Time and years pass, and it has now been twenty-six years since the French football team lifted its first World Cup. On July 12, 1998, at the end of a journey strewn with pitfalls, Aimé Jacquet’s Blues raised their arms to the sky. Winners over Brazil at the end of an anthology final punctuated by two headed goals from Zinedine Zidane, the red card received by Marcel Desailly and the third and final goal scored by Emmanuel Petit, the Tricolores finally got their hands on the most beautiful and coveted of trophies. A moment forever etched in their memory.
This Friday, Bixente Lizarazu posted a message on his social networks to his former teammates. July 12, 1998. World Champion. Happy Birthday my friends. For eternity. » All accompanied by three hearts. Linked by the strong moments experienced together, the players who made up the world champion team at the time created the France 98 association. The group meets up every year around a good meal to celebrate the title acquired and the strong friendships that have resulted from this whole adventure.
Forever the first
While some have distanced themselves a little and some enmities exist between one or the other, the foundation remains very solid between all these men, most of whom went on to win the title two years later at Euro 2000. An additional reason to remain linked forever. Having practically all become stars after this world title, the Blues of the time now occupy different, often very important, positions in the media or in football. Didier Deschamps ended up succeeding Aimé Jacquet, who has held the position of coach for twelve years.
Zinedine Zidane shone and made history by winning three consecutive Champions Leagues on the bench of Real Madrid. Bixente Lizarazu is the star consultant of TF1 in football. Youri Djorkaeff works at FIFA. Emmanuel Petit, Lionel Charbonnier, Christophe Dugarry, Alain Boghossian and Frank Leboeuf are seasoned consultants. If France has since won a second star by winning the 2018 World Cup, Bixente Lizarazu and his team are forever the first.
