A quarter of a century has passed, but the memories remain intact. On July 12, 1998, Zinédine Zidane and his teammates beat Brazil 3-0 to give France their first world championship title. Twenty-five years later, the former number 10 has brought together a dozen other world champions.
For several years, the alumni of 1998 have met regularly, in private or for charitable operations. On Wednesday, they responded to Zidane’s invitation for a day at his five-a-side football complex in Aix-en-Provence, near Marseille, the idol’s birthplace.
To each team, the draw awarded a 1998 world champion among those present: Didier Deschamps, Christian Karembeu, Christophe Dugarry, Bernard Diomède, Alain Boghossian, Bixente Lizarazu, Lionel Charbonnier, Fabien Barthez and, of course, Zidane. On the field, number 10 looks to the left, always, but of course without forcing. And when he accelerates, he chained sombrero, chest drop and volley for a nice goal from the right.
“You can see that he has an exceptional touch on the ball. It’s the best, “said the lucky Anthony, scorer on an assist from the master, to AFP.
A little further, Karembeu does not say anything else. “Duga and Liza are still pretty good and DD is there. But Zidane is another planet. It was the strongest twenty-five years ago and it still is. “The former midfielder of the Blues and Real Madrid also tells how important these moments are, for the former students of Aimé Jacquet as for the general public.
The victory in the final against Brazil (3-0) “united France and days like this make it possible to mark the occasion. We also know that it continues to inspire other generations and Didier was the relay of the star in 2018, “he explains.
And for Boghossian, who recognizes that “golf is now easier than football” for him, “the years go by and we still want to share and vibrate a little”.
Around the field and in brutal heat, the “98” sign autographs and jerseys, like some other big names in French football, sometimes less recognized by the youngest, like Jean Tigana or Henri Émile, member of the staff. during the victorious World Cup. The announcer, for his part, confuses Charbonnier and Boghossian and blames the passing of time and the falling hair: “You guys all have the same haircut now! »
The atmosphere is festive and masks even small enmities. “We are a family,” assures Diomede. “We never left each other,” adds Barthez. Deschamps and Dugarry, all the same, rarely cross paths. But, we promise in the entourage of the champions, “they played padel together this morning”.