On June 30, 1998, in Saint-Étienne, England met Argentina in “this Round-of-16 clash,” as FIFA calls it, with David Beckham, “the then 23-year-old,” in England’s team. “Two minutes into the second period came the barge in the back from Diego Simeone, and the petulant flick with the right foot,” FourFourTwo writes. FIFA says “a prone Beckham raised his foot in retaliation,” and PA says he was sent off “for kicking the back of Diego Simeone’s leg,” “with Danish referee Kim Milton Nielsen unmoved in awarding the red card.” Simeone’s own view, as FIFA reports it: “In fact, the most appropriate punishment was a yellow.”
The match ended “Argentina 2-2 (PEN 4-3) England,” and “Beckham was slaughtered by the English press after their 1998 exit,” FIFA says: “‘Ten heroic lions, one stupid boy’ It was to this famous headline in England’s Daily Mirror that David Beckham returned home in 1998.” PA reported “fans even hanging an effigy of him outside a London pub,” a “lifesize dummy dressed in a sarong and an England shirt,” in FourFourTwo’s words, and FIFA says the frenzy “took on a darker edge in the months that followed, peaking with death threats and the burning of effigies.” “Beckham received death threats and bullets delivered through the post,” FourFourTwo says; his father, Ted, recalled in the 2023 Netflix series that bullets came “in letters. So the club had to get the police in because of the threats to him,” Goal reports.
“I wasn’t eating, I wasn’t sleeping. I was a mess. I didn’t know what to do,” Beckham said in that series, as PA reported. By FourFourTwo’s account, “he was starting to fear he’d have to leave the Premier League and seek refuge in Spain or Italy,” and he “received a hostile reception from rival fans around the country when he returned to action for United the following season,” PA says. He stayed, and he became England’s captain: by October 2001, PA says, he had been “awarded the captaincy 11 months earlier.”
England’s road to the 2002 World Cup “all came down to the last match against Greece,” at Old Trafford on October 6, 2001, PA wrote, and “Greece were 2-1 up despite substitute Teddy Sheringham’s 68th-minute effort.” PA again: “entering stoppage time at Old Trafford it was going horribly wrong for the hosts,” and “England were facing the prospect of a tricky two-legged play-off against Ukraine.” Their captain had been wasting free kicks: “The captain had missed one from a similar distance 10 minutes earlier,” The Observer reported, but “The abundance of free-kicks he had already wasted in this game changed nothing,” as Planet Football puts it.
Then “Teddy Sheringham was nudged in the back more than 30 yards from goal,” and “Beckham struck three minutes into stoppage time,” PA says: “Beckham unleashed an unstoppable right-foot effort into the top left corner at the Stretford End.” “Old Trafford erupted,” FourFourTwo says. The 2-2 draw “was sufficient for Sven-Goran Eriksson’s relieved side to top their qualifying group ahead of Germany on goal difference,” after “Germany 0 - 0 Finland,” as The Observer reported. Beckham called that free kick, “without doubt,” the greatest moment of his England career, PA says.
Fact check
The facts and where they come from
- He was blamed for England’s World Cup exit, but three years later, he saved them. FIFA: “their young midfielder – red-carded for kicking out at Diego Simeone – found himself in the firing line”; Beckham, in his autobiography, as FIFA quotes it: “he made it clear that he thought that my mistake cost England the game.” PA (2021): “he curled home a last-gasp free kick to book England’s place in the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea.” 29
- His name is David Beckham. FIFA’s line-up: “England: David Seaman; … David Beckham.” PA: “the former Manchester United and Real Madrid midfielder.” 13
- In 1998, England played Argentina at the World Cup. FIFA: “this Round-of-16 clash between Argentina and England” … “30 June 1998 | Saint Etienne, Stade Geoffroy-Guichard.” 1
- Diego Simeone barged him to the ground. FourFourTwo: “Two minutes into the second period came the barge in the back from Diego Simeone, and the petulant flick with the right foot.” FIFA: “two minutes after the restart. Following a foul by Simeone, a prone Beckham …” Associated Press: “He lashed out after the Argentina captain pushed him to the ground.” 615
- Lying there, he kicked out at Simeone. FIFA: “a prone Beckham raised his foot in retaliation.” PA: “he was sent off for kicking the back of Diego Simeone’s leg during the last-16 clash against Argentina in Saint-Etienne.” 13
- He was sent off. FIFA: the referee, “who deemed it a red card.” PA: “with Danish referee Kim Milton Nielsen unmoved in awarding the red card.” 14
- England lost on penalties, and the papers turned on him. FIFA: “Argentina 2-2 (PEN 4-3) England.” PA: “England lost 4-3 on penalties after grinding to 2-2 at the end of extra time.” FIFA: “Beckham was slaughtered by the English press after their 1998 exit” and “‘Ten heroic lions, one stupid boy’ It was to this famous headline in England’s Daily Mirror that David Beckham returned home in 1998.” 142
- Fans hung a dummy of him outside a London pub. PA: “fans even hanging an effigy of him outside a London pub.” Associated Press: “one who hung his effigy from a noose outside a London pub.” FourFourTwo: a “lifesize dummy dressed in a sarong and an England shirt.” PA (2023): “including a pub hanging up an effigy of the midfielder.” 4563
- He got death threats, and bullets in the post. FIFA: the frenzy “took on a darker edge in the months that followed, peaking with death threats and the burning of effigies.” FourFourTwo: “Beckham received death threats and bullets delivered through the post.” His father, Ted, in the 2023 Netflix series, as Goal quotes him: bullets “in letters. So the club had to get the police in because of the threats to him.” 267
- “I wasn’t sleeping,” he said. “I was a mess.” PA (his words in the 2023 Netflix series “Beckham”): “I wasn’t eating, I wasn’t sleeping. I was a mess. I didn’t know what to do.” 3
- He stayed, and became England’s captain. FourFourTwo: “he was starting to fear he’d have to leave the Premier League and seek refuge in Spain or Italy.” PA (2023): he “received a hostile reception from rival fans around the country when he returned to action for United the following season.” PA (2020), on October 2001: “After only being awarded the captaincy 11 months earlier.” 638
- Against Greece, in the final qualifier, England was losing 2-1. PA (2020): “It all came down to the last match against Greece” … “Greece were 2-1 up despite substitute Teddy Sheringham’s 68th-minute effort.” The Observer: “England 2 - 2 Greece,” from “Paul Wilson at Old Trafford.” PA, October 6, 2021: “on this day in 2001.” 8109
- In stoppage time, England was heading for a playoff. PA (2020): “entering stoppage time at Old Trafford it was going horribly wrong for the hosts.” PA (2021): “England were facing the prospect of a tricky two-legged play-off against Ukraine before … Beckham struck three minutes into stoppage time.” 89
- He had missed free kick after free kick. The Observer: “The captain had missed one from a similar distance 10 minutes earlier.” Planet Football: “The abundance of free-kicks he had already wasted in this game changed nothing.” FourFourTwo: “as the free-kicks racked up … Eight dead balls in, inspiration struck.” 101213
- Then, 30 yards out, he got one more. PA (2021): “After Teddy Sheringham was nudged in the back more than 30 yards from goal.” The Observer: “After three of them Sheringham was pushed and the referee awarded a free-kick in Beckham territory.” 910
- He curled it into the top corner. PA (2021): “curled home a last-gasp free kick” and “Beckham unleashed an unstoppable right-foot effort into the top left corner at the Stretford End.” 9
- Old Trafford erupted. FourFourTwo: “Old Trafford erupted all the same.” 13
- The man they had hated sent England to the World Cup. PA (2021): the point “was sufficient for Sven-Goran Eriksson’s relieved side to top their qualifying group ahead of Germany on goal difference.” The Observer: “Germany 0 - 0 Finland.” FourFourTwo: “David Beckham was the most hated man in England.” 9116
Sources
- #WorldCupAtHome: Argentina frustrate England again (match summary and line-ups, April 22, 2020) FIFA
- When David met Diego (November 17, 2016) FIFA
- ‘I was a mess’ – David Beckham lays bare pain he suffered after World Cup red card (PA, Jim van Wijk, October 2, 2023) Waterford News & Star
- Picture of the day – June 30 (PA News Agency) Isle of Wight County Press
- David Beckham reflects on ‘emotional rollercoaster’ in ‘Beckham’ documentary (Associated Press, October 2, 2023) NBC New York
- After his red card vs Argentina in 1998 David Beckham was the most hated man in England, but went on to have the greatest season of his life (Chris Flanagan, August 20, 2018) FourFourTwo
- Man Utd receptionist recalls receiving bullets in letters following David Beckham’s red card for England in 1998 World Cup (Gill Clark, October 3, 2023) Goal
- On this day in 2001: David Beckham fires England to 2002 World Cup (PA, October 6, 2020) Jersey Evening Post
- On this day in 2001: David Beckham takes England to the World Cup (PA, October 6, 2021) Jersey Evening Post
- Beckham’s rescue seals England glory (Paul Wilson, October 7, 2001) The Observer
- Goalless Germany resigned to their fate in play-off lottery (Diana Dargie, October 7, 2001) The Observer
- An ode to David Beckham vs Greece & a free-kick that defined a legacy Planet Football
- 25 years on, David Beckham’s Greece masterpiece is still England’s greatest-ever performance (Mark White, October 6, 2026) FourFourTwo
Notes
When the red card came: FIFA says “two minutes after the restart” and FourFourTwo “Two minutes into the second period.” One popular retelling puts it “in the final moments of the match,” which is wrong and is not used.
Pushed or barged: FIFA says “a foul by Simeone,” FourFourTwo “the barge in the back,” the Associated Press “pushed him to the ground.” The AP calls Simeone “the Argentina captain”; FIFA’s line-up does not say so, so the Short and this page don’t either.
The effigy: PA and the AP say it hung outside a London pub, the AP “from a noose”; FourFourTwo names the pub and says the dummy hung from scaffolding. The Short says only “outside a London pub,” and the pub is not named or shown here.
The bullets: FourFourTwo says they came “through the post”; his father says they came in letters to the club, which called in the police. “Bullets in the post” is true to both.
The missed free kicks: the number is uncertain (FourFourTwo counts “Eight dead balls”; The Observer names earlier misses), so the Short says only “free kick after free kick.” The minute of the goal: PA and The Observer say three minutes into stoppage time, one other report the 90th minute; the Short says only “in stoppage time.”
“He saved them”: the free kick sent England straight to the World Cup instead of into “a tricky two-legged play-off against Ukraine” (PA), so our headline says only that it sent England to the World Cup. “Three years later” is June 1998 to October 2001.
Left out: other lines from the 2023 documentary series, including Victoria Beckham’s account of how the abuse affected him, which is hers to tell; other newspaper stunts; the pub’s name; and Simeone’s other later remarks. David Beckham, Victoria Beckham, his parents and Diego Simeone are alive. Only public facts and their own published words are used, and nothing about private life, health or money; Simeone is described only as FIFA and FourFourTwo describe the foul.
Pictures: there is no free photo of the 1998 match, the red card, the effigy or the 2001 free kick, so none of these photos shows them. David Beckham himself is in ger1axg’s photo of him in England’s kit with the captain’s armband on June 6, 2006; Michael Cairns’s photo of him about to take a corner for Manchester United at the FA Cup final at Wembley on May 22, 1999; Paul Foster’s photo of him taking a free kick at Old Trafford on December 5, 1999; Sukhjeet Batth’s photo of him preparing a set piece for England against the USA at Wembley on May 28, 2008; georgio’s photo of his free kick going in against Ecuador at the 2006 World Cup in Stuttgart; and Brian Minkoff-London Pixels’s photo of him in the royal box at Wimbledon on June 28, 2014. Diego Simeone is at a press conference as Atlético Madrid coach on September 14, 2013. The Stade Geoffroy-Guichard in Saint-Étienne, where the 1998 match was played, is seen lit at night and during a Rugby World Cup match, both on September 29, 2007. The red card is shown by a referee in a Europa League match between Ludogorets and Valencia on March 13, 2014. The postbox is a George V Royal Mail box at the British Postal Museum & Archive, photographed on February 20, 2010. The Stretford End at Old Trafford is seen empty on November 29, 2019, and the Old Trafford crowd during the London 2012 Olympic football on July 26, 2012.
Photo credits
The archive photos in this story
The photographs and illustrations in this story are in the public domain or shared under open licenses; each one is credited below with its license. Tap one to enlarge it, or follow the link to its Wikimedia Commons page for the full record. The narration, captions and graphics in the Short are our own; its music and sound effects are credited below.
Music and sound effects
Music: Brahms, Tragic Overture, Op. 81 (Musopen Symphony Orchestra, CC0); Grieg, Peer Gynt Suite No. 1, Op. 46: II. Ase's Death (Musopen Symphony Orchestra, CC0); Beethoven, Coriolan Overture, Op. 62 (Musopen Symphony Orchestra, CC0); Brahms, Symphony No. 1 in C minor, Op. 68: IV. Adagio - Piu andante - Allegro non troppo, ma con brio (Musopen Symphony Orchestra, CC0).
Sound effects: Freesound, CC0.
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