Campbell says Argentina will pay

June 2, 2002

Goal hero Sol Campbell says England will make Argentina pay for their insulting behaviour towards them in 1998 when the sides clash again on Friday.

Campbell and the other survivors from the defeat in St Etienne have never forgotten how their opponents jeered them as they boarded their coach after the match.

"It is going to be an interesting game, and all the lads will be up for it because there is a lot of history between the two countries," said Campbell.

"It was not so much the fact we came close to beating them last time. How Argentina reacted after they won wasn't the best.

"They were really enjoying themselves at our expense. Let's just say we will remember those kind of moments on Friday.

"Those kind of things stick in your mind for a long time. They won that game on penalties but we were so close to beating them and I had a goal disallowed which we thought was going to be the winner.

"What will it take for us to move up a gear? The Argentina game. There is no bigger game. We will be ready on Friday.

"Sometimes certain games bring out the best in people and this game should bring out the best in all of us.

"We know we are going to get chances, and hopefully you can stick them away."

Campbell is aware England will have to avoid a repeat of their second half problems against the Swedes if they are to triumph on Friday.

He said: "We sat back a little bit and they just kept on pushing. Maybe we had to be a little bit bolder and push out onto some of their players.

"We've got two more games and now we've got to keep it going and make sure everyone plays their best football."

BBC Sport Online