It was a 3-0 victory against South Africa who launched the French team of Aimé Jacquet at the 1998 World Cup on June 12 at the Vélodrome stadium. The Mistral, the shattering entry of Christophe Dugarry, the inspirations of Youri Djorkaeff and Thierry Henry as well as the performance of Pierre Issa, central defender of the Bafana Bafana, put the Blues on the road to the coronation.
A native of South Africa of Lebanese parents, Issa, who celebrates his 50th anniversary on September 11, grew up in the Paris region and was trained in Dunkirk and then OM. Philippe Troussier, head of the South African selection, called the 1.95 m player for the World Cup in France. And the interested party found himself confronting the Blues in his stadium on Boulevard Michelet, in front of friends and against Phocaean teammates (Laurent Blanc in addition to “Duga”).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uj_97glcyyy
After opening the Dugarry's head score (36th), it was Issa who allowed the Blues to double the bet (77th), tackling a cross shot from Djorkaeff in front of his goalkeeper, Hans Vonk. At the very end of the match, Thierry Henry escaped and stuck his ball in front of the opposing goalkeeper to score the goal of 3-0 (90+2nd). But Pierre Issa almost avoided the goal, a double contact on his part still accompanying the ball at the bottom of the nets. What make people talk to South Africa and even within the selection.
“I even thought he was going to celebrate with the French!” »»
“The problem is that a player we had never seen before has landed in the team. He was selected by the French coach, played for Olympique de Marseille and, in front of his supporters at the Vélodrome stadium, scored two goals against his camp! Odd ! Seriously ? He was paid or something like that! Alone in front of his goalkeeper, he preferred to put her at the bottom. I even thought he was going to celebrate with the French! »»launched us a few years ago Fortune, legend of South African football.
Fortune prefers to laugh at it. “Well, I played an African Cup and another World Cup with him, he was finally reliable”thus joking this left -hander passed by Atlético and Manchester United (from 1999 to 2006, where he rubbed shoulders with Cristiano Ronaldo). Pierre Issa played the 2002 World Cup (starting the first meeting against Paraguay) as well as three CAN editions (2000, 2002 and 2006).
