On This Day – 7th June
David Beckham made up for his sending off against Argentina in France ’98 by scoring against the same opponents on this day back in 2002.
Beckham blasted home a penalty moments before half-time to score the only goal of the game. The relief and joy on Beckham’s face was there for all to see.
Italian referee Pierluigi Collina had awarded the penalty after Mauricio Pochettino brought Michael Owen in the penalty area.
David Beckham stepped up to take the resulting kick and hit the ball hard down the middle of the goal, barely a few inches off the ground. It had enough power to go past Pablo Cavallero in the Argentina goal, who had also stayed on his feet but was unable to stop the ball.
It was the only goal of the game to give England their first win of the tournament. They qualified for the Second Round behind group winners Sweden. Argentina finished third and went home early with Nigeria who finished bottom of the group.
England beat Denmark in the Second Round to set up a Quarter Final tie with Brazil. Despite going 1-0 up, Brazil came back to win the game 2-1 and went on to win the tournament for the fifth time in their history.
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