Top 10 World Cup Games Of All Time

There haven't been too many memorable World Cup games over the past three or four editions, but this was certainly one. The build-up to the match was, inevitably, dominated by talk of England gaining revenge for the 1986 quarter final and Diego Maradona's Hand of God.

Within 16 minutes there had already been three goals. Gabriel Batistuta's penalty put Argentina in the lead, but Alan Shearer equalised from the spot after a suspicious Michael Owen fall. The 18-year-old then lit up the tournament with a brilliant solo goal, but Argentina restored parity with another fantastic strike by Javier Zanetti.

David Beckham was sent off in the second half for kicking out at Diego Simeone, Sol Campbell had a goal disallowed for a Shearer foul on goalkeeper Carlos Roa, and the final outcome was penalties. As at Italia '90 eight years earlier, it wasn't meant to be for England as midfielders Paul Ince and David Batty were both denied by Roa.

In Image: English midfielder David Beckham (R) and Argentinan captain Diego Simeone (L) react after foul play by Beckham during the 1998 Soccer World Cup second round match between Argentina and England, 30 June at Geoffroy Guichard stadium in Saint-Etienne, central France. Beckham was sent off the pitch after getting a red card by Danish referee Kim Milton Nielsen.

Images: AFP

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