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Few international fixtures get the pulse racing like an England vs Argentina clash.
The rivalry has been fueled by a series of incidents on the pitch, such as England’s controversial Geoff Hurst winner at the 1966 World Cup and then Diego Maradona’s Hand of God goal two decades later, two classic matches that sandwiched the Falklands War between the two nations.
Up there with these clashes is the France 98 last-16 clash which saw a classic Michael Owen goal, Sol Campbell’s late header ruled out and an all-too-predictable England penalty defeat.
Zanetti on Beckham’s red card
The other major incident that evening in Saint-Etienne was David Beckham’s red card, after the former Manchester United man, who was lying face down on the floor after being fouled, swung his leg at Diego Simeone.
Former Inter Milan legend Javier Zanetti was in the starting line-up that day and attempted to block out all of the external noise.
“The rivalry with England goes back a long way and goes beyond football, but in the dressing room we put that social context aside,” he tells FourFourTwo. “Winning was crucial – it was a World Cup and there was no margin for error. It was all or nothing.”
The match began quickly, with Gabriel Batistuta and Alan Shearer both scoring penalties in the opening ten minutes.
“If VAR had existed, both would have been reviewed and the referee would have corrected his decision,” Zanetti believes. “He got both wrong, but it was a different era and we had no choice but to respect his calls.”
After Owen’s wonder-goal, the right-back himself levelled the scores in first-half stoppage time with a well-rehearsed free-kick routine.
“That was a studied, rehearsed move,” he recalls. “We arrived in France and from the very first training session the coach, Daniel Passarella, told me, “If we get a chance in this position, you’ll take the shot.” We practised it over and over again during training, but it never quite came off until the decisive moment against England.”
That inspired a memorable goal celebration from Zanetti, who pointed to his left leg after seeing his shot go in.
“I was surprised by my own finish, it wasn’t with my stronger foot. It was a unique moment – everything came off perfectly and I placed the ball into an angle that was impossible for David Seaman. The original intention was to strike with my right foot, but I took an exquisite touch that set the ball perfectly for my left. It was unforgettable.”
Beckham’s red card is perhaps the most enduring image of that game, with the Three Lions midfielder needing to work tirelessly for the next three years to win back the hearts of the England fans.
“Everything happened very quickly,” Zanetti recalls. “Beckham reacted to a foul by Simeone, but he didn’t realise the referee was only a few metres away. He left his leg in, but there was no real contact. It has to be said there was no aggression and he shouldn’t have been sent off. The red card was excessive, although Simeone was smart. He had a streetwise edge.”
