World Cup Greatest Moments: Dennis Bergkamp’s perfect touch for quarter-final winner in 1998

DENNIS Bergkamp has an extensive catalogue of famous goals that wowed football fans — but for the sense of occasion, and his incredible touch, none were better than this gem in 1998.

Tom Smithies

2 min read

May 26, 2018 - 7:00AM

World Cup

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THE greatest players have the ability to make the impossible look easy.

And no one did it quite as gracefully as Dutch legend Dennis Bergkamp, which made his appearances at France 1998 all the more breathtaking.
And there’s one moment, in particular, that earned him the latest nomination in our World Cup greatest moments.

The finished product: Dennis Bergkamp (C) kicks ball past goalkeeper Carlos Roa.

What was the ‘moment’: Dennis Bergkamp winner in 1998 quarter-final

Which World Cup was it? France 1998

Countries involved: The Netherlands

To say that Bergkamp “scored” is to suggest that Michaelangelo now and again got out his chisels: technically it’s correct, but rather misses the point of the artistry involved.

We’ll get to the goal itself in a minute, but consider the context — the quarterfinal of the World Cup, against one of the favourites, in the last minute, and the scores even.

Holland had scarcely lit the tournament up to that point, coming top of their group but only winning one of its games, and needing a last-minute winner in the Round of 16 against Yugoslavia.

Yet nothing to that point mattered at all, once Bergkamp began a 90th-minute, angled run into the Argentine box.

To find him, Frank de Boer unfurled a quite remarkable pass, yet one that has become just a footnote to history’s celebration of Bergkamp.

From more than 50 metres, de Boer landed the ball plumb in the path of his No.8, whose first touch killed the ball of all momentum.

Dennis Bergkamp celebrates in jubilant fashion after scoring the winner.

His second touch, a caress of a half volley as the ball dropped to the floor, nudged it through the legs of defender Roberto Ayala, and the third found the top corner of the Argentine goal — hit with the outside of Bergkamp’s right foot, just because, you know, he could.

Thanks to a subsequent loss on penalties in the semi-final to Brazil, France 98 as a whole would simply become another chapter in the proud history of Dutch World Cup choking.

But in that moment, in the evening sunshine of Marseille, Bergkamp distilled the glory of World Cup football.