FOUR years ago he was vilified after his infamous sending-off against Argentina in St Ettiene earned the wrath of the nation.

Last night, he was the toast of the country after his goal gave England their first World Cup victory over their arch rivals since 1966.

David Beckham's cool penalty after Michael Owen had been hauled down in the box left England on the verge of qualification for the next round and triggered wild celebrations across the country.

Deafening cheers and choruses of Rule Britannia echoed around the ground and the city streets of England as the final whistle blew, banishing painful memories of the 1986 and 1998 clashes between the two teams.

It was a far cry from France '98 when Beckham's show of petulance in kicking out at Diego Simeone led to death threats for his family and his effigy being hanged from a London lamp-post.

But there was sweet revenge in Sapporo yesterday when Maradona's Hand of God and Beckham's left metatarsal were finally consigned to history.

As he left the pitch, the inspirational England captain said: "It feels better than it did four years ago and it's just unbelievable.

"It's been four years since the last time, and a long four years, so that tops it all off."

One bookmaker immediately offered odds of 10-1 for the Manchester United midfielder to be knighted in the New Year's Honours List.

And it may not be too wide of the mark as the Queen was said to be "pleased with the result", according to a spokesman for Buckingham Palace.

Bookmakers immediately slashed odds on England winning the World Cup. The game cost William Hill more than £1m and Ladbrokes faced a payout of up to £10m.

Meanwhile, millions of workers in England enjoyed the longest lunch-hour in history as they downed tools to watch the drama unfold - and many failed to return to work afterwards.

Experts predicted the time off would cost the nation about £500m in lost output as pubs and bars were packed with fans.

An estimated six million people booked a day off or called in sick, bringing much of British industry to a halt.

North-East roads, usually busy with cars for the morning rush hour, were half-empty.

Works car parks had acres of space, and shops and offices were empty while pubs heaved.

A spokesman for the AA in the North-East said: "We've had reports that the morning rush hour across the region was over before nine in the morning when normally it goes on for an hour longer than that."

Other employers made arrangements to prevent mass absenteeism.

In Sunderland, production was stopped at the Nissan factory for two hours while 3,000 employees watched the match on several big screens installed around the building.

At the Orange call centre in Darlington, staff were allowed to watch the game in canteens.

One of the region's biggest employers, Durham County Council, said its normally packed car park at County Hall in Durham City was only half full at best.

A spokesman for the TUC in the North-East said there was anecdotal evidence that companies across the region had given workers a break.

She said: "Most we've talked to have been supportive although we didn't get involved in any representation on the subject. Most of us here at the TUC watched it and will just make up the time later."

GNER services operated normally, despite national reports that some trains were cancelled because of drivers taking time off.

And after the game, the party poured out of the pubs into the streets. In Newcastle, fans were singing in the rain at the International Centre for Life, watching on an outdoor screen.

Darlington Market Place was turned into a makeshift football pitch as dozens took part in an impromptu match to celebrate.

And in London's Trafalgar Square, former England midfielder Paul Gascoigne - the hero of Italia '90 - was mobbed by hundreds of ecstatic fans.

Gazza joined in the victory celebrations with his customary good humour.

One onlooker said: "He was immediately mobbed by everyone. They were hugging and kissing him and throwing beer all over him.

"They pulled him up on to one of the lions. He lifted up his shirt to show the fans his belly. He got down and was mobbed even more. Everyone wanted to touch him."

Cars and vans that sounded their horns as they sped past were met with huge cheers.