LONDON -- The South American culture of simulation has spread to English football, according to Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino, who still feels he was a victim of Michael Owen's play-acting in World Cup 2002.
Tottenham opened the scoring with a penalty after Dele Alli appeared to dive in Saturday's 5-0 victory over Swansea in the Premier League, and Pochettino drew parallels between the incident and his challenge on Owen, which led to David Beckham's winner from the penalty spot in Japan.
"It was 15 years ago when Owen dived," the Spurs manager said after Saturday's win at White Hart Lane.