Emblematic guardian of the Blues World Champions in 1998 and winners of Euro 2000, Fabien Barthez has long been in competition with Bernard Lama. The latter kept the Blues cage before the World Cup in France. A place he lost a year from the start of the tournament. Following a knee injury and a two -month suspension for cannabis use, the former PSG porter was forced to give way to the “Divine Chauve”. A place that the native of has no longer left.
It was during an internship in Marrakech (Morocco) on the sidelines of the 98 World Cup that Bernard Lama learned that he would not be the titular goalkeeper during the competition. A decision difficult to swallow for the Guyanese now 62 years old. And who would have created tensions between the two competitors …
Pierre Ménès, who covered the French team for the newspaper
The team At that time, returned to the relationship between Fabien Barthez and Bernard Lama. “What happened between Barthez and Lama at the 98 World Cup?” Barthez was stronger. Barthez is not the stupid which was portrayed by the puppet of the Guignols ”first wanted to recalled the journalist.
“When Barthez had the ascendancy on you, he ate you alive”
Before confirming that Aimé Jacquet's choice was not well received by Bernard Lama: ” Barthez was a killer, as Lloris was a killer. When Barthez had the ascendancy on you, he ate you alive. I think Bernard (Lama) did not live it super well. »»
Recently, in the podcast the voice of the guards, Lama had assured that his relationship with Barthez was respectful and without animosity. “” There was no problem, he had assured. It was not Fabien who was responsible for the choice. In a way yes, but it is the competition that does that. There were two number one, so it was a choice that was made, period. (…) We have always worked in good intelligence. I said to him, “I'm here, if you need do not hesitate, there is no problem”. And I took care of putting it in good arrangements before the matches. »»
