Germany 1-5 England (2001): Owen's Munich Hat-trick

The Football Documentary Channel · Published 1 September 2026

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Germany 1-5 England (2001): Owen’s Hat-Trick in Munich

Germany 1-5 England was the result at the Olympiastadion in Munich on Saturday 1 September 2001, a 2002 World Cup qualifier that tore up Germany’s unbeaten home record in the competition. Michael Owen scored a hat-trick, Steven Gerrard struck in first-half stoppage time, and Emile Heskey finished the rout, after Carsten Jancker had headed Germany in front on six minutes. Sven-Goran Eriksson’s England had lost the reverse fixture at Wembley ten months earlier, so this ranks among the great away nights in our On This Day series.

What follows is how a night that opened with an early German goal became England’s most one-sided win over their oldest rivals for a generation, goal by goal and with the group table on the line.

Key Facts

Played on Saturday 1 September 2001 at the Olympiastadion in Munich, a 2002 World Cup qualifier in UEFA Group 9, refereed by Pierluigi Collina in front of 63,000.
Germany 1-5 England. Carsten Jancker scored on six minutes for Germany; Michael Owen replied on 12, Steven Gerrard on 45+4, Owen again on 48 and 66, and Emile Heskey on 74.
Michael Owen’s hat-trick was widely reported as England’s first against the Germans since Geoff Hurst hit three to settle the 1966 World Cup final.
The FA notes that Germany had dropped just one home qualifier in World Cup history and had never lost in Munich before this defeat.
Steven Gerrard’s strike in first-half stoppage time, his first goal for England, sent the visitors in 2-1 ahead at the break.
This was among the last Germany internationals staged at the Olympiastadion, the ground built for the 1972 Munich Olympics. Rudi Voller managed Germany, Sven-Goran Eriksson managed England.

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The Night England Took Munich Apart

A Group England Had Been Chasing

England arrived in Munich second-guessing themselves. The reverse fixture, on 7 October 2000, had ended England 0-1 Germany at the old Wembley, a Dietmar Hamann goal in the stadium’s final competitive match, after which Kevin Keegan resigned as England manager in the dressing room. Sven-Goran Eriksson had taken the job in the aftermath and, with Germany top of UEFA Group 9, England needed to win in Munich simply to haul themselves level. Germany, as England Football Online recorded, had never lost in Munich, and a draw would have kept them in the driving seat for automatic qualification.

When Carsten Jancker rose to head Rudi Voller’s side in front on six minutes, the evening looked set to follow the script. It was the last time all night that Germany led.

How Germany 1-5 England Unfolded in Munich

Owen levelled on 12 minutes, turning in a close-range finish for 1-1, and the balance of the contest shifted with it. The decisive moment came deep in first-half stoppage time: Steven Gerrard, then 21 and yet to score for his country, drove low past Oliver Kahn on 45+4 to send England in 2-1 ahead. Germany, as the FA has recorded, had been beaten in only a single home World Cup qualifier in their history and had never lost in Munich, so a half-time deficit on this ground was already unfamiliar territory.

The second half turned a shock into a rout. Owen struck twice more, on 48 and 66 minutes, to complete a hat-trick, before Emile Heskey drilled in the fifth on 74 to make it Germany 1-5 England. How the night unfolded:

KO Germany start as group leaders, needing only a draw to stay in control of Group 9.
6′ Carsten Jancker heads Germany in front, 1-0.
12′ Michael Owen levels for England, 1-1.
45+4′ Steven Gerrard drives in his first England goal, 1-2.
HT Germany 1-2 England.
48′ Owen strikes again just after the restart, 1-3.
66′ Owen completes his hat-trick, 1-4.
74′ Emile Heskey finishes the rout, 1-5.
FT Germany 1-5 England.

Set against the meeting eleven months earlier, the swing is stark. The same two sides, the same qualifying group, opposite results:

Meeting	Date	Venue	Decided by
England 0-1 Germany	7 October 2000	Wembley (old)	Dietmar Hamann; Keegan resigned after
Germany 1-5 England	1 September 2001	Olympiastadion, Munich	Owen hat-trick, Gerrard, Heskey

The 2002 World Cup Group 9 double-header between Germany and England.

What Owen’s Hat-Trick and the Result Meant

Owen’s treble carried its own weight of history. By most accounts, no England player had scored a treble against the Germans since Geoff Hurst’s three settled the 1966 World Cup final, and the FA later called this arguably England’s most memorable game since that afternoon at Wembley. The scale of the result flipped the group: England drew level with Germany on points and, crucially, held the head-to-head advantage that would decide top spot.

The reckoning came five weeks later. On 6 October 2001, a last-minute David Beckham free kick earned England a 2-2 draw with Greece at Old Trafford, enough to send Eriksson’s side to Japan and South Korea as group winners. Germany, humbled in Munich, were pushed into the play-offs, where they beat Ukraine to reach the finals. It was among the last internationals Germany played at the Olympiastadion, the arena built for the 1972 Munich Olympics.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Germany 1-5 England (2001)

What was the score in Germany v England on 1 September 2001?

Germany 1-5 England was the final score at the Olympiastadion in Munich on 1 September 2001. Carsten Jancker put Germany ahead on six minutes, but Michael Owen scored a hat-trick, Steven Gerrard added another and Emile Heskey completed the win. It was a 2002 World Cup qualifier in UEFA Group 9.

Who scored in Germany 1-5 England in 2001?

Carsten Jancker scored for Germany on six minutes in Germany 1-5 England. For England, Michael Owen scored on 12, 48 and 66 minutes, Steven Gerrard on 45+4 and Emile Heskey on 74. Owen’s three goals gave him a hat-trick in Munich.

Did Michael Owen score a hat-trick in Germany 1-5 England?

Yes. Michael Owen scored a hat-trick in Germany 1-5 England, with goals on 12, 48 and 66 minutes. It was often described as England’s first three-goal haul against the Germans since Geoff Hurst’s in the 1966 final. Owen was 21 years old at the time.

Where was Germany 1-5 England played?

Germany 1-5 England was played at the Olympiastadion in Munich on 1 September 2001. The attendance was 63,000 and the referee was Pierluigi Collina of Italy. It was among the last matches the Germany national team played at that stadium, which had been built for the 1972 Munich Olympics.

What competition was Germany 1-5 England part of?

Germany 1-5 England was a qualifier for the 2002 FIFA World Cup, played in UEFA Group 9. Germany had led the group and needed only a draw to stay in command. England’s win drew the sides level on points and handed England the head-to-head advantage.

Was Germany 1-5 England Germany’s first home defeat in a World Cup qualifier?

The FA records that Germany had lost only a single World Cup qualifier at home before Germany 1-5 England in 2001, and had never been beaten in Munich at all. The defeat ended that home record in emphatic fashion. England Football Online recorded that Germany had gone into the night expecting a draw to be enough.

What was the half-time score in Germany 1-5 England?

At half-time, England led 2-1, so the score read Germany 1-2 England. Carsten Jancker had scored on six minutes, Michael Owen equalised on 12, and Steven Gerrard put England ahead deep in first-half stoppage time on 45+4. England then scored three more after the break.

Who managed Germany and England in the 1-5 game in 2001?

Rudi Voller managed Germany and Sven-Goran Eriksson managed England in Germany 1-5 England on 1 September 2001. Eriksson had taken the England job earlier that year, after Kevin Keegan resigned following the reverse fixture. The result was the high point of Eriksson’s early reign.

Was Owen’s hat-trick the first by an England player against Germany since 1966?

Owen’s treble in Germany 1-5 England is widely reported as England’s first hat-trick against Germany, or West Germany, since Geoff Hurst managed it in the 1966 final. Hurst’s three goals had settled that final at Wembley 35 years earlier. Owen’s arrived in a qualifier on German soil.

Who refereed Germany 1-5 England, and what was the attendance?

The referee for Germany 1-5 England was Pierluigi Collina of Italy, one of the most recognisable officials in the world game. The attendance at the Olympiastadion was 63,000. The match kicked off Germany’s and England’s autumn qualifying run in UEFA Group 9.

What happened in the reverse fixture between England and Germany in October 2000?

England lost the reverse fixture 0-1 to Germany at Wembley on 7 October 2000, with Dietmar Hamann scoring the only goal. It was the last competitive match at the old Wembley, and Kevin Keegan resigned as England manager straight afterwards. That defeat set up the Munich rematch eleven months later.

Did England or Germany qualify for the 2002 World Cup after Germany 1-5 England?

England qualified directly as winners of UEFA Group 9 after Germany 1-5 England, sealed by a last-minute David Beckham free kick that earned a 2-2 draw with Greece on 6 October 2001. Germany finished second and were sent to the play-offs, where they beat Ukraine to reach the finals. Both nations therefore made it to Japan and South Korea.

Why is Germany 1-5 England still remembered?

Germany 1-5 England is remembered because it was one of England’s most complete performances against their oldest international rivals, on the ground where Germany had never been beaten. Michael Owen’s hat-trick, widely called the first against Germany since 1966, and the sheer margin of the win turned a fraught qualifying campaign around. The FA rates it among England’s most memorable matches since the 1966 World Cup.