The 1998 FIFA World Cup knockout stage covers the games from the second round through to the final at the
1998 FIFA World Cup in France. The top two teams from each of the eight groups qualified for the knockout stage. Teams played one game against each other, with the possibility of extra time and penalties if a winner could not be determined after 90 minutes.
Qualified teams
The top two placed teams from each of the eight groups qualified for the knockout stage.
Christian Vieri scored his fifth goal of the finals and the only one of the game in the 18th minute with exquisite precision, bursting on to
Luigi Di Biagio's pass 40 yards from goal. Norway had their moments but failed to finish as
Gianluca Pagliuca made some brilliant saves.[1]
Just three minutes after
Slobodan Komljenović scored the equalizer,
Predrag Mijatović missed a penalty kick as, after deciding not to hit it to the sides due to
Edwin van der Sar's reach,[2] the ball hit the crossbar, prompting him to describe it as the worst moment in his career.[3]Edgar Davids scored the winning goal for the Netherlands in overtime; Davids, suffering a cramp, had asked to be substituted moments before but
Guus Hiddink asked him to stay in the field.[4] An apparent scuffle between Van der Sar and
Winston Bogarde in the celebration was explained by Van der Sar as an instinctive overreaction from being unintentionally choked by
Pierre van Hooijdonk.[5]
Argentina decided to use their change kit, feeling that it had granted them luck in the
1986 World Cup quarter-final between the two sides.[7] All four goals were scored in the first half, making it the first match in the tournament with as many goals scored before half-time.[8] With the score tied at 2–2,
David Beckham retaliated after being fouled by
Diego Simeone and was sent off. Beckham's teammate
Michael Owen subsequently described Beckham's act as "childish and unnecessary", although Owen also said that the burnings of effigies of Beckham were undeserved.[9] In the subsequent penalty shoot-out, Argentina went first.
David Seaman saved Argentina's second penalty from
Hernán Crespo to give England the advantage, but that was immediately cancelled when
Carlos Roa saved from
Paul Ince. The tie ended with another Roa save, from
David Batty. Batty said it was the first penalty he had ever taken.[10] England had also exited on penalties in the recent
UEFA Euro 1996.