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World Cup 1998
Beckham had played in all of England's qualifying matches for the 1998 FIFA
World Cup and was part of the England squad at the World Cup finals in France,
but the team's manager Glenn Hoddle publicly accused him of not concentrating on
the tournament, and he didn't start in either of England's first two matches. He
was picked for their third match against Colombia and scored from a long-range
free kick in a 2–0 victory.
In the Second Round (last 16) of that competition, he received a red card for
violent conduct in England's match against Argentina. Beckham, after having been
fouled by Diego Simeone, appeared to kick out at his opponent, striking him on
the calf. Simeone later admitted to trying to get Beckham sent off by
over-reacting to the kick and then, along with other members of his team, urging
the referee to send Beckham off. The match finished in a draw and England were
eliminated in a penalty shootout. Many supporters and journalists blamed him for
England's elimination and he became the target of criticism and abuse, including
the hanging of an effigy outside a London pub, and the Daily Mirror printing a
dartboard with a picture of him in the middle.
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