France '98 - World Cup Memories and betting suggestions.

in #sports6 years ago (edited)

Of course, it seems ridiculous to say now, but I was utterly convinced England would win the World Cup in 1998. There was not a shred of doubt in my mind and I had spent the months leading up to the tournament telling anyone who would listen exactly why.

Michael Owen became a superstar thanks to this goal against Argentina.
owen.jpg
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/england/9939738/Top-five-Michael-Owen-goals.html

First of all, England had reached the last four of the European Championships two years earlier. Yes, England had been at home for that tournament but they had put in some fine performances. The Netherlands had been crushed 4-1 in the group stage and Gazza’s toe had been a mere two inches from poking England into the final. In qualifying for 1998 England had finished top of a group also containing Italy, the final game a hard-fought nil-nil draw in Rome. The squad was a good one, Alan Shearer joined up front by ‘little’ Michael Owen, and David Beckham adding quality to a midfield that contained the twin enforcers of Ince and David Batty. Paul Gascoigne though, was famously dropped from the party at the last moment. Gazza took the news poorly, apparently smashing up the manager's hotel room as the soothing tones of Kenny G played in the background. Hoddle also chose to leave Matthew Le Tissier at home. Arguably the most naturally gifted English player of his day and without doubt one of the finest penalty takers ever to walk the earth. Given England’s propensity for losing shoot-outs, this looked like an oversight that might come back to haunt England.

Matt Le Tissier, penalty taker extraordinaire, was left at home by England.
matty.jpg
https://www.shoot.co.uk/club-heroes-southamptons-matt-le-tissier/

However the most compelling piece of evidence was history. I had found a pattern you see, a perfect symmetry, that could not be ignored. Start the sequence with England’s triumph in 1966, use Italy’s triumph in 1982 as the midpoint and you have a mirror image with one missing piece of the puzzle. It was England’s turn, simple, who could possibly argue with logic like that?

THESEQUENCE.jpg

England beat Tunisia in the opening group game before suffering what would prove to be a costly defeat to Romania in the second. That all meant England needed something from the third game against Columbia to guarantee progress. Cue the return of Beckham who, despite starting every game of the qualifying campaign, had not yet played in the tournament. Darren Anderton put England ahead before Beckham added a second, a sublime free-kick that sent England through and surely guaranteed him a hero’s welcome whenever England travelled home. Ominously, Argentina awaited in the next round, the price for finishing second in a group they should have won. Still, my confidence in England remained unbroken. The team were looking good, we owed Argentina one for 1986 and of course, there was still my sequence. Surely the sequence wouldn't fail me? Elsewhere, Zinedine Zidane was sent off in France’s second match, would this brand the midfielder a pariah forever more? Scotland and Spain were among those to depart after the group phase and the Netherland’s were looking strong with Dennis Bergkamp up front.

I watched the Argentina match in my local. The Burlington that night was everything I now dislike about watching important football matches in the pub. Packed to the rafters, sweat dripping from the ceiling, a 15-minute wait for the bar and reaching the gents was an ordeal only slightly less taxing than watching the football. Back then though, I loved it, and the game lived up to the atmosphere in every way. That first half in Saint Etienne is perhaps the most exciting I have ever seen. England were one-nil down after five minutes, one-all after nine, two penalties, Gabriel Batistuta and Shearer respectively. Then came the moment that gave us hope and made believers of us all. Owen, the ball at his feet in the centre circle, beat a couple of Argentine defenders with raw pace, broke into the penalty area and then lifted the ball high into the net. The Burly went berserk. We leapt, fell and hugged, pints flew into the air. ‘Fuck me’ people said, ‘we’re beating Argentina.’ Yes, England were beating Argentina, but that perfect moment from Michael Owen had happened after just 16 minutes, there was a long way to go.

Quite possibly the softest red-card in the history of the World Cup.
becks.jpg
http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/when-david-met-diego-2851710

Just before half-time Argentina drew level, a clever free-kick routine making England look flat-footed. Then, very early in the second half, the world caved in. Diego Simeone, Argentina’s captain, fouls Beckham and leaves a leg there to niggle the England midfielder. From the ground, Beckham flicks out a foot, barely touching Simeone who goes down as if shot and thrashes about in 'agony' on the turf. Simeone is booked and Beckham is sent off for retaliation. Beckham, of whom effigies would be burnt, had acted foolishly, but it was just never a red card offence. To their credit, England’s ten men played wonderfully for the rest of the match. Near the end of normal time, Sol Campbell leapt and headed in a corner for what we all thought was the winner. The Burlington went wild again, wilder than before. People jumping, crying and hugging. In the melee that followed, in those glorious few seconds before we realised the goal had been disallowed, I was snogged by a girl I had never met before and would never see again. The replay showed Alan Shearer sticking his elbow in the goalkeepers face, a needless foul but a foul nonetheless.

Extra-time passed with no further goals and once again England were knocked out of a World Cup on penalties. David Batty and Paul Ince both missed from the spot but it was Beckham who got unfairly branded the villain of the piece. I ended the night sitting on my doorstep having a long, drunken, telephone conversation with my Dad. I can't remember the details exactly but I think I repeatedly moaned the word 'why?' and he tried his best to end the call as quickly as possible. To this day I am still visited by the What-ifs of France '98. What if Beckham hadn't reacted like he did to Simeone? What if Campbell's goal had stood? What if Matt Le Tissier had been there to tuck in a penalty? What if my mystery girl had not vanished just as quickly as she had appeared? I vowed never again to believe England would win a World Cup but that didn't last long.

Oh what might have been. Sol Campbell heads home what we all thought was the winner.
sol-campbel.jpg
https://richmariner.wordpress.com/tag/alan-shearer/

For a few days after that night the World Cup and football was dead to me. In hindsight, that was perhaps my moment to get out. My big opportunity to scale the fence and release myself from the repetitive cycle of hope, excitement, disappointment and despair. I didn’t have the willpower, instead, the quarter-finals came around and the Netherlands played Argentina. With the score 1-1 entering the final seconds of the match, Dennis Bergkamp scored a goal so wonderful that I still get goose-bumps thinking about it. Argentina were out and as the ball hit the back of the net we jumped around as it was England that had scored. The Netherlands were beaten in the semi-final against Brazil but I loved them for that sweet moment of schadenfreude.

Schadenfreude, Bergkamp knocks out Argentina.
dennis.jpg
http://www.football-oranje.com/the-battle-of-marseille-holland-2-1-argentina-4-july-1998/

The final will always be remembered for the strange circumstances surrounding Ronaldo's involvement. Initially, his name was not on the team sheet, and then suddenly it was. There were rumours of a seizure, rumours that major sponsors Nike had insisted that the most famous player in the world be on the pitch. France won the game 3-0 and claimed their first World Cup. The team was inspired by Zidane whose two goals ensured his own red card would be completely forgiven and forgotten.

Zinedine Zidane and France get their hands on the World Cup.
zizou3.jpg
https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer/michael-walker-france-98-was-not-a-beacon-of-hope-it-was-merely-a-football-tournament-1.2438211

WORLD CUP BETTING - Tip 3
Russia to beat Saudi Arabia in the opening game. 10 points at 2/5 with Unibet.

There have been some big shocks in the opening games of World Cups gone by but I cannot see the hosts slipping up here. It's a short price but I confident enough to go for my maximum stake of 10 points.

Check out my pieces on the 1986 and 1990 World Cups by following the links below:

https://steemit.com/sbc/@marcusbraeburn/mexico-1986-world-cup-memories-and-betting-suggestions

https://steemit.com/sports/@marcusbraeburn/italia-90-world-cup-memories-and-betting-suggestions

And if that still isn't enough of me then head over to DTube and watch my latest video in the 20 Steps to One Million series:

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98 - I watched the Colombia game at Glastonbury with about 50k festival football fans, more England fans than in the stadium, that game is still up there with my all time favourite football moments... what happened to '94 or do you only watch when England are in it?

I did watch a little of '94 but England not being in it combined with my, ahem, recreational habits at that time have left me with almost no recollections of the tournament! I did mean to mention that in the post so thanks for picking me up on it!!!

Actually I was the same, mid 90s haze, Maradona's goal celebration is about all I remember. btw that Denis Bergkamp goal, utterly brilliant not only for the pass and the sublime finishing technique but also the timing, I'm pretty sure it was injury time.

Absolutely, extra time was looming... it was a great moment that restored my faith in the world!!

Great read man!
I felt as if I were live in that pub :-)
Owen's solo was one the best highlights in 1998.
That World Cup had really big names:
Zinedine Zidane, Beckham, Ronaldo, Dennis Bergkamp, Thierry Henry, .... just to mention a few.
Funny thing is that France didn't even managed to qualify for the 2 previous World Cups: that is not for Italy 1990 and not for USA 1994!

Very true... I was going to have about the lack of a clear favourite in 1998. Brazil were decent but not as good as three years later and everyone else was pretty average. In the end, I think home advantage and having that little bit of Zidane magic did the trick. Was a great tournament though, my first WC at drinking age so it will always have a special place in my heart!
Thanks always for reading and commenting :-)

France '98 was a lot more exciting World Cup than the '02 one in Japan/Korea. Or at least that's how i remember it lol.

France '98 was exciting but 2002 was my favourite WC so far... only because it meant I could drink in the morning without feeling guilty though!

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