1998 World Cup revisited: Most memorable moments

Gary Meenaghan takes a look back at some of the most memorable moments from France '98.

Scottish defender Colin Hendry tries to stop a ball shot by Brazilian forward Ronaldo on June 10, 1998 at the Stade de France in a 1998 World Cup Group A first round match.
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Laudrup’s pass

Ebbe Sand scored Denmark’s third goal against Nigeria in their last-16 match after 22 seconds on the pitch, but it is remembered more for the pass he received from Michael Laudrup, who dribbled across the box, flicked an exquisite lofted reverse into the path of Sand, who nodded round Taribo West and fired into the corner. Magical.

Bergkamp’s class

A long, diagonal ball out of the defence. One touch to kill it in the area. One touch to turn inside. A final touch to fire it past the goalkeeper. Dennis Bergkamp’s late, quarter-final winning strike against Argentina was as close to perfection as is possible. It was a fitting goal for a player of such talent and more fitting that it made him the Netherlands’ all-time leading scorer.

Beckham’s dismissal

An 18-year-old striker named Michael Owen gave England a 2-1 lead over Argentina in their last-16 match, but it was David Beckham who was the story. The Manchester United midfielder kicked out at Diego Simeone after a foul and was shown a straight red card. Effigies of Beckham were burnt in the streets in England as the Three Lions crashed out on penalties.

Ronaldo’s magic

The Brazilian announced his arrival on the world stage, in the tournament’s first match, by dominating Scotland without scoring. A nine-touch, first-half sequence around/through three Scots was shown incessantly during the tournament. A British TV commentator said: “Every time he gets the ball, every Scot in the ground, and some of them are playing, has kittens.”