After a 1994 tournament without a single West Ham United participant, just one Hammer was present at the 1998 FIFA World Cup finals in France - England defender Rio Ferdinand.
The 1994 finals did feature a number of former and future Hammers. Republic of Ireland pair Ray Houghton and David Kelly had already vacated the Boleyn Ground, while Romania pair Florin Raducioiu and Ilie Dumitrescu, Cameroon duo Rigobert Song and Marc-Vivien Foe, United States midfielder John Harkes.
Dumitrescu and Song were back again in 1998, while future Hammers Christian Dailly (Scotland), Javier Margas (Chile), Marc Rieper (Denmark), Slaven Bilic, Igor Stimac and Davor Suker (Croatia). Teddy Sheringham, Les Ferdinand and Rob Lee were all named in Glenn Hoddle's England squad, as was Academy graduate Paul Ince.
Veteran France back-up goalkeeper Bernard Lama had spent the 1997/98 season with West Ham before moving to Paris St Germain prior to the tournament, meaning 19-year-old Ferdinand was the sole Hammer to travel to France '98.
The teenager had enjoyed a breakthrough campaign with West Ham, playing 46 times in all competitions and becoming a regular starter under manager Harry Redknapp. The Peckham-born defender was blessed with pace, an ability to read the game, superb technical ability and the defensive qualities that often saw him make the game look easy.
Voted Hammer of the Year the month before the finals began, Ferdinand had earned his senior England debut in a friendly win over Cameroon at Wembley in November 1997. By the time the FIFA World Cup finals kicked-off in June 1998, he had been capped three times and was selected by Hoddle as a potential replacement for Arsenal pair Tony Adams and Martin Keown and Aston Villa's Gareth Southgate.
As it was, Ferdinand was not required as England qualified from Group G in second place behind Romania, setting up a Round of 16 clash with Argentina in St Etienne. Despite a wonder goal from another teenager, Michael Owen, the Three Lions were again edged out of a major tournament on penalties.
Two weeks later, former Hammer Lama became a World Cup winner as France defeated Brazil 3-0 at the Stade de France in Paris.