There are matches that mark a life. For the players of the French team in 1998, the World Cup final against Brazil (3-0), on July 12 of that year, is obviously one. A meeting of which Laurent Blanc was deprived because of a red card received four days earlier against Croatia, in the semi-finals. It was just twenty-seven years ago and this memory must now haunt the former defender of the Blues, now a coach in Al-Ittihad.
If the “president” had to give way to Frank Leboeuf against the Seleçao, it is because of a mood gesture on Slaven Bilic who, on an eccentric kick of Croats in the 76e Minute of play, collapsed by screaming in pain, hands on the eyes, while the tricolor number 5 had pushed him back to the chest (and perhaps touching his chin). Sufficient for the Spanish referee of the game, Mr. JosĂ© Garcia-Aranda, immediately manages Laurent Blanc on the ground.
In 2011, in the columns of ParisianSlaven Bilic returned to this confused action, which has pissed off all French supporters. And for him, despite the images showing his gross exaggeration, the fault remains Laurent Blanc:
“Yes, and I haven't changed my version since then. As on all corners, I scored Laurent Blanc. Nothing had happened between us with the whole match. Then, coming out of nowhere, he strikes me. Not like Mike Tyson, but he strikes me. »»
Laurent Blanc designated guilty
“We don't care where he strikes me!” We see red boxes for much less than that. It was just a reflex and I am sure that it was also one of him. The culprit is him ”he added. Since this 1998 France-Croatia, the two men have come back several times, especially in the early 2010s when they were selectors of their respective national team. Sallered reunion, dixit Slaven Bilic, who confided again on the subject in 2022.
“I spoke several times with him. When I was coach of Croatia, he was that of Francehe told the magazine Fourfourtwo. With the World Cup in Russia (in 2018), France celebrated the twenty years of its victory and had organized a match against the rest of the world. He had called me a few weeks earlier to find out if I wanted to be, I replied yes and I had spent three very pleasant days with them. »»
Slaven Bilic's regrets
And the former Croatian international to stir the knife once again in the wound, this time sharing his regrets.
“Do I regret it?” I have already answered many times. I would have definitely preferred that it does not happen. I would have liked him to play the final, it was not my intention to have him expelled, he said. I only wanted to protect myself and, on this action, I did nothing wrong. It was he who struck me in the face. »»
“I'm sorry because it's a beautiful person but I don't blame myself for what I did. If I could go back, maybe I will see the referee to tell him not to expel himhe continued. But we were disgusted to lose. No one expected what we are going so far, we were at a walk from the final, we had opened the scoring before (Lilian) Thuram twice … “ And sends the Blues to play a legendary final.
