Football game France - Italy (1998)

Reference mark

In the series of confrontations between the teams of France and Italy, this meeting presents an private interest because it is about a quarterfinal of the World cup 1998.

The France, as organizing country, was particularly justified to gain this match and to reach the stage of the semi-finals for the fourth time of its history (after 1958, 1982 and 1986). For its part, the Équipe of Italy one was already accustomed of the good performances in world cup (victorious in 1934, 1938 and 1982, third in 1990 and finalist in 1970 and 1994). To note however that the last meeting held on the two formations at the time of a major tournament had shown the victory of France in eighth of finale of the World cup 1986.

This match had moreover an particular importance for many players who were fellow-members in teams of Série has Italian and which thus were very motivated to show the supremacy of their national team. Many French players played then in the “Calcio”: Zinedine Zidane (Juventus FC), Didier Deschamps (Juventus FC), Marcel Desailly (Milan AC), Youri Djorkaeff (Inter Milan), Lilian Thuram (Parma AC), Vincent Candela (ACE Rome), Alain Boghossian (Parma AC). Laurent Blanc as for him had played to him before with Naples.

After a relatively easy beginning of competition, so much France which Italy had had of the evil to reach this quarterfinal. On the preceding turn, vis-a-vis the rough Norwegian, Squadra Azzurra had been essential only one short head (1-0). Even score for France vis-a-vis surprising the Paraguayan, the Blue ones owe their safety only with the goal out of gold of Laurent Blanc in the prolongations.

The match

The match was of good quality, but ended in 0 - 0 after prolongation, the two teams having on the occasion to mark but without reaching that point.

The result of the match was to thus be decided by the test of the shootings to the goal. The Équipe of France had more success by gaining the test by 4 to 3 (see details hereafter), the exit of the match being decided when Luigi Di Biagio had seen its striking running up against the transverse bar. Bixente Lizarazu (France) and Demetrio Albertini (Italy) had also failed before.

Among the images which one can retain of this match, one showing David Trezeguet hiding his face with the back of the shirt of Thierry Henry while waiting for that Di Biagio draws with the goal, and later another showing players of the Équipe of France comforting their fellow-members of the Équipe of Italy which they will find soon in the Italian championship.

Two years later the Équipe of France will confirm her supremacy at the time of the Euro 2000, but will lose with the finale of the World cup 2006.

Test of the shootings to the goal

Composition of the teams

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