England are back in World Cup action tonight and ChronicleLive has taken a look at how former Newcastle United midfielder David Batty expertly handled his penalty miss in 1998

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Quickly, yes or no? Those four words from Brian Moore still send shivers down the backs of England fans of a certain generation.

Its June 30, 1998 and sudden death in the penalty shootout between the Three Lions and Argentina in the last 16 of the World Cup. The legendary broadcaster has just asked ITV co-commentatorKevin Keeganif David Batty can keep England in the tournament as theNewcastle Unitedmidfielder steps up to take a spot-kick for his country. We all know what happened next.

However, rather than collapsing to the turf or pulling his shirt over his face after his miss, Batty simply walked back to the centre circle with his head held high after having the balls to take the penalty in the first place. Yes, Batty would have loved to have helped keep his side in the tournament, but the experienced international quickly saw the bigger picture as team-mates Tim Flowers and Gareth Southgate rushed over to console him.

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There were no tears in Saint-Etienne. Batty got showered; phoned his wife, Mandy; and fronted up to the media before making his way out to the team bus where he immediately clocked bare-chested Argentina players singing at the top of their voices at the back of their coach nearby. It was probably just as well that the FA had asked Hayden Evans, Battys agent, to come down from the stands - even if the Yorkshireman knew his friend would not need comforting.

When David came out of the dressing room, it was as if nothing had happened, Evans recalled to ChronicleLive. All right, he said. What are you doing here? I thought you would be with all the lads.

I said, Well, funnily enough, the FA thought you might need someone around you. He was like, No, I dont. Im fine. Im more annoyed at Argentina and the way theyre celebrating the win and mocking us.

Ive never seen two angrier men than him and Tony Adams. They looked like they were ready to kill someone. Not because they lost, but because of the disrespect the Argentineans had shown.

So how did a man who had never previously taken a penalty in professional football end up being called upon following the 2-2 draw after extra time? Well, with Alan Shearer, Paul Ince, Paul Merson and Michael Owen already pencilled in for a spot-kick, Glenn Hoddle had few alternatives. David Beckham, after all, had been sent off while Darren Anderton, Graeme Le Saux and Paul Scholes had all been subbed.

At the same time, though, Hoddle asking Batty to take a penalty showed the trust the England manager had in the fearless midfielder. Battys parents may have got the shock of their lives when they saw his name flash up on the television screen back home in Leeds - even they did not think he would score - but the Newcastle midfielder never lacked self-belief and simply told Hoddle: All right, yes.

In fact, Batty even talked confidently with Alan Shearer, his Newcastle team-mate, about his plan to drill the ball down the middle before he stepped up as Englands fifth taker. Only to change his mind at the last minute.

Knowing he had to score to keep the Three Lions in the World Cup - Ince had missed minutes earlier - Batty decided to place his spot-kick. The penalty was hit at an ideal height for Argentina goalkeeper Carlos Roa, who guessed right and pushed the ball away to send England packing.

Others have been scapegoated for similar misses over the years, but it was rather telling that Batty received hundreds of letters of support from fans across the country in the days and weeks after. That is not to say every message was quite so welcome, though.

When we got home, he got offers from Pizza Hut, Evans said. They ran a campaign before with Gareth Southgate and that was the only time he got annoyed about everything: Do they really think Im going to make money out of the misery of the England fans? We all let them down. They are all having to go home instead of being at the tournament. Tell them where to go with it.

That Batty has never publicly recounted this story, himself, tells you everything you need to know about this cult figure, who has refreshingly kept out of the spotlight ever since retiring in 2004. That silence has led to a host of rather amusing Chinese whispers gathering pace over the years, whether it is Batty becoming a superbike champion under a fake name; a caravan dweller in Filey; or, even, a master butcher.

Even former Newcastle and England team-mate Les Ferdinand previously told ChronicleLive that he had heard rumours that he goes on the superbike circuit and stays overnight and camps out. The reality is a little more mundane: Batty is simply enjoying a low-key retirement with his family in Yorkshire as he always planned to.

Hes really good, Evans added. We talk all the time. We see each other. Hes still bombarded with requests.

Obviously, when the World Cup comes up, everyone wants him on panels or to interview him but he goes even quieter during tournament times. Hes just the same old, same old, really. Living life to the full, enjoying it all, and thats it.

He loved it there at Newcastle. There was only club he would ever have left them for and that was the chance to come back to Leeds. He really enjoyed his time up there.

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