10 Famous World Cup Moments Involving Newcastle Players
3. Michael Owens Wonder Goal (1998)
France 98 saw the birth of a superstar whose flame would ultimately be extinguished 11 years later in Black and White. Owen's enthralling solo effort against Argentina is a firm fixture in the pantheon of great World Cup goals and ensured a meteoric rise to prominence for England's teenage wonderkid. Owen had topped the scoring charts for Liverpool in the season leading up to the tournament and was a wildcard selection from then Three Lions coach Glenn Hoddle. A secret weapon, if you will, and few could have predicted what the 18-year-old prodigy had up his sleeve when he was unleashed from the start by Hoddle for the second-round bout in Saint Etienne. Collecting a pass from David Beckham and with a clever touch to skip away from Jose Chamot in the centre circle, Owen commenced an intrepid slalom straight through the heart of the Argentinian rearguard. Chamot was no match for his searing, youthful pace and Roberto Ayala dared not to dangle a leg out as he chicaned past the defender into the penalty. Carlos Roa raced from his line to narrow the angle but it was a futile action and Owen's finish was a sight to behold, expertly clipping the ball back across goal and into the top corner without breaking a stride, accompanied all the way by Brian Moore's iconic commentary. Incredibly still it was only his fourth match for England and one we would infamously go on to lose in a penalty shoot-out.
