MICHAEL OWEN HAS admitted he still feels “resentment” towards David Beckham for being sent off in England’s match against Argentina at the 1998 World Cup.
England held Argentina to a 2-2 draw after extra-time in the second-round match before going out of the tournament on penalties.
Glenn Hoddle’s team lost Beckham early in the second half when he kicked out at Diego Simeone, after being fouled by the Argentina captain and future Atletico Madrid head coach.
A public backlash against Beckham followed, with many blaming him for England’s defeat. An effigy of Beckham was even hung outside a pub in London.
Owen, who dazzled at the age of 18 in his first major tournament, has revisited the controversy 21 years later.
Despite the passage of time, Owen hasn’t let go entirely of negative feelings towards his former international colleague — later a club-mate at Real Madrid — over the Simeone incident.
Owen wrote in his new autobiography, being serialised in The Mirror: “With the benefit of hindsight and perspective, I feel that what David did probably wasn’t a red card offence in the first place. While it was clearly pre-meditated, it was immature and petulant more than it was violent. But for me, that almost makes it worse.
“All I can say is that, as I sit here now writing this book, knowing how lucky a player is to appear in one World Cup, never mind more than one, I’d be lying if I didn’t say that what David did that day hadn’t let every single one of that England team down.
“Did he deserve the abuse he got afterwards? Certainly not. What human being needs to see his or her effigy being burned? But David let us down, and I still hold some resentment about it today.”
Yesterday, Owen was involved in a Twitter spat with another former club and international team-mate. In response to a dig from Alan Shearer, Owen questioned the ex-Newcastle United striker’s loyalty to the St James’ Park club during his playing career.
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Best of luck to the Saffrons. Keeping hurling alive in Ulster despite the attitude of the Ulster Council and GAA headquarters.
If Antrim beat Clare it would in my view be the biggest upset in the history of the GAA, hands down. The very best of luck to them I hope they make their county and their people proud whatever happens at the weekend.
It would be brilliant for hurling in Ulster if the huge underdogs from Antrim caused an upset,
A good Mt Sion man & hopefully future manager of the Waterford senior hurlers. Best of luck Antrim.
Prior to 2009 we (Clare) had never even won a Munster championship at this grade. Now we play Antrim in a final that if we win we will have won 2 titles back to back. The sense of occasion in thurles and carnival atmosphere that will be there should be worth a visit to for neutrals. The great season of hurling is also prevalent in this grade throwing up some fantastic games. We will certainly make our northern brethren feel welcome tomorrow in thurles and I hope all teams go home happy with their teams performance.
I love a good underdog story, but cant see the saffrons beating clare. Be great for hurling if they could
I concur with the positive sentiment towards Antrim. What a shame the GAA did’nt have the sense of occasion, to bring the match to Clones and give Ulster hurling a final to savour all the more…
Hurling? In Clones?? A come here…
Casement park is unavailable due to renovation so Clones would have been a good option in fairness.
Does anyone else think that top photo makes it look like they’re doing a haka?
Best of luck to the Saffrons tomorrow.
While I’m delighted for Antrim and everything I don’t agree with the sentiment that if they cause an upset against Clare its “good for hurling”. What’s good for Hurling is if the best, most skillful, most committed team wins. If that happens to be Antrim then fine but a team that can only muster 14 players at training the week of an All Ireland Semi Final isn’t deserving of any level of success, not when atleast 14 of those Clare lads trained every day in January with the senior panel.
Antrim for Liam 2021!!
The only Ulster hurlig team to win an All-Ireland title in Hurling was Derry in the junior grade. Please God Antrim can win this one.
Best of Luck Antrim, don’t be afraid to get stuck in. We are playing their Seniors in 2 weeks again :)
There’s more chance of Crystal Palace winning the Premier League. No disrespect to Antrim, it was a fantastic achievement getting to the final but that Wexford team was the weakest team to ever come out of Leinster.
Wexford’s attitude beat them that day.
With a team mostly made up of Clare lads who played in last weeks All Ireland I can’t see any result other than a Clare win. Having said that its great to see hurling talent coming out of Ulster, long may it continue
Come on Antrim!
Ulster Hurling deserves its place at the top table!
I thought Antrim weren’t playing in thurles 100 percent what a load of bluffers I hope they get hammered by 20 points