Beckham finds nirvana on his trip to the East

Something that can’t, of course, be said about Argentina, who now lie in third place in the Group and, apart from having to overcome a tricky Swedish team next Wednesday, must also hope Nigeria finally produce the form they are capable of to hold, or defeat, England.

But today was Beckham’s day. Paul Scholes may have been the official Man of the Match but it was the England captain — playing his first full match since April — who saw his team through. He was everywhere; often deeper than Danny Mills, the England right-back, now here in the centre of midfield, now there over on the left, taking corners, free-kicks…and, of course, a penalty. Much is made of Brazil’s Roberto Carlos but Beckham is better in attack, and possibly better too as a defender.

The match itself was nothing to write home about. Till, almost on the stroke of half-time, Owen was brought down in the box. Was there even any debate over who would take the kick? The England captain grabbed the ball, waited till the Argentine keeper and Diego Simeone — his nemesis of four years ago — had finished needling him, then did what he set out to do.

Argentina made the better start, though any rhythm was continually checked by a string of fouls which brought yellow cards for Gabriel Batistuta and Ashley Cole. But the clash sparked into life in the 24th minute when Owens campered onto Nicky Butt’s long upfield ball and smacked a shot through defender Walter Samuel’s legs which beat Cavallero — only to rebound off the post.

A minute later, Argentina should have been in front when Batistuta failed to beat David Seaman with a point-blank range header from a Kily Gonzalez cross. England’s growing confidence was rewarded though just before the break, when Argentina defender Mauricio Pochettino tripped Owen in full stride and Beckham smacked home the penalty.

A breakaway by Owen, two booming shots from Emile Heskey and Paul Scholes, a spectacular volley by substitute Teddy Sheringham, plus a Beckham flick into the side netting, all battered the Argentina defence in the opening minutes.

The second half began without Argentina’s captain Veron, who had shown in the first 45 minutes that maybe Alex Ferguson hadn’t made such a big mistake after all. His substitution, by the wunderkid Pablo Aimar, seemed to stifle his team further and England were playing to close things down.

The match rose to any great level of excitement only in the last 20-odd minutes, when the possession and opportunities Argentina had indicated that they must score. There was, in the space of five minutes, three clear chances missed for one reason or another. After the match, Sven-Goran Eriksson said his team played with heart. For Beckham, it was as much a matter of a soul reclaimed.