How England kicked-off their World Cup nearly forty years ago at France 1998

England will step into the World Cup fray this week when they take on Croatia in their opening game of Group L on Wednesday. 

The Three Lions have won their last two opening World Cup games, having beaten Iran 6-2 four years ago, and Tunisia prior to that at Russia 2018 thanks to a late Harry Kane winner. 

Tunisia were also the opponents 38 years ago today, when England began their World Cup campaign at France 98. 

Played in the sweltering heat of Marseille, with many up and down the UK 'off sick' to catch the 2.30pm kick-off, this was Glenn Hoddle's Three Lions kicking off in Group G, which also included Romania and Colombia. 

'Aren't you supposed to be at work?' was the opening line from BBC legend Des Lynam ahead of the game, which saw an England team where Hoddle left the excitable youth on the bench in Michael Owen and David Beckham in preference to tournament stalwarts Darren Anderton and Teddy Sheringham. 

For the moment, the two fresh-faced pair were not needed, as England got the job done in relatively comfortable fashion, with a 2-0 win over their African opponents. 

Skipper Alan Shearer opened the scoring just before half-time, before Paul Scholes secured the win for the Three Lions.

Yet tougher tests were ahead in a roller-coaster of a group stage and a second-round epic with an old enemy. 

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England secure opening win of France '98 

Shearer and Scholes with the goals 

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