Amid a backdrop of historical tensions, wars, and a shared history that traces back to the British invasions of the early 19th century, the football rivalry between England and Argentina unfolds as a captivating narrative filled with both athletic prowess and intrigue. This fierce competition extends beyond the sport itself, deeply intertwined with political undertones, and continues to enthrall players and supporters alike.
Diego Simeone, the passionate coach of Atlético Madrid and a pivotal figure in this legendary rivalry, encapsulates the essence of Argentina’s football heritage. His role in the 1998 World Cup is particularly memorable, as his calculated fall led to David Beckham’s red card, dramatically shifting the match’s momentum.
“I love playing against the English,” Simeone expressed during a 2002 interview at his opulent villa in Rome, shortly before the World Cup clash between the two nations. “English football is always more open, aggressive and passionate. Whether you win or lose against English teams, you always feel it’s been a proper contest. The first time I played against them was at Wembley in 1991 …” He pointed to a scar on his shin, a lasting reminder of a match against Stuart Pearce. “I’ve still got a souvenir from Stuart Pearce from that day. Great game.”
The 1998 World Cup match was a significant chapter in football history, serving as a rematch of sorts and the first World Cup encounter since Diego Maradona’s controversial ‘hand of God’ goal in 1986. Simeone reminisced about this match, declaring, “It is the best international match I’ve played in,”
In contemplating the incident that resulted in Beckham’s dismissal, Simeone appeared to downplay his part in the ensuing chaos. The headline in the Mirror read, “They [England] were incredible that night. Alan Shearer and Paul Ince were extraordinary. At times it seemed Shearer was fighting us on his own. You have to remember they played for 70 minutes with 10 men.” highlighting how the English media placed the blame squarely on Beckham. “Ten heroic Lions, one stupid boy” he remarked, acknowledging the situation’s gravity. “It’s not that it frightens me but it’s a wakeup call for everyone, including journalists. You have to be careful. “It was not just my fault. There’s a ref involved, too. I guess David had a torrid few months after that. The press were putting all the blame on him. I don’t think that was at all fair. He just made a mistake, an instinctive reaction.”
“Bumped into an old friend”
Despite past tensions, Simeone and Beckham were spotted together in Miami during a friendly match against Cape Verde, with Beckham humorously commenting on Instagram that he had “There was no fear in him whatsoever,”
While Argentina celebrates Maradona’s iconic second goal against England in 1986, the English team can take pride in Michael Owen’s stunning solo effort during the 1998 match. At just 18 years old, Owen amazed fans with a remarkable run and finish. On the 20th anniversary of that legendary game, he met with then-England manager Glenn Hoddle, who reminisced, “When Michael turns, runs and beats the first couple of players, I remember thinking: ‘Bloody hell! He’s clean through!’ But [Argentine defender] Roberto Ayala was so deep, he was almost on the D of the penalty area and I hadn’t seen him. But as soon as Ayala squared up to him, it was clear he didn’t have a clue how much pace Michael had.”
Owen also reflected on the significant moment, explaining, “Becks [Beckham] played the initial ball to me and one of their midfielders was only a couple of yards away from me. I just thought that, if I took a good touch, I could run past him and start an attack. It was only after the first touch, which I took in my stride, that I looked up and thought: ‘Oh my God – there’s a goal on here!’ “As soon as I saw Ayala, who was isolated deeper, it was a case of making the best chance to shoot. You don’t want to go too close to him and get tackled. You don’t want to push it too flat and make the angle too hard. Then it was just about the finish.”
“He was only 18 and we hadn’t seen him play. It was a pleasant surprise for the fans [but] not for us.”
Simeone admitted that Argentina had not adequately prepared for Owen, stating, “I thought: ‘Oh, here comes the yellow’, but suddenly the red came out. And I’m thinking: ‘What on earth is going on here?’ It was never in a million years a sending-off. Becks knows he did the wrong thing and that at that level they’ll make it into something else, which they did. But you need strong refereeing.”
Regarding the red card issued by Danish referee Kim Milton Nielsen, Hoddle expressed his disbelief, saying, “Sometimes you have to be a bit cunning and sometimes you play the fool. I happened to be the intelligent one. Beckham did nothing to me.”
Simeone later confessed, “It’s almost like I’m living it again. It’s so deep,”
The match continued with Sol Campbell seemingly scoring a late winner, only for it to be disallowed, leading to more heartbreak for the English side. “It scarred me. I’m looking down into the corner flag where Michael’s on Sol’s back. There’s about five players celebrating. Suddenly I saw Ray Clemence, the goalkeeping coach. He looks back towards the pitch and says: ‘What the fuck is going on?’ My eyes go back to the pitch and they’re attacking. It’s like a nightmare.” Hoddle reflected 20 years later. “How Argentina didn’t score from that was amazing. I think it was 11 against four!”
Owen expressed amazement at the missed opportunities, stating, “You could have been forgiven for mistaking them as fans,”
The match culminated in a nerve-wracking penalty shootout, ending in a 4-3 defeat for England. The Argentine players celebrated their victory ecstatically, with John Gorman, Hoddle’s assistant, remarking, “They were jumping up and down like madmen.”
Simeone underscored the importance of the win, asserting, “Knocking out England, with all the history that goes with that, was a huge joy,”
Revenge was achieved in 2002 when England faced Argentina once more, this time emerging victorious with a score of 1-0. Beckham successfully converted a penalty awarded after a foul by Mauricio Pochettino, an incident that has since become a humorous anecdote. “I could have stayed on my feet, the defender’s caught me and I did have a decent gash down my shin from it – but I could have stayed up,” Pochettino admitted with a smile. “When Maradona scored the hand of God goal, my father shouted ‘handball’. I told my dad: ‘No, it’s a good goal.’ I just didn’t see it. Maradona was so quick. But the second goal proved he was the greatest player in the world.” Owen added, acknowledging the circumstances.
Yet, the narrative of Argentine football is deeply entwined with its rich heritage, characterized by players’ artistry and cunning. Reflecting on Maradona’s brilliance, Simeone reminisced about his childhood, stating, “In Argentina, when we played in the street as a kid we didn’t call it football,”
He concluded, “We call it jugar a la pelota [playing with the ball]. It’s prettier than football. It’s about beating players, dribbling, showing off. Football is something more professional, more serious and disciplined. In Argentina, dribbling past three players is the ultimate.” said Simeone, “was jugar a la pelota.”
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