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I was fourteen when I watched this live on the telly, sat alone in our house in Chennai on the night of 30 June 1998. It was nearly an hour past midnight and we were barely a quarter-hour into the Round of 16 clash between rivals England and Argentina. Eighteen year-old Michael Owen was playing in his first World Cup but the occasion didn't affect him. This was the first World Cup encounter between the two countries since Maradona single-handedly (pun unintended!) dumped England out at the Quarter-Final stage of the 1986 World Cup. But his second-goal solo effort in that match was still fresh in the memory of English football supporters. It is widely considered to be one of the greatest goals ever scored. And when Argentina took an early lead through a penalty, it looked like a familiar storyline. But England hit back almost immediately with a penalty of their own which Shearer duly converted. As the teams settled in, Michael Owen made a couple darting runs at the two-time World Cup champions showcasing his pace. Then came that pass from Beckham and Owen did the rest. Pace, strength and a clinically precise finish. The tables had been turned and about time too. I was in dream land. England imposed their dominance but as luck would have it, the Argentinians equalised with a cunningly crafted free-kick on the stroke of half-time. It was a cruel blow and once Beckham was sent-off for a petulant back-heel, England did well to take the game to penalties. And you know the rest. In six attempts at the World Cup and Euros, England have won only once on penalties. The Argentinians had knocked England out again. But even today, those forty-five minutes remain the best first-half of football I have ever watched. All thanks to a wonder goal by eighteen year-old Michael Owen.
Jun. 11th, 2010
I was fourteen when I watched this live on the telly, sat alone in our house in Chennai on the night of 30 June 1998. It was nearly an hour past midnight and we were barely a quarter-hour into the Round of 16 clash between rivals England and Argentina. Eighteen year-old Michael Owen was playing in his first World Cup but the occasion didn't affect him. This was the first World Cup encounter between the two countries since Maradona single-handedly (pun unintended!) dumped England out at the Quarter-Final stage of the 1986 World Cup. But his second-goal solo effort in that match was still fresh in the memory of English football supporters. It is widely considered to be one of the greatest goals ever scored. And when Argentina took an early lead through a penalty, it looked like a familiar storyline. But England hit back almost immediately with a penalty of their own which Shearer duly converted. As the teams settled in, Michael Owen made a couple darting runs at the two-time World Cup champions showcasing his pace. Then came that pass from Beckham and Owen did the rest. Pace, strength and a clinically precise finish. The tables had been turned and about time too. I was in dream land. England imposed their dominance but as luck would have it, the Argentinians equalised with a cunningly crafted free-kick on the stroke of half-time. It was a cruel blow and once Beckham was sent-off for a petulant back-heel, England did well to take the game to penalties. And you know the rest. In six attempts at the World Cup and Euros, England have won only once on penalties. The Argentinians had knocked England out again. But even today, those forty-five minutes remain the best first-half of football I have ever watched. All thanks to a wonder goal by eighteen year-old Michael Owen.
Group A
Uruguay
France
South Africa
Mexico
Group B
Argentina
South Korea
Nigeria
Greece
Group C
England
USA
Slovenia
Algeria
Group D
Germany
Serbia
Australia
Ghana
Group E
Netherlands
Denmark
Japan
Cameroon
Group F
Italy
Paraguay
Slovakia
New Zealand
Group G
Brazil
Ivory Coast
Portugal
North Korea
Group H
Spain
Switzerland
Chile
Honduras
Round of 16
A1 v B2: Uruguay v South Korea: Uruguay
C1 v D2: England v Serbia: England
E1 v F2: Netherlands v Paraguay: Netherlands
G1 v H2: Brazil v Switzerland: Brazil
A2 v B1: France v Argentina: Argentina
C2 v D1: USA v Germany: Germany
E2 v F1: Denmark v Italy: Italy
G2 v H1: Ivory Coast v Spain: Spain
Quarters
Uruguay v England: England
Brazil v Netherlands: Netherlands
Argentina v Germany: Germany
Italy v Spain: Spain
Semis
England v Netherlands: England
Germany v Spain: Germany
3rd Place
Netherlands v Spain: Spain
Final
England v Germany: England
Uruguay
France
South Africa
Mexico
Group B
Argentina
South Korea
Nigeria
Greece
Group C
England
USA
Slovenia
Algeria
Group D
Germany
Serbia
Australia
Ghana
Group E
Netherlands
Denmark
Japan
Cameroon
Group F
Italy
Paraguay
Slovakia
New Zealand
Group G
Brazil
Ivory Coast
Portugal
North Korea
Group H
Spain
Switzerland
Chile
Honduras
Round of 16
A1 v B2: Uruguay v South Korea: Uruguay
C1 v D2: England v Serbia: England
E1 v F2: Netherlands v Paraguay: Netherlands
G1 v H2: Brazil v Switzerland: Brazil
A2 v B1: France v Argentina: Argentina
C2 v D1: USA v Germany: Germany
E2 v F1: Denmark v Italy: Italy
G2 v H1: Ivory Coast v Spain: Spain
Quarters
Uruguay v England: England
Brazil v Netherlands: Netherlands
Argentina v Germany: Germany
Italy v Spain: Spain
Semis
England v Netherlands: England
Germany v Spain: Germany
3rd Place
Netherlands v Spain: Spain
Final
England v Germany: England