The iconic midfielder’s spot-kick beat the Argies on this day.

David Beckham, now England’s most-capped outfield player, wasn’t so popular with the fans after his sending-off during England’s Second Round match with Argentina in the 1998 World Cup.

But revenge was sweet for the LA Galaxy midfielder four years later, when his penalty beat the same opposition in the next tournament.

It was England’s second fixture in the so-called ‘Group of Death’ and it was played on this day in 2002 in the Sapporo Dome in Japan.

It was a battle from the start, with famous Italian referee Collina regularly halting play for fouls. The injured Owen Hargreaves had to be substituted by Trevor Sinclair before Michael Owen shot through Samuel’s legs and hit the far post.

Kily Gonzalez powered in two efforts that just missed the target before England took the lead a minute from half-time. Owen veered to his right past Pochettino inside the box and the Argentinian tripped him for an obvious penalty.

Beckham seemed to turn away from the offer of a handshake from Simeone, the other player involved in the incident in St-Etienne, and then struck the ball firmly a foot or so to the ‘keeper’s left.

Sven-Goran Eriksson’s team often had their backs to the wall as they fought to keep their narrow lead in the second half, but they held on to the points and there were tears of joy at the end.