This week, after becoming a FIFA World Cup columnist for the Daily Mail, Owen was interviewed by the media outlet and recalled his FIFA World Cup experiences.
It is widely believed that the English "golden generation" missed out on the trophy due to factionalism within the team and seating arrangements at dinner.
"It's funny because I feel like over the last six months, the topic of us players not getting along has started to resurface, and when I heard the rumors about Ferdinand saying he and Gerrard never got along, I almost fell off my chair."
"I can't wait to see Ferdinand or Gerrard and ask them, 'Is this true?' I even started to wonder if I was crazy, feeling like, 'My goodness, was I out of my mind back then?'"
"Now, we certainly did have a table for Manchester United fans when we ate – there's no doubt about that, but did I hate any of them? Of course not! Come on, let's be honest and talk about why we didn't win anything."
Looking back at the three FIFA World Cups you participated in between 1998 and 2006, England were eliminated in the quarter-finals in all three tournaments.
"Glenn Hoddle possessed the most underestimated and overlooked football intelligence this country has ever had, truly. I'm convinced that if he had managed that team – the 'golden generation' – it would have been a perfect match, he was simply fantastic."
"Against the top opponents, we barely had any shots on target under Eriksson, and in 2002 against Brazil (a 1-2 loss), we faced a Brazil team playing with 10 men for the last half hour of the game."
"But even then, we still didn't have any shots on target, not even one chance, and considering it was a FIFA World Cup quarter-final, that was the most disappointing game I've ever seen; our tactical awareness at the time was simply too poor."
"Of course, some people will say it's no big deal, and as for formations, the key is still the players, which I really don't understand. I've experienced this many times on the field, where you think, 'My goodness, how are we going to beat them? Their formation is so perfectly arranged that you can't even see a passing lane.'"
"Even my goal that gave the team a 1-0 lead was just a desperate lob, and an opponent's mistake gave me the chance. My goal in the 2004 European Championship quarter-final against Portugal was from a long pass by David James, which was deflected by an opponent."
"To be clear – we were playing long balls! Not because... we wanted to, but because we had too few midfielders and a rigid 4-4-2 formation. Everyone said Gerrard and Lampard couldn't play together, but that was fine. Honestly, every time we met a strong team, all we did was hit long balls to Heskey."
"We were strong, but we were still eliminated by the eventual champions. Brazil's fullbacks were Cafu and Carlos, ours were Mills and Ashley Cole, and their attacking trident was Ronaldinho, Rivaldo, and Ronaldo."
"And we only had Owen and Heskey! Do you understand what I mean? I can't help but laugh, let's just say we were too arrogant then, thinking we deserved to win, but I believe if Hoddle had been in the team, our chances of winning would have been greater."
At that time, Hoddle didn't allow you to see your families during the FIFA World Cup, whereas now Tuchel allows players to visit their families and occasionally leave the training camp.
"I would be embarrassed to say, 'Oh, the old days were really tough and boring,' because playing for England is everyone's dream. But the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France was really difficult."
"We didn't have mobile phones, and Glenn didn't like us playing golf. We weren't even allowed to see our families; you could only see them 200 meters away on top of a hill, and there was only that one stand, nothing else. No newspapers, and no one watched TV. I liked Glenn, but he was too disciplined."
"We all knew we had to eat rice, boiled potatoes, pasta, and boiled chicken, but not even a speck of gravy or ketchup was allowed. Every meal was the same. A big banner hung above the dining room that read 'Chew Slowly.'"
"The idea was that the more thoroughly food is chewed and digested, the less energy the blood needs to break it down. Our French doctor prescribed all... we supplemented these nutrients, and also took pills and creatine; we got ourselves into optimal condition."
"All of this was fine, but there was absolutely no relaxation. What Tuchel is doing in Kansas now is exactly what they need: a relaxed and pleasant evening to completely unwind. You won't get drunk, but you'll see something different."
At the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany, there was another extreme, where the England WAGs garnered more attention than the players.
"This was completely different from the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France! The most ridiculous thing is that even if I had the opportunity back then, I didn't even care that much. I never went near them once."
"I was still brainwashed at the time! But I told my wife, 'Don't get caught dancing on tables,' honestly, that would distract me. Luckily, she was very sensible, and I told her to avoid those crazy crowds."
Are you implying to avoid the Carragher family?
"Exactly!"
That was also your last major tournament, where you twisted your knee and tore your ACL in the first minute of the last group stage match.
"Losing everything in an instant, that was too hard to accept. Just like that, suddenly, without warning, life was completely turned upside down."
In 1998, you scored a goal against Argentina.
"I've never watched any of my own games. The only time I watched that goal I scored for Argentina was when someone forced me to. I don't even know if my kids have seen it."
Why?
"In Roy Keane's words: it was just my job! Of course, I'm incredibly proud of what I achieved, and that goal made me understand how the FIFA World Cup amplifies everything."
"Scoring against Bournemouth on Saturday is great, but scoring a goal like that in the FIFA World Cup completely changes your life. I went from being a domestic star to an international star overnight."
"As for that goal, it was just my instinct at the time. All I had in my head was the idea of charging at those defenders. I had no fear whatsoever. I knew what I could do."
"Once I got into a shooting position, for me, that chipped shot wasn't difficult – that's why I would never let Scholes take that goal away from me!"
"Of all the moments in my career – the Ballon d'Or, the 2001 FA Cup Final – the goal against Argentina remains the most memorable. No matter where I go in the world, people will say, 'I clearly remember where I was the moment you scored that goal.'"
Then you scored a penalty in the shootout.
"When playing for the club, it's fun, but if you miss a chance, you might get a hat-trick a few days later. But without a doubt, when you're playing in the FIFA World Cup, you know that one mistake can stay with you for four years."
"The impact is so huge that you can't help but think about it. It can make you or break you. I've taken countless penalties in my life, and I've always been nervous. But when I walked up to that penalty spot to take a penalty for England, I felt something I'd never felt before; my mind was full of negative thoughts."
"I had just scored a brilliant goal, feeling invincible, and the whole world was going crazy, and I was still thinking, 'Oh no, if I miss this, I'll have to appear in a pizza commercial with a paper bag over my head.' That's not usually like me; playing for England really changes a person."
For FIFA World Cup newcomers like Elliot Anderson, Nico O'Reilly, and Guehi, this might not be what they want to hear.
"I said to myself at the time, 'This is my game, my sport. I've practiced my whole life. If I win 10 times, I'll be very happy. A billion people watched this live, not 500 million. I know I can do something special here.'"
"Even if you put me on a golf tee, I wouldn't want a single person watching me. I'd rather have 3 billion people watching me play football than just 3 people watching me play golf."
"So, from that perspective, I don't believe pressure hinders you. What a great opportunity these players have now! Seize it! I really wish I could still be in that position to show the world what you can do!"