Weaver - How the Cup was Lost

The Magnificent Ten Bravehearts

Evening Standard

First published July 1.

The previous night, England's football side had left the World Cup (in this existance, at least) on penalties to Argentina. Kate Battersby considers what happened...

Magnificent: "The performance by England during their second round match against Argentina in the 1998 World Cup." Dictionary compilers, take note. From this day forward, the word "magnificent" is to be defined as follows: "The performance by England during their second round match against Argentina in the 1998 World Cup." No victory could have commanded greater pride. How can some other nation dare call itself Braveheart? Not any more. Not now.
For this England were utterly sensational. Let no one despair of a side that can fight as these men battled. Down to 10 men? Not a bit of it. They fielded an unexpected 11th player in the form of the English fans at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard in Saint-Etienne.
How extraordinary that so gigantic a contribution should come at the only World Cup venue where English fans were not in the vast majority. But what they lacked in numbers they made up for in roaring heart - much like the men on the field. Their raw guts brought tears to the eyes. The sheer nobility of the effort was as thrilling as it was moving.
In return England produced a match that had everything. Unendurable tension, utter commitment, gripping drama, shattering disappointment, skill beyond belief. Excitement was so thick on the ground that the goal of the tournament was almost just another chapter in the extraordinary story of the match. Michael Owen - the most meaningful possessor of the Golden Boot at France 98 - deserved more than that. But it was not a night for meritorious reward.
For the Argentina of hype and legend did not turn up, yet still emerged victorious. How can it possibly have taken 750 minutes for an opposing ball to find its way into their net? How can such insipid performers be hailed as sparkling favourites for this tournament?
Ah well. Maybe they know a thing or two. After all, their single most outstanding moment was the one upon which the match ultimately hinged - the brilliantly devised free kick converted by Javier Zanetti, to bring his side back to level pegging at the worst possible moment, the very stroke of half-time.

Such were the team heroics that it was precisely a night for blame
Other than that, it was an uninspired Argentinian display. Gabriel Batistuta was thoroughly out of sorts. Without Ariel Ortega's efforts the team would have been positively embarrassed.
In which case, why did England not win? Glenn Hoddle said afterwards that it was "not a night for blame". But such were the team heroics that it was precisely a night for blame, because the culpability lay with one man.
So the cruel question must be asked and the answer lies heavy. If David Beckham had not got himself sent off, an 11-man England would have made mincemeat of Argentina.
Countless thousands of times young men must have wished themselves in Beckham's shoes. Youth doesn't come more gilded, despite the oft-expressed concern about his ugly temperament. We have seen his brand of poison so often. But never at such a terrible price.
Just as Beckham's glories are acted out in front of millions, so was the moment of his greatest shame. Who among us can claim never to have given in to stupid petulance? Not I. What a pitiful way for Beckham to take on board what others have been telling him for so long. It must be dreadful beyond words to be the gilded one this morning.
What could his team-mates have found to say to him under such circumstances? Words must have died in their throats at the scale of his unthinking foolishness. For even if right had prevailed and England had won, Beckham would most likely have been banned for two matches, against Holland and probably Brazil. The team could scarcely have foregone his skills for so long and hoped to triumph. How could he be so self-indulgent?

Beckham's dismissal and to a lesser extent the penalty shoot-out will be Glenn Hoddle's get-out-of-jail card.
Beckham's World Cup has verged on the bizarre, such have been its twists and turns. Dropped, shocked to the core, reinstated, he proved England needed him and went on to score that gorgeously judged free kick against the Colombians. All smashed by a moment's stupidity.
Time will pass, eventually, and ease his shame. But for a while yet, Beckham's dismissal and to a lesser extent the penalty shoot-out will be Glenn Hoddle's get-out-of-jail card. Ultimately, however, the focus will shift back to the root cause of England's difficulties - the coach himself. If only Hoddle had fielded his best side earlier, England would never have needed to face Argentina. Muddle and mumbo-jumbo reigned for too long. At France 98 the players rose to the occasion despite their coach, not because of him.
Let no one ever forget Hoddle's statement that Michael Owen is not a natural striker. Let no one overlook Hoddle's insistence on "nursing" Owen into the tournament. The useless irony is that Owen was always equal to the task. It was his coach who was not.
David Beckham cost England much too much last night. But a long time before then, Hoddle's ill judgment may have cost England more.

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This page updated July 23, 1998

Magnificent: "The performance by England during their second round match against Argentina in the 1998 World Cup."	Dictionary compilers, take note. From this day forward, the word "magnificent" is to be defined as follows: "The performance by England during their second round match against Argentina in the 1998 World Cup." No victory could have commanded greater pride. How can some other nation dare call itself Braveheart? Not any more. Not now. For this England were utterly sensational. Let no one despair of a side that can fight as these men battled. Down to 10 men? Not a bit of it. They fielded an unexpected 11th player in the form of the English fans at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard in Saint-Etienne. How extraordinary that so gigantic a contribution should come at the only World Cup venue where English fans were not in the vast majority. But what they lacked in numbers they made up for in roaring heart - much like the men on the field. Their raw guts brought tears to the eyes. The sheer nobility of the effort was as thrilling as it was moving. In return England produced a match that had everything. Unendurable tension, utter commitment, gripping drama, shattering disappointment, skill beyond belief. Excitement was so thick on the ground that the goal of the tournament was almost just another chapter in the extraordinary story of the match. Michael Owen - the most meaningful possessor of the Golden Boot at France 98 - deserved more than that. But it was not a night for meritorious reward. For the Argentina of hype and legend did not turn up, yet still emerged victorious. How can it possibly have taken 750 minutes for an opposing ball to find its way into their net? How can such insipid performers be hailed as sparkling favourites for this tournament? Ah well. Maybe they know a thing or two. After all, their single most outstanding moment was the one upon which the match ultimately hinged - the brilliantly devised free kick converted by Javier Zanetti, to bring his side back to level pegging at the worst possible moment, the very stroke of half-time.
Such were the team heroics that it was precisely a night for blame	Other than that, it was an uninspired Argentinian display. Gabriel Batistuta was thoroughly out of sorts. Without Ariel Ortega's efforts the team would have been positively embarrassed. In which case, why did England not win? Glenn Hoddle said afterwards that it was "not a night for blame". But such were the team heroics that it was precisely a night for blame, because the culpability lay with one man. So the cruel question must be asked and the answer lies heavy. If David Beckham had not got himself sent off, an 11-man England would have made mincemeat of Argentina. Countless thousands of times young men must have wished themselves in Beckham's shoes. Youth doesn't come more gilded, despite the oft-expressed concern about his ugly temperament. We have seen his brand of poison so often. But never at such a terrible price. Just as Beckham's glories are acted out in front of millions, so was the moment of his greatest shame. Who among us can claim never to have given in to stupid petulance? Not I. What a pitiful way for Beckham to take on board what others have been telling him for so long. It must be dreadful beyond words to be the gilded one this morning. What could his team-mates have found to say to him under such circumstances? Words must have died in their throats at the scale of his unthinking foolishness. For even if right had prevailed and England had won, Beckham would most likely have been banned for two matches, against Holland and probably Brazil. The team could scarcely have foregone his skills for so long and hoped to triumph. How could he be so self-indulgent?
Beckham's dismissal and to a lesser extent the penalty shoot-out will be Glenn Hoddle's get-out-of-jail card.	Beckham's World Cup has verged on the bizarre, such have been its twists and turns. Dropped, shocked to the core, reinstated, he proved England needed him and went on to score that gorgeously judged free kick against the Colombians. All smashed by a moment's stupidity. Time will pass, eventually, and ease his shame. But for a while yet, Beckham's dismissal and to a lesser extent the penalty shoot-out will be Glenn Hoddle's get-out-of-jail card. Ultimately, however, the focus will shift back to the root cause of England's difficulties - the coach himself. If only Hoddle had fielded his best side earlier, England would never have needed to face Argentina. Muddle and mumbo-jumbo reigned for too long. At France 98 the players rose to the occasion despite their coach, not because of him. Let no one ever forget Hoddle's statement that Michael Owen is not a natural striker. Let no one overlook Hoddle's insistence on "nursing" Owen into the tournament. The useless irony is that Owen was always equal to the task. It was his coach who was not. David Beckham cost England much too much last night. But a long time before then, Hoddle's ill judgment may have cost England more.