It is remembered as one of the great World Cup goals.
Netherlands’ quarter-final with Argentina in Marseille in 1998 was locked at 1-1 going into the final minute when Frank de Boer spotted Dennis Bergkamp 60 yards away making an instinctive run into the penalty area. De Boer’s vision was matched only by a pass dropped perfectly onto the striker’s right foot - and what happened next stunned everyone from Amsterdam to Buenos Aires.
Bergkamp’s first touch brought the ball under his spell. His second took out Argentina’s ruthless defender Roberto Ayala. The third was a finish with the outside of his right boot that took Netherlands into the semi-finals - and it was still being spoken about in Doha this week.
When Ronald de Boer - the elder of the twins by 10 minutes - and Gabriel Batistuta met at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel, they greeted each other like long-lost friends. Both men are in Qatar doing media work.
De Boer gave the former Argentina striker a signed Memphis Depay shirt as a sign of respect - and then asked Batistuta with a smile if he could convince Lionel Messi to reciprocate. That epic meeting between their two nations on a broiling July 4 afternoon was soon on the agenda.
“No matter how much pain I felt, it was a beautiful goal,” admitted Batistuta. “The way Frank launched it, then Dennis' control and the finish - unbelievable. It was a very painful, disappointing afternoon. Three days before, we had beaten England and we were full of confidence.”
De Boer’s take is just as compelling. “Patrick Kluivert opened the scoring early on, Claudio Lopez equalised shortly afterwards and Gabriel looked to make it 2-1 for Argentina with a devastating shot that hit the post,” he recalled.
“The post in the Stade Velodrome is still shaking. If we had fallen behind then, I don't know if we would have stepped off the field as winners.”
On Friday, the two nations meet for the sixth time in the World Cup. Johan Cruyff-inspired Holland won the first clash 4-0 at the 1974 tournament in West Germany - only to lose to the hosts in the final. Four years later, Argentina prevailed 3-1 after extra-time in a final played in front of their own frenzied fans in the Estadio Monumental.
Holland won that next instalment at France 98 before a goalless draw in the group stage in Germany eight years later. Argentina then prevailed on penalties after a goalless draw in the semi-final in Brazil in 2014 - only to lose to Germany in the final.
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De Boer, who played 67 times for Holland, thinks Louis van Gaal’s side will come out on top at Lusail Stadium. He said: “I think the Netherlands has a good chance of winning against Argentina, just like in 1998.
“We have not seen much of Frenkie de Jong so far because the opponents are not stupid and know he is our best footballer. Against Argentina, I still think that's where the opportunities lie for Oranje.”
Batistuta, who scored 54 goals in 78 games for his county, has a different take. He said: “When qualification starts, people in Argentina say we are already world champions. Those expectations are a burden for the players because anything less than first place at the World Cup is a setback.
“But we have Lionel Messi, Lautaro Martinez, Julian Alvarez, Alexis Mac Allister and Angel Di Maria to break open the game, and Lisandro Martinez is a great defender.”
