BOY WONDER:

Tuesday 30th June 1998:
The animosity between England and Argentina is such that you could simply take the ball away and they would settle matters with duelling pistols. Here at the Stade Geoffrey Guichard in Saint Etienne, 30,000 watch enthralled as these two embittered rivals clash once more in a heart-stopping encounter.
With the teams at 2-2 after one of the finest 45 minutes in world cup history the opening moments of the second half remain laced with brilliance and unrelenting tension. Glenn Hoddle's England have been magnificent but equally such plaudits could be lauded on Daniel Passerella's Argentina.
In midfield the tackles fly as Paul Scholes, David Beckham, Diego Simeone and Juan Sebastian Veron engage in a highly technical, but when necessary cut throat battle to seize control and dominate possession.
David Beckham.
The boy has it all. Favoured by the angels, his every wish granted. But sometimes even angels look away and here in Saint Etienne as Beckham foolishly flicks out a boot about being felled by Diego Simeone, it appears he is human after all.
Boy wonder's trigger-happy petulant streak finally reappears, although Simeone's delayed reaction as he crashes to the floor is worthy of Oscar recognition. .
Sensing a god given opportunity to rid themselves of this famous, floppy-haired gringo with the pop star girlfriend, but more importantly a right foot capable of ripping them apart, the Argentines surround Danish referee Kim Milton-Nielson and demand justice. This time even the angels are powerless to prevent Nielson from flashing a red card.
Beckham stands aghast, his world shattered. Wiping the sweat from his face he heads off the pitch into ignominy and a million cameras furiously click.
Meanwhile back in the world cup England's ten men battle on and pray for a miracle.

cfieldsoffire@aol.com