and are set to meet once again, this time in North America, 28 years after their iconic round-of-16 encounter at the 1998 FIFA World Cup France™. In Lens, Les Bleus were frustrated for long spells by a superbly organised Paraguay side before Laurent Blanc’s extra-time strike – France’s first ever golden goal – finally sent them into the quarter-finals.
That night, Robert Pires came on around the hour mark and went on to play a decisive role in the match-winning move. Yet, almost three decades later, the 1998 world champion still struggles to explain what drew him back out to the right flank.
“I regained possession about 20 metres from goal," he recalled to FIFA. "I started off through the middle, then decided to drift back out wide, though I don’t know why. Some things just can’t be explained.” His cross found David Trezeguet, through.
That golden goal still holds a special place in the former attacking midfielder’s memory. “When it goes your way, of course you’re happy. But for the team on the receiving end, it is devastating. The match is over as soon as a goal is scored – you don’t even get the chance to equalise.” The rule has long since disappeared, but its cruelty still lingers.
As France prepare to face La Albirroja again, FIFA spoke exclusively to a world champion who knows better than most how quickly matches like these can be decided by the smallest of margins.
Robert Pires: Yes. Looking back on our 1998 World Cup campaign, I’m not quite sure why, but that was definitely the most challenging match we played. Perhaps because we weren’t used to facing South American teams and their different style of football. We really struggled to adapt.
He told me to do what I knew how to do best: get on the ball, take players on and be creative. That’s what I tried to do. You could say that’s part and parcel of being a substitute, but on that occasion, it worked out pretty well.
We were extremely stressed, somewhat tense even. Paraguay played to their strengths, with their usual grit and quite an aggressive style of football. They set out to take the match to a penalty shoot-out by parking the bus. They had huge confidence in [goalkeeper] Jose Luis Chilavert. We couldn’t find a solution; but I recall Thierry Henry hitting the post. When you can’t find a way through, frustration starts to creep in and you can lose your cool a little. It was incredibly tense.
When I look back on my France career, yes, that passage of play is right up there with my run in the UEFA EURO 2000 final against Italy, which helped us win the tournament. But going back to that move against Paraguay, I saw David in space. My aim was to put the ball right in his path. I thought he was going to get it under control and take a shot. Instead, he decided to head it back across goal. Then Laurent Blanc arrived at speed, and we all know what happened next.
It will be a similar tactical set-up to 1998. Didier Deschamps is well aware of that, and so are his players. Los Guaranies will sit very deep and park the bus – they’re a tenacious, aggressive team. They will try to frustrate France and wind them up, so Les Bleus will have to keep their cool. That’s why, in matches like this, the hardest thing is always finding that first goal. If it comes early, great. But if the game drags on, frustration can start to creep in. France must avoid falling into the trap Paraguay will set for them at all costs.
Given the players at our disposal, there is always someone capable of making the difference. We have some outstanding, unpredictable players, with four or five capable of scoring goals. That is a formidable weapon. I know it will be difficult, but if we approach it professionally and stay focused, we will get past Paraguay.
Sources: FIFA Official
