Image source, Getty Images

Where do the curtains rank in the league of Beckham haircuts? Worse than the mohawk? Better than the braids, surely? I'm dismissing anything involving an Alice band or top knot.

This might be the first little period in the game when nothing truly gripping is happening. And even then, it is hard not to have your attention drawn to whatever is going on. Gives you an idea of just how frenetic those first 25 minutes were.

Adam Staniforth: This Argentina team was absolute class. England's midfield really had their work cut out.

Ruben Pillai: Great...just what I need...a reminder of why I cried myself to sleep when I was 13

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What was a I saying earlier about Zanetti? He makes another of those trademark marauding runs and then whips what at first looks like it might be a cross, but ends up as shot that flies a yard or two over the bar.

He really is the template for attacking full-backs to copy into the future.

Richard Afrifa: One of the most iconic goals in World Cup history.

It really is hard to believe that Owen is just 18 in this tournament, and yet so utterly unfazed by the stage. Such a shame that injury somewhat blunted his raw, lightning speed and (at least as it appeared here) unbound potential. It's a familiar story, though.

However, he does remain the only player to have scored in four consecutive major tournaments for England. Just makes their inability to convert so many promising efforts into actual glory all the tougher on him.

If you're even blinking at the moment, you're a fool! Think of the microseconds of pure football entertainment you're missing?

Shearer's dummy gives Le Saux responsibility to cross from the left but Scholes can't connect properly with his first-time effort at the near post.

Trevor Brooking
Former England midfielder at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard

You always look back at a World Cup and say 'that was the game' and this has all the makings. It is a pulsating match.

Amen Trevor, amen.

Hit!

Paul Ince lets fly with an absolute belter of a shot after a Beckham free-kick from the right is headed away.

It dips but not quite enough, prompting Roa to desperately dive and then breathe an almighty sigh of relief to discover it hasn't gone in.

That Owen goal has shaken the Argentina players and given everyone connected with England a shot of pure adrenaline into their veins.

Diego Maradona
Former Argentina player, writing in his autobiography 'El Diego'

For me, Michael Owen is the only good thing to come out of the 1998 World Cup. (He had) speed, cunning and balls.

Michael Owen
Speaking to FourFourTwo magazine in 2014

The defenders were back-pedalling because they didn't want me to run at them again from deep. By the time I let rip, I'd run 20 or 30 yards. When you run that far at full pace, the defender has no chance. Anxiety and confusion were telling Ayala to pull back.

By the time I pushed the ball across him, it was impossible for him to stop me from his standing start. Just then I saw Paul Scholes on my right, shouting either "Leave it!" or "Scholesy's".

I wasn't going to respond to the call. When I finally struck it, the keeper Carlos Roa had raced off his line so there wasn't much space to work in, but I clipped it hard and fast towards the far corner.

Paul Merson's reaction to this goal is brilliant. The whole England bench is up and on their feet, but Merse's giddy, grinning, bouncing glee is all of us at this moment.

Trevor Brooking
Former England midfielder at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard

Well, he just makes this out of nothing. He goes past Chamot, he goes past Ayala. Paul Scholes is with I'm and saying 'leave it to me' and his reply is 'no you're not, I'm going to put it in the net'. fantastic goal. I'd have it done as goal of the tournament so far. I had a vision of 25m jumping out of their seats back home.

This is a really good Argentina side. They break at such pace. Veron and Ortega can move so well with the ball.

Argentina are the more composed of the two sides in this opening 12 minutes. Even after conceding, they go back to stroking the ball around looking for an opening as England chase and harry. A chipped ball forward looks to find the marauding Zanetti in the box but it is just an inch or two above him. No flag, either.

Just your bog-standard absolute world-class full-back Zanetti. In Football Manager he'd be your complete wingback but with the freedom to roam wherever he pleases. He's a peacock, you've gotta let him fly! Someone should put that in a film.

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This is the only World Cup that Alan Shearer ever played in for his country. For a man who scored so many goals across so many seasons at club level, that is criminal.

Still, if you don't qualify for one (as England failed to do in 1994) it is going to hurt the careers of some players who just happen to be plying their trade at the wrong time.

He would net 30 goals from 63 games, though, which is a fine return. To put it into context, it gives him a superior strike-rate for his country than its all-time leading scorer, Wayne Rooney. He also had an impressive record at major tournaments, scoring eight goals in 13 games.

Too right, Trev. What a start. It has been frenetic from the word go.

Trevor Brooking
Former England midfielder at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard

It is a magnificent penalty. What pressure there must have been striding up to that one. What a start to the match.