Javier Zanetti recalls Argentina vs England at the 1998 World Cup
The legendary Argentine defender reflects on the tactical preparation, his iconic goal, and the intense drama of the 1998 World Cup round of 16 clash.
Javier Zanetti se souvient de chaque détail de ce match contre l'Angleterre, le meilleur ennemi de l'Argentine depuis la guerre des Malouines en 1982. (William Dupuy/L'Équipe) Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, comme un air de Buenos Aires. (L'Équipe) Javier Zanetti se projette énormément dans son couloir droit, l'un de ses points forts. Il combine notamment avec Ariel Ortega et profite des incursions de celui-ci dans l'axe pour offrir des solutions le long de la ligne de touche. Pour José Chamot (numéro 3) et la défense argentine, Michael Owen, auteur du second but anglais, a constitué un poison. (Jean-Louis Fel/L'Équipe) 16e minute : sur une contre-attaque, David Beckham prend à défaut la défense argentine, mal positionnée, en alertant Michael Owen. Le prodige anglais se défait de Juan Chamot d'un contrôle orienté, prend de la vitesse, élimine Roberto Ayala, avant de battre Carlos Roa d'un tir croisé. 45e + 1 : l'Argentine obtient un coup franc aux abords de la surface anglaise pour une faute de Sol Campbell. Gabriel Batistuta fait mine de frapper, puis Juan Sebastian Veron trouve subtilement Javier Zanetti, qui surgit à droite du mur, contrôle du droit et ajuste David Seaman du gauche. Javier Zanetti a permis à l'Argentine de revenir à 2-2 juste avant la pause. (L'Équipe) (L'Équipe)
Javier Zanetti, a key figure in the unforgettable 1998 World Cup round of 16 match between Argentina and England, has shared his personal account of the legendary encounter. The game, which ended in a penalty shootout victory for Argentina (2-2, 4-3), remains etched in football history as one of the most intense international matches ever played.
The Argentine squad prepared for the tournament in complete isolation under manager Daniel Passarella. Zanetti recalls that the rivalry with England felt deeply personal, and memories of Diego Maradona's heroics in 1986 served as a constant source of inspiration for the team.
A defining moment of the match was Zanetti's own goal just before halftime. It was a set-piece routine the team had been practicing for years. When Juan Sebastian Veron slipped the ball to him during the free-kick, Zanetti found himself perfectly positioned to level the score. Zanetti later learned that his goal had inadvertently saved a fan's life, as the man remained watching the extra time and penalties instead of leaving his home, missing a bomb explosion in his car.
Reflecting on David Beckham's red card early in the second half, Zanetti admits that playing against ten men proved unexpectedly difficult. England defended with resilience, and the tension remained palpable until the final moments of the penalty shootout, where goalkeeper Carlos Roa emerged as the hero.