Five times champions of France, with Marseille then Monaco and winner of the Champions League in 1993 with OM, Éric Di Meco did not experience the same success with the French team. Called up for the first time by Michel Platini in 1989, the Varois will have to wait until 1994 and the appointment of Aimé Jacquet to succeed in establishing himself among the Blues.
Absent from the list for the Euro in Sweden in 1992, the left back had no more say under Gérard Houllier despite the dimension taken in the Marseille jersey. According to him, he was indeed going through the best period of his career. “You always have a high point in your career where for two, three years, you feel that this is where you are strongest. At that time, the coach was Gérard Houllier and he never called me even though it was the period when I deserved it the most. he said.
»I knew I was going to be called”
The arrival of Aimé Jacquet on the bench of the French team following the non-qualification for the 1994 World Cup would nevertheless change the situation. And this despite his departure for Monaco and undoubtedly less sharp performances. “And behind, when Aimé Jacquet arrives, he calls me all the time, he makes me play and even makes me captain at a time when I was starting to be at the end of the race”he whispered.
“When I arrive at Euro 96, I start to be boiled”, he added, adding: “ And I knew I was going to be called. It could be frustrating for anyone who thought they were in my place. » At the end of the Euro in England, Éric Di Meco decided to retire internationally, leaving the field open to Bixente Lizarazu.
