13.07.2008 10:51
France remembers 98 World Cup with ex-Barça players
www.fcbarcelona.cat
On Saturday night France celebrated the 10th anniversary of winning the World Cup in 1998, when the “bleus” became champions by beating Brazil 3-0.
The anniversary game at the Saint Denis stadium involved most of the 98 cup-winning side against a
world selection, and included various ex-Barça players: Lilian Thuram, Laurent Blanc, Christophe
Dugarry and Ludovic Giuly, scorer of one of France’s three goals. Two notable absences were
Thierre Henry, who starts training for FC Barcelona on Monday, and ex-Blaugrana Emmanuel Petit.
Three all draw
The game ended in a 3-3 draw. The French goals were scored by Zidane, Giuly
and Diomède, whilst the International side’s goal-scorers were Emilio Butragueño, Portuguese
player Pauleta and Croat Davor Suker, who was the top scorer in the 98 World Cup. The International
side also featured various ex-Barça players: Dutchmen Frank de Boer and Edgar Davids, Portuguese
player Fernando Couto, the Finn Jari Litmanen and the Brazilian Sony Anderson.
Dugarry and Davids. Photos: www.fifa.com
On the bench
The ex-Barça presence wasn’t just on the pitch, either, as Bulgarian Hristo Stoitxkov was
with the Rest-of-the-World side, along with Arsenal coach Arsène Wenger. Just as back in 1998, Aimé
Jacques was the French side’s coach.