Entrance to the pantheon of the biggest selections in history when she won her first star in 1998,
The French team had the reputation of being a defensive training. His organization in 4-3-2-1 had a lot to do with it, just like his iron defense, symbolized by Fabien Barthez and the Thuram-Blanc-Desailly-Lizarazu line, who has never lost a match.
However, Aimé Jacquet could also rely on a well -stocked offensive sector. Despite the lack of success of the center-forward Stéphane Guivarc'h and Christophe Dugarry, the Blues had in their ranks the young prodigies of the time, Thierry Henry and David Trezeguet, but also and above all creative elements considered as global references: Youri Djorkaeff, the young Robert Pirès, and obviously the immense Zinédine Zidane.
Categorical pirès on Zidane
Who better than Pirès to evoke his accomplices of the time? Podcast guest Kampothe former Arsenal's offensive midfielder did not go by four paths: despite his reputation, Zinedine Zidane was not the strong man of the Blues during this World Cup. “” “Collectively and defensively, we were very strong. And for me, Youri (Djorkaeff) was very good, Zizou no. I'm sorry Zizou, but no. No but it's true in addition! Zizou, he arrived just for the final, God said to him, 'You're going to come there'. Let's go from there. Afterwards, we cannot discuss the qualities, but on this 1998 World Cup, the strong man offensively, it was Youri. »»
Fine and technical player, Youri Djorkaeff had been somewhat overshadowed by the aura of the one who will become Ballon d'Or that same year. But Djorkaeff, who then evolved at Inter Milan by forming a formidable duo with the Brazilian Ronaldo, had been a great craftsman of the success of the Blues, delivering three assists, including one on a corner for Zinedine Zidane during the final against Brazil (3-0). The one nicknamed the Snake had also found the net on a penalty net in the third group match against Denmark (2-1). Robert Pirès, who was satisfied with a role of joker at this stage of his career, did not miss models within this group …
