The Champions League shock between AS Monaco and Real Madrid, in the spring of 2004, will have formed a turning point in the career of Jérôme Rothen. And not only because the Homeric qualification of the men of Didier Deschamps, winners 3-1 to Louis II after a 4-2 defeat in the Spanish capital, will have highlighted the performances of the former Caennais.
That evening, Jérôme Rothen also had an altercation with Zinedine Zidane while the meeting was coming to an end. After having suffered a tackle supported from the former Bordeaux, the Monegasque midfielder is insulted by the tricolor legend: “Get up, son of a whore”he says. And to believe the native of Hauts-de-Seine, this sequence will have very heavy consequences on his career.
“Subsequently, in the short term, in my career, not in club but in selection, it cost me the World Cup in 2006. That's sure, it's clear and clear”, Thus entrusted to the microphone of RMC the one whose adventure in the French team was finally limited to 13 selections between 2003 and 2007.
“The relationship that I had following this altercation, where we were almost no longer saying hello … And in addition, he returned in 2005. I was made to pass for those who were disappointed that he returned when not at all. These are the media that put that, who insisted on it. I found myself in the middle of all this, in this storm ”he continued.
“Many players have made a cross on me”
“I have never been an important framework for the French Team. I was part of the France group indeed, I was called regularly and I played regularly, he added.
When Zizou returned in 2005, against Côte d'Ivoire, I was also there in Montpellier and I took a bronca like never when I touched the ball, which was also due to the fact that people made me pass like what I was against the return of Zinedine Zidane. And behind, all year round, I was called by Raymond Domenech at the same time as Zinedine Zidane, but when it was necessary to do the 2006 World Cup, I did not do it. »»
“I was explained to me, Willy Sagnol himself explained to me how this selection had made, that there were many who made a cross on me. It cost me that time “he concluded, specifying: “What is a shame is that I'm sure it's not a bad guy. »»
