England

2-0

Colombia

Anderton

 

 

Beckham

FIFA World Cup Finals
Stade Felix-Bollaert, Lens
26 June 1998

Having lost to Romania in their second match of the 1998 World Cup, England needed a point from their last Group G fixture against Colombia in Lens to make it into the Second Round.

A positive-minded England put on their most attacking display of the World Cup, with two first-half goals to savour and had it not been for Farid Mondragon's heroics in the Colombian goal, England would have scored three or four more in the second period.

As it was England took the lead on 20 minutes through Tottenham midfielder Darren Anderton.

Michael Owen, who started the match after impressing as a substitute against Romania, crossed in from the right where Bermudez could only direct his headed clearance to Anderton who hit a rising shot that flew past Mondragon's left hand.

Nine minutes later a foul by Preciado on Paul Ince presented Beckham with a mouth-watering free-kick some 25 yards out.

A shot of power and placement cleared the Colombian wall and was in the back of the net before Mondragon could scamper across.

The second half saw England lay siege to the Colombian goal with Paul Scholes the first to test the 'keeper with a well-struck volley from Owen's pass.

England captain Alan Shearer then had a header saved before Scholes again went close, this time athletically shaping his bodily to volley just wide.

Then a surging run from England centre-back Sol Campbell allowed Owen to pick up the loose ball just outside the penalty area.

He ran in on goal and tried to slide the ball low past the on-rushing Mondragon, who did well to deny the 18-year-old Liverpool forward.

Then Shearer released Owen who shot straight at the goalkeeper before Shearer was denied by an excellent double save from the Colombian 'keeper.

England's final chance fell again for Shearer and his powerful drive at goal saw Mondragon pull off another flying stop.

England v Colombia, World Cup Finals, 26 June 1998

England: David Seaman - Arsenal, Gary Neville - Manchester United, Graeme Le Saux - Chelsea, Paul Ince - Liverpool (David Batty - Newcastle United), Sol Campbell - Tottenham Hotspur, David Beckham - Manchester United, Darren Anderton - Tottenham Hotspur (Rob Lee - Newcastle United), Alan Shearer - Newcastle United, Michael Owen - Liverpool, Paul Scholes - Manchester United (Steve McManaman - Liverpool).

Colombia: Mondragon, Cabrera, Bermudez, Palacios, Moreiro, Rincon, Serna (Aristizabal), Lozano, Valderrama, Preciado (Valencia), De Avila (Ricard).

Referee: A Brizio Carter

Attendance: 41,275