England’s 2003 World Cup win over Australia has been voted the favourite British sporting moment of the decade.
Jonny Wilkinson’s extra time drop goal sealed the win after a dramatic encounter at Telstra Stadium, Sydney as England won 20-17 and wrote their names in to history.
Lote Tuqiri’s early try had given the hosts the advantage, but they were rocked back before the break with a try from Jason Robinson and three penalties by Wilkinson giving England a commanding 14-5 advantage. But Elton Flatley kicked three penalties, including one in the dying stages, to force extra time. Wilkinson and Flatley exchanged further penalties before the England number 10 put over his right-foot drop goal which has become an iconic sporting moment.
“I think it was the manner of the win which made it extra special. The last kick, the perfect move, the best player. It was the height of drama and summed up why we just love sport.” Rebecca Lowe
The World Cup win won the vote, conducted by ESPN, with 24%, ahead of England’s 2005 Ashes cricket triumph and the 2006 FA Cup Final.
As the curtain begins to fall on a decade of unforgettable moments in sports history, including the debut and final bows of some of the greatest footballers the world has ever seen, fans have had their say on what and who deserves to top two special sporting lists.
In a period that saw World Cup qualifying heroics, extraordinary feats from British Olympians and epic FA Cup encounters, a new ESPN Classic poll reveals England’s 2003 Rugby World Cup victory to be fans’ number one decade defining moment in the past ten years of British sport. With nearly a quarter of all votes on www.espnclassic.com (24%), Jonny Wilkinson’s cup winning kick down under against England’s Australian rivals was deemed to be the pinnacle of British sporting achievement, in a glittering decade of accomplishments.
In second place with another huge slice of the pie was England’s 2005 triumphant recapture of The Ashes after an 18 year absence, attracting a huge 19% of the vote. And in third place with 15%, proving that we’re a nation of football lovers at heart is the 2006 FA Cup final 3-3 goal-fest between Liverpool and West Ham, one of the greatest climaxes to the competition of all time. See below for the top five in full.
Fans will have the chance to relive all ten Magic Moments of the decade during a day of dedicated programming from 11.00am on Monday 28th December, only on ESPN Classic, Sky channel 429, Virgin Media channel 533.
MAGIC MOMENTS – TOP FIVE RESULTS
1. England win the 2003 Rugby World Cup 24%
2. England win the 2005 Ashes 19%
3. 2006 FA Cup Final – Liverpool v West Ham 15%
4. Arsenal 2 – 4 Manchester United, 2004/05 Premier League 13%
5. England beat Argentina in the 2002 World Cup 7%
