Feb 24th, 2000

Sporting Life

Final score: England 0 Argentina 0

90mins: The final whistle goes to end a match that promised much but finishes goalless. There are plenty of positive signs for England though, particularly a superb display from Heskey.

90mins: Zanetti crosses low into the England box but Campbell dives to head clear.

90mins: Wilcox tries to find Phillips further forward but the Sunderland man can't control.

90mins: Argentina make a very late change, bringing on Gustavo Lopez for Ortega.

90mins: Veron tries to find Zanetti wide on the Argentina left but the ball goes out for a throw.

90mins: Ayala is booked for time wasting.

90mins: The fourth official signals that there will be four minutes of added time.

88mins: Veron tries to chip a subtle pass over the head of Ferdinand for Crespo, but the West Ham man gets up well to clear.

86mins: Parlour dispossesses Ortega in midfield but his pass forward for Phillips is intercepted by Ayala.

84mins: Phillips is again penalised after apparently turning Ayala on the England right.

83mins: Argentina win a corner as Southgate challenges Ortega. Veron takes to the back post but the ball goes out before coming back in again.

82mins: Phillips loses control of the ball on the edge of the Argentina box and is penalised for a foul on Simeone.

81mins: Chamot deliberately handles under pressure from Cole, but avoids a second booking.

80mins: An excellent chance for Argentina goes begging. Vivas heads down an Ortega cross and Crespo completely misses his kick from just eight yards out.

79mins: Scholes plays in Cole in the inside right channel and his low show bounces to safety off the body off Cavallero.

78mins: The excellent Heskey receives a standing ovation from a packed Wembley as he is replaced by Andy Cole.

77mins: England bring on Sunderland striker Kevin Phillips to replace Shearer.

76mins: The closest Argentina have come to a goal yet. Neat build-up by Ortega and Simeone ends with the ball finding Gonzalez 25 yards out. His low volley is just wide of Seaman's goal with the Arsenal keeper scrambling.

75mins: Ortega finds Vivas on the right, but his cross towards Crespo is cleared by the English defence.

74mins: Heskey returns quickly to the fray.

73mins: Play is held up after a clash of heads between Heskey of England and Argentina's Ayala. Heskey comes off worst and is carried off on a stretcher clearly shaken up.

72mins: England bring on Arsenal's Ray Parlour to replace Beckham, who has been limping slightly.

72mins: Good build-up play by Scholes and Wilcox ends with Neville crossing towards Shearer. But Ayala does enough to head the ball clear.

71mins: More good play by Heskey sees him try to thread the ball into the box for the run of Scholes. But the Manchester United man can't keep the ball in play.

70mins: England win a free-kick 40 yards from the Argentina goal for a foul on Shearer. But it comes to nothing as Beckham's attempted pass to Phil Neville on the right flank goes straight out of play.

70mins: Ortega tries to curl a shot past Seaman from just outside the England box, but his effort is high and wide.

68mins: Ortega spreads the play wide to Kily Gonzalez on the left. His cross to the back post is missed by Wilcox, but fortunately Vivas heads woefully wide.

66mins: Veron threads a ball through the middle of the England defence for Crespo, but Seaman is quickly out to gather the ball.

66mins: Argentina bring on Nelson Vivas to replace the injured Arruabarrena.

64mins: Heskey gets up above two Argentina defenders to get in a header from a Wilcox cross but can't keep the ball down.

64mins: Ortega tries to trick his way past Southgate on the edge of the England box, but the Aston Villa man gets an important foot in. When the ball is cleared England win a free-kick for yet another foul on Heskey, this time by Pochettino.

62mins: Veron plays a crossfield ball towards Zanetti but it's overhit and goes straight out of play for an England throw.

59mins: Shearer finds Wilcox on the left and he produces a superb cross to the near post. Heskey gets up to power a header goalwards but it deflects off a defender for a corner. When the set-piece comes in Cavallero punches clear from Shearer.

58mins: England make a change replacing Dyer with Phil Neville.

58mins: Chamot is booked for a late challenge on Heskey.

57mins: Dyer does well to outpace Arruabarrena on the England right, but when he tries to square the ball to Scholes on the edge of the Argentina box Chamot clears.

56mins: Argentina bring on Hernan Crespo to replace Batistuta, who has enjoyed a relatively quiet evening.

55mins: Veron finds Kily Gonzalez on the left and his low cross to the near post is smothered by Seaman.

53mins: Ortega chips the ball into the box for Batistuta but Ferdinand is quickly in with an excellent challenge to win the ball.

52mins: Yet again Heskey causes problems for the Argentina defence but his low cross is cleared by Javier Zanetti.

52mins: Veron plays a through ball for Batistuta but the direction isn't quite there and Southgate plays the ball back to Seaman.

50mins: Wise again finds Wilcox with an excellent pass out to the left. The Leeds man delivers a cross to the heart of the Argentina box but Chamot heads comfortably clear.

49mins: Batistuta escapes the shackles of the England defence to find space wide on the right. His excellent cross into the six-yard box just evades the desperate lunge of Ortega.

48mins: Heskey again troubles Chamot, but the defender does well to half-clear, and Simeone completes the clearance.

47mins: Heskey gets up well in the air to beat Chamot, but his flick fails to find Shearer and Ayala plays the ball back to Cavallero.

46mins: England make a substitution at the start of the second half, with West Ham defender Rio Ferdinand replacing Keown.

45mins: The whistle goes to end a promising first half for Kevin Keegan and England.

45mins: Into first-half injury time and lovely play by the visitors ends with Arruabarrena in possession wide on the left. He has space and tries to pick out Batistuta but Seaman claims comfortably.

43mins: Argentina win a free-kick on the right edge of the England box for a foul by Southgate on Batistuta. Veron whips the ball in with plenty of pace but it's Shearer, back defending, who heads powerfully clear.

41mins: Magnificent play by Heskey almost brings the opening goal for England. He picks the ball up 30 yards out and powers past Chamot with pure pace and strength. He attempts to pull the ball back for Scholes, but Ayala intercepts and clears for Argentina.

39mins: Ortega receives the yellow card for diving after taking on Southgate in the England penalty area.

38mins: Ortega finds Arruabarrena on the left, but Martin Keown clears for a throw to Argentina. The ball then finds Ortega 25 yards out and his speculative effort is well wide.

37mins: Substitute Pochettino tries to find Ortega in the inside left position for Argentina, but the pass is disappointing.

34mins: Argentina make a substitution by bringing off Sensini and replacing him with Mauricio Pochettino.

33mins: Ortega almost plays in Batistuta with a subtle pass but the ball ricochets off Campbell to safety.

32mins: Scholes dispossesses Veron in midfield and Dyer plays it wide for Heskey. He wins a throw-in off Sensini and then is awarded a free-kick. Beckham takes from the left flank but the ball is straight at Veron in the Argentina wall.

31mins: England again build up promisingly, with Wise at the hub. First he finds Wilcox with a lovely crossfield ball, and then races forward to receive the return. He flicks the ball to Heskey in the box, but the Leicester striker is dispossessed as he tries to turn.

29mins: Ortega and Simeone link up superbly to play in Arruabarrena on the left. But he is caught offside with England woefully exposed.

27mins: Sensini is again put under pressure by the onrushing Heskey and boots the ball hurriedly into the stands.

25mins: England win a free-kick in a central position 30 yards out for a foul on Shearer. Beckham curls the ball over the wall but it goes a couple of yards wide with Cavallero scrambling across his goal.

23mins: Arruabarrena joins Beckham on a yellow card, ironically for a bad challenge on the Manchester United midfielder.

22mins: Dyer and Beckham team up nicely to find Paul Scholes 25 yards out, but the Manchester United's man's control lets him down. The ball still finds Dyer out on the right and his cross is headed wide by the impressive Heskey.

21mins: Heskey wins a long ball in the Argentina half and Beckham, joining the attack, wins a corner. Argentina clear the set-piece comfortably.

19mins: England go close to breaking the deadlock. Heskey does superbly well down the left to beat his man and crosses low towards Shearer. But the stumbling England captain diverts the ball wide of goal from six yards out. Shearer claims he was tripped by Chamot while making his run. But English penalty claims are waved away.

18mins: Beckham crosses from the right and when Argentina clear the ball falls to Diego Simeone. Beckham dives in late to challenge and is yellow-carded for a foul.

15mins: Wise finds Heskey on the right and his cross to the back post finds Wilcox. The Leeds winger tries to pull the ball back, but fires the ball straight into the grateful arms of Cavallero.