2024-11-19 16:09:00
The very first World Cup won by the French team in 1998, in Saint-Denis, has gone down in history and the match against Brazil is still remembered by all the supporters. A 98 world champion forgot… the exclusion of Marcel Desailly!
The suspension of Laurent Blanc which allowed the tenure of Frank Leboeuf, the departure of the French team bus from the center of Clairefontaine around thousands of supporters, the discomfort of Ronaldo (best player in the world at the time) same day of the match, then Zinédine Zidane’s double header obviously, Stéphane Guivarc’h’s misses, Fabien Barthez’s interventions, the third goal signed Emmanuel Petit to seal the magnificent victory 3-0 against Brazil. The final of the 1998 World Cup, on July 12 at the Stade de France, has certainly become legendary.
The coronation of Aimé Jacquet’s Blues still remains in the minds of the French who were old enough to follow the World Cup organized in France. The journey of the team led by the captain
Didier Deschamps will have been unbearable, between the exclusion of “Zizou” during the 2nd match, the golden goal in the 8th against Paraguay, the penalties won against Italy in the quarterfinals and the miraculous double of Lilian Thuram in the semi-finals against Croatia (before this incredible 3-0 against Brazil). And it was immortalized in this famous documentary Eyes in the Blues by Stéphane Meunier, where we discover the lives of the players during the competition.
France at 10 from the 67th
The final was also marked by the exclusion of Marcel Desailly before the last 20 minutes of the game. Already warned, “The Rock” burst out of his defense to tackle Cafu and received a second red card which left the Blues at 10 from the 67th minute. Lionel Charbonnier, the third goalkeeper in the group, a privileged spectator from the sidelines, completely forgot this match event (although important) for 20 years! He said, on RMC, that we had spoken to him again about the exclusion of Desailly “five, six years ago” only. He didn’t remember…
At 10 against 11 against Ronaldo, Bebeto, Rivaldo and Denilson (entered at half-time in place of Leonardo), the French team regrouped in front of the goal of the “Divin Chauve” Fabien Barthez, with the replacement of ‘Emmanuel Petit in central hinge alongside Frank Leboeuf. Youri Djorkaeff was then replaced by Patrick Vieira, a real defensive midfielder, while Alain Boghossian had already replaced Christian Karembeu. And on a final attack following a corner from the Seleçao, Christophe Dugarry shifted Vieira who launched Petit for 3-0.
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#France #astonishing #revelation
What motivated Frank Leboeuf to step up for his teammate Laurent Blanc during the 1998 World Cup final?
**Interview with Former French World Cup Champion Frank Leboeuf**
**Editor:** Today, we’re joined by Frank Leboeuf, a key player in France’s legendary 1998 World Cup team that captured the title on home soil. Frank, thank you for being with us.
**Leboeuf:** Thank you for having me! It’s always a pleasure to talk about those incredible moments.
**Editor:** Reflecting on that final match against Brazil, what stands out the most in your memory?
**Leboeuf:** Honestly, so much! The atmosphere was electric. We had thousands of supporters outside the hotel, and the pride of playing at home added a different level of excitement. But I think the overwhelming feeling was unity. We were a team fighting for each other.
**Editor:** You replaced Laurent Blanc, who was suspended. How did that dynamic affect your mindset going into the match?
**Leboeuf:** It was a bittersweet situation. Of course, you never want to see a teammate miss out on such a monumental game, but as a professional, I had to step up. It motivated me to give my all for Laurent and for the whole team.
**Editor:** The match itself had its share of memorable moments: Zidane’s goals, Barthez’s saves. Yet, many fans still talk about Ronaldo’s unusual performance that day. What was the team’s perspective on that?
**Leboeuf:** We were aware of the speculation surrounding him. Ronaldo was the best player globally, and seeing him under such pressure was fascinating. You never know what someone is going through. We focused on our game and made sure to take advantage of any weaknesses.
**Editor:** Looking back now, how do you think that victory influenced French football?
**Leboeuf:** It changed everything! That World Cup win was a true unifying moment for our country; it brought everyone together. It also laid the groundwork for future successes, like Euro 2000. We showed that with belief and teamwork, anything is possible.
**Editor:** Lastly, do you think enough has been said about Marcel Desailly’s crucial contributions to that team?
**Leboeuf:** Absolutely! Marcel was a cornerstone of our defense, and although he didn’t play in the final, his leadership and skill throughout the tournament were essential. It’s important we acknowledge all players’ roles in such a collective achievement.
**Editor:** Thank you, Frank, for sharing your insights and memories with us. The 1998 World Cup will always remain a beloved chapter in football history.
**Leboeuf:** Thank you! It was a pleasure to revisit those moments. Allez les Bleus!
