Recruited in 1992 by Paris Saint-Germain to replace Joël Bats, Bernard Lama became in the capital one of the very best goalkeepers on the planet. With his inimitable style, the Guyanese was logically called to the French team a few months later. Having become number one in the Blues cage, the native of Saint-Symphorien ended up losing his place.
Following a knee injury and a two -month suspension for cannabis use, Bernard Lama is forced to give way to Fabien Barthez one year from the 1998 World Cup. A place that “Fabulous Fab” will never leave.
It was during an internship in Marrakech (Morocco) on the sidelines of the World Cup in France that Bernard Lama learned that he would not be the titular goalkeeper during the competition. A difficult announcement to swallow for those who had just left PSG to reach West Ham.
Lama: “I hadn't appreciated too much”
“As I live when you learn that you will not play the 1998 World Cup?” I don't live it well “, Lama said in the podcast the voice of the guards, and to continue:” You are abroad, alone. I think the way was not the right one. It was not the right person (who came to see him to tell him the news, editor's note) that I had to have in front of me. I think it's Aimé Jacquet who should have told me about that. I hadn't appreciated too much. »»
“I was in West Ham, I was coming to see me playing but I was not told anything at all. It was not a problem because I knew I was good. After there is a choice that has been made and was not in my favor. These are choices, you can't do anything against it “Added Bernard Lama, before talking about his relationship with Fabien Barthez from that moment.
“There was no problemhe assured. It was not Fabien who was responsible for the choice. In a way yes, but it is the competition that does that. There were two number one, so it was a choice that was made, period. (…) We have always worked in good intelligence. I said to him, “I'm here, if you need don't hesitate, there is no problem”. And I took care of putting it in good arrangements before the matches. »»
