Youri Djorkaeff has not always been nicknamed “The Snake”, far from it. AS Monaco's talented striker was promoted to the offensive leader of Aimé Jacquet as soon as he was taken according to the latter, in February 1994, three months after the Drama France-Bulgaria (the non-qualification for the 94 World Cup). At that time in history, the native of Lyon and Zinédine Zidane alternate at the number 10 position (before their association which led to the coronation at the 98 World Cup).
The Blues have only 10 points after six matches in the EURO 1996 qualifiers. Far behind Romania, they are tied with Poland, which is precisely his opponent at the Parc des Princes on August 16, 1995. The meeting is therefore decisive when it is necessary to finish in the first two to make an appointment with the European Nations Championship organized by England.
Jacquet renews a very defensive team, with a Zidane protected by Vincent Guérin, Didier Deschamps and Marcel Desailly, as the site tells Blue chronicles. Before, Christophe Dugarry and David Ginola are associated in the absence of Eric Cantona and Patrice Loko (who will be the center-center at the Euro).
Catastrophe: in the 34th minute of the game, the Poles snatch a ball in Zidane (which was not called “Zizou” either) and go against attack, allowing Andrzej Juskowiak to beat Bernard Lama for the opening of the score! It is the discontent in the stadium of PSG and the Blues.
Djorkaeff, the player clutch Blues
France is 11 against 10 after the exclusion of Tomasz Lapinski at the time of play, but stumbles on the opposing goalkeeper. Bixente Lizarazu does not transform her penalty 10 minutes from the end (82nd)! A few moments later, Lilian Thuram is broke around the surface and two players who came into play are competing for the free kick: Reynald Pedros and Youri Djorkaeff. The latter sends the ball above the wall for saving equalization (88th).
After having maintained Poland at its level, the tricolor selection led by a Jacquet already disputed caught fire the following month with the famous 10-0 against Azerbaijan, before decisive victories in Romania (1-3) and against Israel (2-0) in Caen, with a Djorkaeff scorer over the last four matches! The serpent legend was born. The beginning of everything and especially the great history of this French team of world and European champion.
