David Beckham made his England debut against Moldova twenty years ago to this day
SunSport takes a trip down memory lane to Stadionul Republica in Chisinau to revisit the start of the Goldenballs age
IT was exactly twenty years ago the David Beckham and England romance began.
Sunday 1 September 1996. The venue was the Stadionul Republica in Chisinau. Moldova were the opponents.
Football was back and booming in these shores after the Three Lions had almost roared their way to success at Euro 96.
The rock and pop culture was in full swing, and with a new manager in charge in the shape of Glenn Hoddle, England’s national team were entering a brave new world.
And then there was Becks. With his floppy curtains and sheepish grin.
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Who knew then that within two years the 21-year-old would go on to become public enemy No1 at France 98 before winning back our hearts as Goldenballs and later England captain.
Despite David Beckham's dramatic rollercoaster ride, there were only 9,500 people there to witness the very start of his 115 cap international career.
Hoddle had called up the then Manchester United winger for the first time for the opening World Cup 98 qualifier away in Moldova.
And as you can see from our stroll down memory lane, it was not the most glamorous of settings.
Nevertheless, England strolled to a 3-0 victory thanks to strikes from Nick Barmby, Paul Gascoigne and now SunSport columnist Alan Shearer, who was captaining his country for the first time.
And Beckham was not the only debutant on the side. Everton’s Andy Hinchcliffe also won the first of his seven caps.
Few would of imagined the story that would unfold in Becks’ career, but we are sure that despite winning some of the game’s major prizes, he will look back on this day just as fondly as we do.
Here's how the Three Lions lined-up on that momentous afternoon:
England: David Seaman, Gary Neville, Gary Pallister, Gareth Southgate, Stuart Pearce, Andy Hinchcliffe, David Beckham, Paul Ince, Paul Gascoigne (David Batty, 80), Alan Shearer, Nick Barmby (Matt Le Tissier, 80)
Goals: Barmby 23, Gascoigne 25, Shearer 61