Which England player was sent off against Argentina at the 1998 World Cup?

David Beckham was the England player sent off against Argentina at the 1998 World Cup.

The incident happened in the round of 16 at Saint-Étienne’s Stade Geoffroy-Guichard on 30 June 1998. Argentina’s Diego Simeone fouled Beckham, who was lying on the pitch when he swung a leg toward Simeone. Referee Kim Milton Nielsen showed Beckham a red card in the 47th minute.

Argentina and England finished 2–2 after extra time. England had taken the lead through Michael Owen, but Javier Zanetti equalised before half-time. With Beckham dismissed, England played the remainder of the match with ten men and eventually lost 4–3 in the penalty shoot-out.

The sending-off made Beckham a target of intense criticism in England, where many supporters blamed him for the elimination. Simeone later admitted that he had exaggerated the reaction and encouraged the referee to dismiss Beckham. Beckham’s reputation recovered four years later when he scored England’s winning penalty against Argentina at the 2002 World Cup.