On this day: David Beckham exorcises Argentinian demons

Ask any England supporter to pick their favourite of David Beckham's 17 international goals and the majority of them would probably pick his stoppage-time equaliser against Greece that secured qualification for the 2002 World Cup.

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However, on a personal level at least, the man himself could very well look back on the goal that he scored for the Three Lions 13 years ago today with the most fondness.

Having drawn their opening World Cup group encounter against Sweden, England needed to claim all three points against bitter rivals Argentina to stand any realistic chance of qualifying for the knockout stages out in the Far East.

For Beckham, the clash with La Albiceleste would have evoked painful memories of four years earlier when he was sent off for petulantly kicking out at Argentine midfielder Diego Simeone. England ended up being knocked out on penalties, with the Manchester United midfielder carrying the can in the eyes of many fans and the media.

His heroics against Greece a few months earlier had won back the heart of the nation and against Argentina in the Sapporo Dome in northern Japan, he would become an England legend.

It was in the 44th minute that Michael Owen, who had earlier hit the post with a low shot, went down inside the penalty area under a challenge from Mauricio Pochettino. Despite the contact between the pair being minimal, referee Pierluigi Collina had no hesitation in pointing to the penalty spot.

For the next few seconds it was all about Beckham, who having placed the ball down 12 yards from goal, took one big deep breath before beginning his run-up. Pablo Cavallero in the Argentina goal barely moved, but Beckham's driven effort just left of centre was good enough to break the deadlock.

His emotions were there for all to see as he sprinted off to celebrate, with the events of 1998 in Saint-Etienne all but forgotten.

Throughout the second half a determined Argentina set about getting themselves back into the contest, but they were thwarted by a determined David Seaman and his defenders, meaning that Beckham's impact had been a match-winning one.

Reflecting on that moment with The Sun a few years later, Beckham revealed that he had buried the hatchet with Simeone, but not before the current Atletico Madrid manager had tried to get inside his mind moments before he struck the penalty.

"Simeone tried a few mind games to put me off before I took that penalty, but I expected that. It is all part of football. But then he showed me what a gentleman he is by coming up to me at half-time and then again at the end of the game and shaking my hand," he said.

"Even though he was desperately disappointed because Argentina had lost, he said to me 'Good luck for the rest of the tournament'. I could tell it was a genuine gesture. I have always said he is a great player and he, in return, said I am quite good too. Now we have a healthy respect for each other.

"I've been asked countless times if I have forgotten what he did in France 98. You have to forgive and forget. There is no lingering grudge between us - just mutual respect between people who regard each other as good players and professionals."

ENGLAND: Seaman; Mills, Ferdinand, Campbell, Cole; Hargreaves (Sinclair), Butt, Scholes, Beckham; Owen (Bridge), Heskey (Sheringham)

ARGENTINA: Cavallero; Placente, Pochettino, Samuel, Zanetti; Simeone, Veron (Aimar), Sorin, Ortega; Batistuta (Crespo), Gonzalez (Lopez)