They abused our families
June 7, 2002
DAVID BECKHAM and his England colleagues lined up last night to promise Argentina revenge for the way they were made to feel "humiliated" in France 98.
The Mirror
The England squad's anguish at their penalty shoot-out defeat in St Etienne was compounded by the disgraceful antics of the Argentines after the game.
Beckham, sucked into his own personal misery at the time after his infamous red card, was among the players most angry at the Argentines' conduct.
Even normally unemotional players like David Seaman and Sol Campbell are still seething and last night Beckham, Teddy Sheringham and Michael Owen all recalled that night to explain why England are thirsting to avenge themselves.
Beckham said: "We were all waiting to get on the coach with our families and they were sitting in theirs, just five yards away, all jumping around with their shirts off.
"I was already upset with what had happened to me but for them to behave like that, when we were with our families, was even more annoying.
FLASHPOINT: Batistuta leads the jeers
from the Argentina coach in 1998
"They were celebrating on their double-decker bus, swinging their shirts around their heads and banging on windows. The coaches were only a few yards apart. We were outside our coach, and they could definitely see us.
"It was humiliating. We felt humiliated anyway because we'd lost on penalties and were out of the competition. So to see them behave like that upset us a lot.
"We're a young England team but if we win we won't do that. Anybody who did, who wasn't dignified, would be pulled up for it. But after what they did I don't think we'll need much of a team talk. All the players are up for it."
The captain's memories and anger were shared by Sheringham and Owen.
The Liverpool striker said: "I'm sure I'd have been an excited little kid if we'd gone through, but we wouldn't have behaved like that.
"Certain things stick in the memory, and that is one of them. All of us who were there want to beat them and get our own back." The more senior members of the England squad are equally keen to put the South Americans in their place for that slight.
Spurs skipper Sheringham admitted: "I've never seen anything like it before but being involved then and watching them celebrate like that, five yards away, gives me all the incentive I need to be pumped up to get revenge.
"They knew we were there, five yards away with our families, but they were there jumping up and down with the whole bus pounding.
"It was one of those things that live with you. For any of the players who were involved in that it would mean so much to get the result that could hopefully put them out of the tournament.
"In Britain it's something you wouldn't do as a professional. But that's where the Latins are different to us. They have their own temperament, their own way of playing and celebrating. It's something that gets mentioned every now and then. It riled a lot of players." Beckham, of all people, has another ghost to exorcise, although the skipper insisted he had forgiven Diego Simeone for his part in that dismissal.
The captain revealed: "I have nightmares about France 98. It will always be with me and people will always talk about it. But I've forgiven Simeone.
"We had the famous handshake before the Champions League game against Inter Milan and there was all the talk over whether we would or not.
"We swapped shirts, and his one is hanging in my snooker room - and not next to the dartboard! But the incident is at the back of my mind.
"If it happens again, I wouldn't react the same way as I did four years ago. I held my hands up and said it was a mistake.
"There were certain antics that went on which people have come out and admitted now. It is sad that people do these things and then admit them four years later. But it's forgotten now and I've forgiven anyone involved."
Ashley Cole revealed that Eriksson's attempts to lift his squad ahead of tomorrow's game are working.
Eriksson admitted after the 1-1 draw against his native Sweden that his players were downcast at having thrown away a lead. However, he insisted that they should not lose their self-belief and warned them to keep their spirits up ahead of their second group game against Argentina.
Cole said: "Everyone was disappointed. The manager said to keep our heads up as it's not over yet and everyone is still positive that we can do it.
"We played quite well in the first half against Sweden and, if we can carry that on against Argentina, it'll be a tough game for them."
England's most realistic hope of reaching the knockout stages remains a draw against the pre-tournament favourites and then a victory against Nigeria in their final group game. However, Cole added: "Argentina look good and they've got great players but we still believe we can get the top spot."
The 21-year-old Arsenal full-back is relishing the whole World Cup experience, although he admitted panicking when his slip offered Henrik Larsson a sight of goal that was spurned by the normally prolific striker.
"If that had gone in, I'd have been devastated," he said.
"I'm just glad to be here though, and getting the chance to play is brilliant."