As Wembley is dropped as the venue for the 2006 FA Cup final we track the marathon build from the early stages

February 2004: Finishing touches are applied to the the final steel sections of Wembley's 315 metre span arch

Huge cranes dominate the north London skyline in readiness for the arch to be lifted into position

The arch will stand 133 metres above the pitch and will support all the weight of the north roof

Raising the landmark arch to its full height will take from four to six weeks and it will eventually be visible across London

The sun rises over Wembley's construction site in north London with the lifting process well underway

The 1,750 tonne structure is now fully raised and is illuminated to celebrate England's progress in Euro 2004

The glowing arch will become a familiar sight to England's players and fans when the stadium finally opens

The lengthy building process continues in the spring of 2005 with many experts still unsure if it will be completed on time

The foundations of the playing surface are laid in January 2006 with Multiplex's deadline extended to the end of March

After endless speculation about the delayed construction, Multiplex reveal Wembley will not host the 2006 FA Cup final