BBC SPORT | Football | World Cup 2002 | Seaman wins keeper battle

BBC Sport Online's Stuart Roach reports on how David Seaman out-gunned counterpart Oliver Kahn during Germany's Munich mauling.

The gloves were off for what was billed as the heavyweight clash that would decide England's fate in Germany.

In the green corner stood Oliver Kahn, billed as the world's number one keeper. An immovable object on England's path to the World Cup finals.

In the white corner stood the pony-tailed veteran, David Seaman.

The Germans claimed his glass chin would see England suffer a knockout blow as the home side clinched a place in Japan and South Korea next summer.

Jancker scores for Germany
Seaman is beaten as Germany land the first blow
Seaman, like a confident boxer stepping into the ring on fight night, refused to react to the jibes, instead remaining firmly focussed on the job in hand.

Here, BBC Sport Online takes a restrospective look at the Olympic Stadium title fight that went Seaman's way:

Round One: First blood to the Germans as Seaman is beaten inside six minutes.

The England keeper's reactions are a touch rusty, though he can hardly be blamed for Carsten Jancker's opener.

Round two: Kahn is responding to the pre-match hype, showing lightning reflexes to kick away David Beckham's cross under pressure from Emile Heskey.

Germany keeper Oliver Kahn
Kahn flaps under pressure from Barmby
Round three: Suddenly, Kahn is on the ropes after throwing a punch that never threatens to find its target. His attempted fist away is at thin air as Nick Barmby heads down for Michael Owen to equalise.

Round four: Clearly winded, Kahn is slow to react to David Beckham's curling shot and is grateful to see the shot squeeze just wide.

Round five: Kahn is clearly wobbling and nearly gifts England a lead when he picks up Sebastian Diesler's back pass to concede an indirect free kick.

Beckham's strike gives the keeper no chance, though Marko Rehmer takes a blow in the solar plexus as he clears off the line.

Round six: Seaman has hardly been tested since the opener but Kahn is all over the place.

Michael Owen beats Kahn for his hat-trick
Kahn is grounded as Owen scores again
He flaps again at Jorg Boehme's sliced clearance and is lucky to win a free kick under a challenge from Barmby.

Round seven: Suddenly, it's Seaman's turn to roll with the punches.

He drops what appears to be a routine cross and is relieved to see the ball drop out of reach of the lurking German forwards.

Round eight: Seaman is clearly intent on making up for his wobble and does so in fine style.

Boehme hits a scorching low drive that the keeper does brilliantly to get down to and palm away for a corner.

Round nine: With Kahn waiting for the half-time bell to ring, England land a crucial blow.

Kahn scrambles across his line but has no chance of keeping out Gerrard's fizzing strike.

Round 10: Kahn is rocked again as he only manages to get a hand to Owen's spinning strike and sees the ball drop inside his near post.

Round 11: England sense the "world's greatest goalkeeper" has lost his confidence and continue to reign in the blows.

Owen completes his hat-trick with a stunning finish that whistles past the stunned keeper.

Round 12: With 17 minutes left, Kahn is finally out for the count.

And the count reads five, Heskey slotting home with ease as the German keeper is left on the seat of his pants.

If it really was a boxing match, they would have stopped it there and then.