select a team ---------- Europe: Belgium Croatia Denmark England France Germany Ireland Italy Poland Portugal Russia Slovenia Spain Sweden Turkey ---------- South America: Argentina Brazil Ecuador Paraguay Uruguay ---------- Africa: Cameroon Nigeria Senegal South Africa Tunisia ---------- Asia: China Japan Saudi Arabia South Korea ---------- CONCACAF: Costa Rica Mexico United States     Main page    Schedule    Stadiums

Beckham penalty sees off Argentina

England's captain Beckham, centre, celebrates scoring from the penalty spot

SAPPORO, Japan (CNN) -- David Beckham's penalty gave England a vital 1-0 win over Argentina and buried the ghost of his nightmare at France 98.

The captain, sent off the last time the teams met, drilled the ball down the middle and into the net three minutes before the interval after Mauricio Pochettino was adjudged to have tripped Michael Owen.

It proved to be the only goal of a tense game under the roof of the Sapporo Dome.

England now need a draw against Nigeria to secure a place in the last 16, while Argentina must beat Sweden.

Beckham, who battled back from a broken foot to make the finals, held his nerve with the spot kick and raced away to the corner flag to celebrate.

It was Argentina's first defeat since Brazil beat them two years and 18 games ago.

England created more chances and deserved the win. But they had to survive a huge onslaught at the end as Argentina threw men forward.

In a tight half littered with fouls, Owen had come closest for England before the goal, taking Nicky Butt's pass, checking, then shooting across keeper Pablo Cavallero and against the post.

Owen is sent sprawling to earn England a penalty

Two minutes later Gabriel Batistuta escaped his marker but headed Kily Gonzalez's cross straight at David Seaman in the England goal.

Gonzalez twice came close with shots from the edge of the penalty area which fizzed wide and high.

England started the second half brightly. Owen escaped on the right but pulled his shot just wide, then Paul Scholes' volley was punched away by Cavallero.

Beckham got in behind the defence but fired wide then substitute Teddy Sheringham saw his volley tipped over the bar.

But as the half progressed, England became pinned back. Pablo Aimar, a half-time substitute for Juan Sebastian Veron, issued a warning with a shot that flew too high and Pochettino glanced a header past the post.

Moments later the defender's header from a corner was blocked on the line by Seaman.

Batistuta, Ashley Cole and Emile Heskey were all booked by Italian referee Pierluigi Collina as the tackles flew in. England also had to replace the injured Owen Hargreaves with Trevor Sinclair.

In the other Group F game on Friday, Sweden came from behind to beat Nigeria 2-1. (Full story)

Argentina Pablo Cavallero; Mauricio Pochettino, Walter Samuel, Diego Placente; Javier Zanetti, Diego Simeone, Juan Sebastian Veron, Juan Pablo Sorin; Ariel Ortega, Gabriel Batistuta, Kily Gonzalez

England David Seaman; Danny Mills, Ashley Cole, Rio Ferdinand, Sol Campbell; David Beckham, Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt, Owen Hargreaves; Michael Owen, Emile Heskey

Referee Pierluigi Collina (Italy)