While the French team went on to win the first World Cup in its history, the 98 World Cup was not well received by everyone.
Those who followed it and experienced it from near or far still remember it. The 98 World Cup held in France will forever be remembered. French supporters in the first place since this first world trophy offered by Aimé Jacquet and his troop had been awaited for decades. Then in those of the supporters and protagonists of other nations. And there, obviously, the memories are not as pleasant. Far from there.
During a podcast led by Darren Tulett, Laure Boulleau referred to this famous competition. “ In fact, the vocation came to me thanks to the France 98 team. Sorry for the English because 98 is a horrible memory. But for the French… » And his English interlocutor continues with a yellow laugh: “ It’s not the only horrible memory for the English, but oh well. »
One competition, several visions
To illustrate her point, Laure Boulleau returned to the famous documentary on David Beckham broadcast on Prime Videoin which the former midfielder Three Lions returned without concession to his expulsion against Argentina, in the round of 16 of the 98 World Cup. I watched Beckham’s documentary and (…) it shows how a World Cup can be experienced differently depending on the nation. »
As for David Beckham, here is how he recounted what happened before and after his expulsion, during a duel with a certain Diego Simeone. “ I just remember that the ball came at me and I was hit from behind. (…) I remember Diego putting his hand on the back of my head and rubbing my hair a little and then I just reacted. » A slight movement of the Englishman’s leg which touched his opponent’s calf, the latter taking the opportunity to accentuate the fault by dropping to the ground. Enough to push the referee to issue the direct red card against the Spice Boy.
Years later, the former Manchester United, Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain player considers this episode the worst of his career. “ This expulsion, with everything it entailed afterwards, I think it was personally the worst moment of my career. »
