b23k said:
sometimes i have boca celebrating the Libertadores triumph over Santos, sometimes i have Diego with the World Cup in his hands...but mostly I have the greatest moment in the history of football, when the hand of god made england pay.
cheating bastards:thefinger that was handball
we got you back
by FIFAworldcup.com
With history and drama filling the dome in Sapporo, Japan, England threw Group F into chaos with a 0-1 victory over old enemies Argentina. Exorcising the ghosts of France 98, David Beckham scored the only goal of the hard-fought match from the penalty spot.
It was Michael Owen who drew the penalty just before half-time, and the lightning quick striker also hit an Argentine post for the English. Argentina controlled most of the possession in the match and poured the pressure on in the final 20 minutes, but they were consistently missing the final ball. The result leaves the South Americans stuck on three points with both Sweden and England leaping over them today to four. England now face Nigeria on 12 June knowing that they control they’re own destiny.
Javier Zanetti provided the first chance of the match when he struck a 25-metre shot well, but England goalkeeper David Seaman had little trouble making the save (6’).
Moments later, Argentina were attacking again. This time Juan Sorin used a clever back heel from inside the penalty area to spring Kily Gonzalez, whose shot skipped past the far post (8’).
The intensity began to pick up when Gabriel Batistuta was cautioned for unnecessarily running into Ashley Cole after the England defender had already played the ball (13’).
England had a quality chance midway through the half when Liverpool star Michael Owen broke down two defenders on the right side. Owen let a shot go from 14 metres that found its way through the legs of defender Walter Samuel but could not stay inside the far post as the ball caromed back toward the England striker but was cleared away for a corner (25’).
Argentina came right back when Batistuta had a clear header from eight yards that was stopped by Seaman (25’). Gonzalez’ eyes lit up when a right-wing cross was deflected at the near post and popped back to him at the far post, but his strong volley sailed just high (31’).
When Owen went down in the penalty area after light contact with Mauricio Pochettino, the referee, Mr. Pierluigi Collina, pointed to the penalty spot. David Beckham stepped up and made no mistake with a low shot just to the left of Cavallero, who was caught leaning to his right (0:1, 44’).
Argentina wasted no time in their second-half hunt for an equaliser, as fresh substitute Pablo Aimar launched a 20-metre shot that Seaman scooped up easily (46‘).
But England quickly gained the momentum. Owen, moving to his right on a similar play that led to his shot off the woodwork in the first half, used a quick burst to get past Diego Placente, but this time his shot missed the goal completely (48’).
Paul Scholes stepped into a half-clearance by Argentina 25 metres out and struck a volley that Cavallero had to punch away (49’). Then it was Beckham who nearly had his second when he out-muscled Placente in the area but knocked his left-footer well wide (55’).
And England kept coming. This time Teddy Sheringham latched onto a volley on the right side, and his splendid 16-metre effort was again punched away by the goalkeeper (58’).
Some good combination work created a chance for Aimar, but his long-range blast was well over the crossbar (68’). Though not that dangerous, the opportunity brought some life back into Argentina, who several times earlier looked like they would be pulling the ball out of their net again.
Now it was England back on their heels. From an Aimar free kick 30 metres out, Pochettino rose above everyone at the back post, but his header drifted wide (74’). Minutes later, Pochettino won another header off a corner kick, forcing Seaman to make a diving save (77’).
But the defensive corps held strong and England had their revenge.
:tongue:
that was the best day of my life and when england beat the germans 5-1
