Michael Owen shared true David Beckham feelings after moment he "can't forgive"
Former England striker Michael Owen felt he had nothing to say to David Beckham after the midfielder's infamous red card at the 1998 World Cup because "the damage was done".
Owen and Beckham were both taking part in their first major tournament in France, with Beckham's goal against Colombia helping send England into the round of 16. There, Owen scored a stunning solo goal to give the Three Lions the lead against Argentina, but Beckham was shown a straight red card for kicking out at Diego Simeone before the South American side eventually prevailed on penalties.
Beckham was just 23 years old at the time of the incident, and has admitted he still beats himself up about it. Owen was even younger - just a teenager when the game took place - and addressed the aftermath in his autobiography.
"The fallout from David Beckham’s infamous red card against Argentina was still being felt some years later," Owen wrote in 2019. "I’ll start by saying that David and I always got on well on a personal level. He was obviously a very talented player.
"I always admired him massively because I always felt that nobody, I repeat, nobody, worked harder than David to maximise the talent he did have. But after that World Cup in France, few would argue that his and my paths were different. I became the darling of English football for a period of time whereas he became the villain.
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"The general feeling in the dressing room immediately after the match was that there was nothing to say about him getting sent off. What could any of us have said to him that would have changed anything? The damage was done."
What are your memories of that Argentina game? Share your stories in the comments section
David Beckham was sent off after a clash with Argentina's Diego Simeone (Bongarts/Getty Images)Owen also reflected on his discovery, years later, that Beckham's wife Victoria was "disappointed" in him for failing to back the Manchester United star publicly. However, he reiterated he was far from the most senior member of Glenn Hoddle's squad.
"Whether I thought his actions lost us the game or not didn’t matter," he added. "For me, at that time, it was about hierarchy and standing. I was just a junior member of that squad. I was really just a kid."
Beckham and Owen would later become club team-mates at Real Madrid, while also continuing to play together for their country. The Argentina game still plays on the former's mind, though, and he addressed his feelings in Beckham , a new Netflix documentary looking at his career.
“Now, at 48 years old, I beat myself up about it,” said Beckham, who was heavily criticised after the incident but won fans over and claimed the England captaincy years later. “I made a stupid mistake. It changed my life.
"I don't think I have ever talked about it just because I can't. I find it hard to talk through what I went through because it was so extreme. The whole country hated me. Hated me.
"I wasn’t eating. I wasn’t sleeping," he added. "I was a mess. I didn’t know what to do. It brought a lot of attention that I would never wish on anyone, let alone my parents.
"I can’t forgive myself for that. That's the tough part what happened in a way. I was the one that made the mistake. It is only now I beat myself up about it."
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