Zinédine Zidane did not immediately establish himself in the French team. A promising attacking midfielder for the Girondins de Bordeaux, the Marseille native made a sensational debut in August 1994, at the age of 22. Launched in front of his supporters in Lescure, the future Ballon d’Or 98 scored a superb double against the Czech Republic (2-2), in a friendly match. But “Zizou” (the nickname given by Rolland Courbis, his coach in Bordeaux), was not used with the Blues until the following spring!
Aimé Jacquet then had Eric Cantona as captain and playmaker, except that the “King” of Manchester United became a pariah in France after his scandalous kick on a Crystal Palace supporter in January 1995. He was suspended for nine months. The French coach will then bet on the players of FC Nantes, who are flying over the French championship. Reynald Pedros, Nicolas Ouédec and Patrice Loko are associated with Corentin Martins as playmaker (in the absence of the Chadian Japhet N’Doram).
Eric Cantona’s famous high kick on a Crystal Palace fan in January 1995…
After four draws in five matches in the Euro 1996 qualifiers, the coach of the France team decided to throw away his yellow and green project for Slovakia’s visit to La Beaujoire! It is April 26, 1995 and Zidane is included in the starting lineup for the very first time, in number 10 behind David Ginola and Patrice Loko. Didier Deschamps, captain, is associated with his friend Marcel Desailly in the recovery, with Vincent Guérin relaying.
Zinédine Zidane and Vincent Guérin, the two new stars
Richard Coudrais, from the Chroniques bleues site, who looks back on the history of the French selection, says: “Between these three men and the two attackers, he places Zinédine Zidane as playmaker, giving him as much space as possible. The formula is convincing since the French win 4-0. A perfectly controlled match against a Slovak team which turned out to be weaker than expected. This victory, somewhat unexpected in its magnitude, allows the French team to keep its chances of qualification intact. »
Zidane is at the origin of the first goal of the game, a Slovak csc (27th), then Ginola doubles the lead with a header on a cross from Eric Di Meco (42nd), Laurent Blanc is on the lookout for the 3-0 (57th) and Guérin, already decisive on two goals, scores with a good recovery on a serve from Deschamps (61st). The PSG midfielder will be voted best French player of the year. Zidane, number 10 in the back, is replaced by Youri Djorkaeff for the last quarter of an hour of play. The Girondin has won his starting place and his association with Djorkaeff will only begin five months later against Azerbaijan (10-0).
