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.
âThe 48-a-side World Cup, I like it, there are positivesâlaunched 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.
âExactly, my players could continue to progress by playing the big teamsâproclaims the man who was technical director of Indonesia (2012-2013) and assistant coach of Madagascar (2016).
For Dugarry, the pleasure is âdilutedâ
And to specify: âso, for those who are going to be annoyed, you shouldnât look at the beginning actually, but there is some good, there will be joy everywhereâ. 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, âDugaâ thus regretted the presence of teams which
âhave nothing to do here in the final stagesâ and who give âpeanut matchesâ in chickens, pointing at the âbodies (which) donât care about the publicâ and above all âplayers, real players in footballâ. For ZinĂ©dine Zidane’s great friend, âwhen you have 48 teams like thatâ, âthe pleasure of watching the World Cup is dilutedâ. Not for Charbonnier.
