Esteban Lepaul learned it the hard way: you can finish top scorer in Ligue 1 and not have a say in the French team. In 2022, Djibril Cissé had not experienced such misfortune. Top scorer in the championship thanks to his 22 goals scored with AJ Auxerre, the native of Arles had in fact been called up by Jacques Santini to play in the World Cup in Japan and South Korea.
After honoring his first selection against Belgium, the Auxerre player would experience his most memorable moment in the French team a few days later: his meeting with Zinedine Zidane. This is what he confided in Secrets of Téléfoot stars when he was asked what memory came to mind when he thought of the Blues.
“The first time I see Z (editor’s note Zidane). It’s a moment that I didn’t fear, but that I was waiting for. The first time I meet him, it’s weird because you tell yourself that you’re with him, that you’re not as important as him, but… He’s still Zidane and you have respect.” responded the man who played 41 matches with the France team between 2002 and 2011.
“A very cool guy, very humble”
“He has a certain aura that makes it something to see him, he continued. He’s a very cool, very humble guy who quickly puts you at ease. It lasted a day or two and after that it didn’t become someone I was normal and free with, but it calmed down after time. »
Djibril Cissé also mentioned the probable arrival of Zinedine Zidane on the bench of the France team at the end of the next World Cup. “We’re not sure yet… In any case, he’s on the shortlist, we’ll see. If it’s him, as a supporter, I would be very happy, he confided. The players are very lucky to work with him, he will give high-level advice. He will inevitably improve them, make them progress just because it’s him. When he talks to you, when he tells you something, you take it differently. It’s very positive if he’s the coach. »
“DD is someone I really like, I find him humble, down to earth for everything he has done. There, to go from Deschamps to Zidane, France is very lucky to have these two names as coach, he added. If Zizou passes, it’s huge. »
