Alan Shearer exclusively recalls England's last World Cup knockout clash with Argentina as Three Lions gear up for huge semi

As England gear up for their veritably massive World Cup semi-final showdown with Argentina on Wednesday, Three Lions legend Alan Shearer has reminiscing about the two countries’ last knockout meeting – an infamous one as far as England are concerned.

It was the last 16 of the 1998 World Cup, and the opening exchanges set the tone for the game to come. Gabriel Batistuta put Argentina ahead from the penalty spot after seven minutes – only for England captain Shearer to hit back in the same fashion just four minutes later.

Michael Owen put Glenn Hoddle’s Three Lions in dreamland when he scored one of the great World Cup goals with less than a quarter of the tie played, only for Javier Zanetti to finish off a clever free-kick routine to equalise on the stroke of half-time.

Then, early in the second half, came the night’s defining moment: a young David Beckham kicked out at Diego Simeone – who, admittedly, made the most of it but left referee Kim Milton Nielsen with no choice but to produce a red card, plunging Beckham into national disgrace.

Argentina eventually triumphed on penalties – though Shearer did dispatch his spot-kick under the most intense pressure he says he ever faced as a player.

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“[The highest pressure] was when it went into penalties against Argentina, walking up and taking that penalty in the shootout,” he told LiveScore. I took two in the game: one in normal time and one in the penalty shootout. So that time, yeah. Thankfully, I scored.”

England also had a would-be golden goal by Sol Campbell disallowed in extra time, and Shearer notes it as the one match from his career he wishes he could replay.

The Newcastle icon looks back more fondly on the atmosphere of the occasion, though. When asked about the loudest stadium he’d ever played in, he said: “The loudest one would have been in Saint-Etienne…when we played Argentina.”

Loudest, yes, but was it the best atmosphere Shearer experienced during his playing days? “Probably,” he reflected.

While they’ll benefit from air conditioning and a closed roof, England can expect to play in feverish conditions in Atlanta on Wednesday, with the Argentina fans proving to be some of the most passionate at this World Cup.

The Three Lions have the edge in World Cup clashes between these two nations, recording three wins to Argentina’s two – but Argentina have won both knockout encounters (the other came in 1986 as Diego Maradona produced his notorious ‘Hand of God’ and sublime ‘Goal of the Century’), and the sides have never met this deep into the tournament.

Argentina are aiming to reach the final as defending champions for the second time; England are looking to get there for only the second time ever. It’s one of the great World Cup grudge matches, but it’s never been this big.

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