crowd at Stade du Pays de Charleroi, neither team troubled the goalkeeper until the 18th minute when Dietmar Hamann, who plays in England for Liverpool, fired an angled 20-metre drive that the goalkeeper managed to keep out.

With England unable to piece together any meaningful moves in the opening half hour, the Germans enjoyed plenty of possession and Seaman had to make saves from Mehmet Scholl and Christian Ziega before Kevin Keegan's team finally came up with something to worry German captain Oliver Kahn.

Philip Neville found Michael Owen with a left wing cross and the striker's header was pushed onto the left post by Kahn. Sadly for England no one was following up to turn in the rebound and the Germans escaped.

After two yellow cards in a minute for England's David Beckham and Germany's Jens Jeremies, the English created another opening when Beckham's superbly weighted ball found Manchester United colleague Paul Scholes unmarked just inside the area but the left foot shot was blocked by Kahn.

Ziege fired a 20m free kick just too high at the start of second half before England took the lead in the 53rd minute.

Beckham fired in a well-weighted free kick that flashed past Owen and Scholes and their two markers and Shearer, left unmarked wide of the far post, planted a powerful header past unprotected Kahn to spark celebrations among the English fans.

Germany almost leveled within a minute when Carsten Jancker neatly collected a cross from the right, and turned to fire a close range shot just too high from a tight angle. Then Scholl took a deep pass and broke clear of the defence only for his shot to beat Seaman but roll just past the far post.

The victory gives England three points from two games, three behind group A leader Portugal. The Germans, who tied with Romania, has only one and must beat the Portugese to survive.

Veteran German defender Lothar Matthaeus, who almost quit the team after pressure on him to step down at age 39, said the Germans paid the price for not making a breakthrough in the first half.

``We could not force our way through in the second half,'' he said. ``England capitalised on its chance, that is the difference. Now we have to do our utmost to make as much as possible of our limited chances to go through.''

German coach Erich Ribbeck said one piece of defensive slackness cost them the game. ``We didn't deserve to lose. We were better in the first half,'' the under fire coach said.

- AP

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