He Could Have Been the Best

Receiving a typically accurate pass from David Beckham just past the half-way line, Michael Owen set off to score what would be one of the finest English goals in history. England’s new ‘golden boy’ was born. That magnificent moment in Paris 14 years ago still sits so clear in my memory. His young boyish face, his shirt hanging off his adolescent figure, the weaving, the sublime finish and of course the celebration will never be forgotten. During his peek, he was a privilege to our nation and a joy to watch.

Owen lived most of his footballing life in the fast lane; his blistering pace still giving some defenders nightmares, and his rise to fame was equally as rapid. Some of England’s finest players are associated with one defining tournament where they excelled. In 66 it was Geoff Hurst, twenty years later it was Gary Lineker, 1990 belonged to Paul Gascoigne and in 1998 Michael Owen joined this list of legends. And like his predecessors, Owen consistently provided reason to cheer when donning the three lions.

Yet, like so many others before him, Owen was halted by injuries. His blistering pace was now a gingerly hobble due to his incredibly fragile hamstrings. Another part of the striker’s game to suffer was his confidence. What was once a contagiously cheeky grin was now a look of anxiety and worry. After stints at Real Madrid, Newcastle and most recently Manchester United trying to recapture the form he had shown at Liverpool, Owen’s fall from grace was as swift as its rise. More notably, his international career began to suffer because of the time he spent on the injury table. Just nine goal’s shy of Bobby Charlton’s England record, Owen made his last and final international appearance in 2008. His demise highlights how cruel football can be. Always a modern professional, Owen was adored by all fans and provided a positive image to a game that ultimately deserted him. Still, Owen will be remembered as the finest England striker of his generation and the recollections of Paris, Munich and London will never be disregarded.