Tony Adams has told how he tried to cheer up David Beckham following his infamous red card against Argentina at the 1998 World Cup.
Beckham was sent off in the second-half of England’s last 16 knockout game with Argentina after kicking out at Diego Simeone, and the Three Lions fell on penalties after drawing 2-2.
In the aftermath of the incident, Beckham was public enemy number one and was booed across the country while playing for Manchester United.
And Adams who played during the game has recalled the moments following the game, how Beckham was visibly distraught after his sending off.
‘He was really upset, he was sad and he was shredding a tear and I thought, ‘Wow’. Normal reaction,’ Adams told Sky Sports.
‘David was there sobbing like a baby and I just put an arm around him and I made it into a bit of a joke.
‘I said, ‘Hey Dave mate, listen you’re a young man and you’ve got plenty of time, you’re playing for one of the greatest clubs on the planet. Go back to Manchester United.
‘They won the treble that next year so I didn’t wish it but I said ‘go back in, you haven’t let anyone down, you’re a young man, you’re going to have loads more World Cups but, actually, you’ve blown it for me. That’s the last opportunity I’ll ever have and you’ve really blown it’.
‘And I remember him looking up at me, going, ‘are you joking here, mate?’
‘I made it into a bit of a joke and put my arm round him. It was really a sad moment for him in his career and one that when you talk to him now, it still haunts him a bit.’
Following the game Beckham helped inspire Manchester United to a treble winning season.
He would go on to captain his country, and got his redemption against Argentina by scoring a penalty during England’s 1-0 victory over their rivals in a group game at the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea.