Passing through theAfter Foot Friday evening on RMC, alongside Carine Galli and Daniel Riolo, to analyze OM’s victory against OGC Nice (1-5), Lionel Charbonnier wanted to send a message. The 3rd goalkeeper of the 98 world champions Blues (behind Fabien Barthez and Bernard Lama) is very happy to see the 2026 World Cup welcoming 48 participants. A way of responding to the rants of some, notably his friend from France 98 Christophe Dugarry.
“The 48-a-side World Cup, I like it, there are positives”launched Charbonnier, who seems delighted with the surprise qualifications of Curaçao or Haiti and the presence of New Caledonia in the intercontinental play-offs.
Fabien Barthez and Lionel Charbonnier during France-Brazil 98.
Lionel Charbonnier would have liked to take the Tahiti selection, which he led from 2008 to 2009, to its very first World Cup.
“Exactly, my players could continue to progress by playing the big teams”proclaims the man who was technical director of Indonesia (2012-2013) and assistant coach of Madagascar (2016).
For Dugarry, the pleasure is “diluted”
And to specify: “so, for those who are going to be annoyed, you shouldn’t look at the beginning actually, but there is some good, there will be joy everywhere”. The former Auxerre player is going against the grain of other TV and radio consultants who have been talking in recent days about the expansion of the Fifa tournament from 32 to 48 teams.
On RMC, “Duga” thus regretted the presence of teams which
“have nothing to do here in the final stages” and who give “peanut matches” in chickens, pointing at the “bodies (which) don’t care about the public” and above all “players, real players in football”. For ZinĂ©dine Zidane’s great friend, “when you have 48 teams like that”, “the pleasure of watching the World Cup is diluted”. Not for Charbonnier.
