Topic: France 98

[sinnermichael]

Anyone hear the look back at France 98 on Five Live last night? Thought it was brilliant. Brough back so many memories, especially when you consider that the last two World Cups have been pretty poor in comparison.

Highlights obviously included the England-Argentina game which was incredible for so many reasons, Bergkamp's goal against Argentina, Croatia taking the tournament by storm and of course the Zidane inspired final victory for France (not to mention the Ronaldo nonsense beforehand).

People also forget that this was the World Cup which saw Jamaica qualify and also saw the USA play Iran.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00n7gdn/5_live_Sport_The_World_Cup_Years_1998/

Anyway, great memories. What are yours?

[SP]

My parents had a house in France. With an address in France you could apply for a ticket to follow a team for as far as they went (except France, obviously). They only told me after the deadline for applications. Not that I am still bitter about it though...

[medley]

I watched the Fifa World Cup Official Films 1998 episode on ESPN classic last night. Its basically all the stock footage used from the tournament (about a million different camera angles shot on expensive cameras). Oh and the voice over is done by Sean Bean

"Pure drama! The 1998 film was shot on Super 16 mm film and included the most complete and extensive coverage ever, with each match being filmed from more angles than any previous film. All of these classic, historic moments can be re-lived again with the incomparable FIFA World Cup™ Film Collection. A Collection that tells the story of the world's greatest football tournament with the style, experience and coverage that it deserves, capturing all of the passion, tears and triumph for future generations of football fans."

http://www.espnclassic.com/highlights/180/fifa-world-cup-official-films.html

Also watched the highlights of the 99' friendly between France and England at Wembley. The difference in quality was so funny to watch. France kept hold of the ball so well and just toyed with england. Don't remember watching that game at the time

[OsirisMVZ]

I'd say the World Cup 06 started off really good when it felt like every single goal was a 30 yard screamer, but once it got to the knockouts we were denied of any proper drama until Italy's last 2 games.

But yeah, I remember watching France 98 as an 8 year old and being captured by everything that happened in it. I remember being incredibly destroyed in the brain when Brazil lost in the final, Ronaldo was my hero!

[Ultimate Bromance]

Think the 98 WC was the first time I watched any proper football. Remember all the drama with Ronaldo beforehand, and then France just outclassing Brazil in the final with Zidane having a cracker.

[ohh_v]

Think the 98 WC was the first time I watched any proper football.

Yeah, this is where it all started for me.

[MaschHead]

Most of the games of the Dutch team, broke all kinds of viewing records here in Holland. Shaky start against Belgium, then the 5-0 against Korea, having to play Cocu as a striker against Mexico and him scoring a great goal.

Emotional game against Yugoslavia with Bergkamp stamping on Mihajlovic (and him refusing to shake hands for that in Euro2000). Davids scoring the winning goal in injury time after he had fallen out with Hiddink in Euro96, but just before the tournament they put it behind them.

Ofcourse the game against Argentina with Bergkamp's wonder goal a few minutes before the end. Then the semifinal which is probably the best game I've seen till now. De Boer and Stam against Ronaldo and Rivaldo was amazing to see, then coming back and being robbed of a clear penalty in the dying seconds of the game by a ref from the UAE (...)

The last game didn't matter anymore, most of the players couldn't be bothered to play for third place and we played some reserves and lost, I didn't bother to see the game either.

Other games I enjoyed were;
- Germany-Croatia for obvious reasons ()
- Argentina-England with Owen's goal and all the drama in that game,
- Brazil-Denmark was quite a good game as well
- Nigeria-Denmark where the surprise of the first round totally fell apart as they all went for personal glory and Denmark totally destroyed them.

[Uhoh AureliOs]

Same for me, 98 was the first tournament I wanted to watch all the football I could, not just England games, and I remember our chemistry teacher let us watch England v Tunisia at school as it was on after lunch. Great memories of playing Argentina v England penalties all summer with my mates (nobody wanted to be the Argies ).

[sinnermichael]

I remember our chemistry teacher let us watch England v Tunisia at school as it was on after lunch.

Half of our school were mysteriously "absent" that afternoon. 

[GBF]

last time Scotland appeared in a world cup (i think)

[stoa]

I had just done my A-levels in '98 and went on a trip with my class-mates. We went to Kos for a week and that was right at the beginning of the WC. I'll always remember watching Austria-Italy with the Italians cheating their way to a 2-1-victory (even the Greek bar-tender said so ). One night we went to the city of Kos and walked through that street with all the bars. We met some group from Norway who were watching one of their games and we had fun with them. I was pretty pissed and after that I only remember talking about football with some Irish or Scottish guy for about an hour...

Other than that, I don't really remember the '98 WC that well. I remember that there was a big fuss about Ronaldo before the final, because he seemed to be injured, but there was so much pressure on him that he played anyway. I liked the 2002 WC better, because I watched loads more games in that (including falling asleep during a pretty dull game involving France (could have been vs. Denmark).

[Uhoh AureliOs]

last time Scotland appeared in a world cup (i think)

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/W9Lf6P_zPO4&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1&amp;" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">http://www.youtube.com/v/W9Lf6P_zPO4&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1&amp;</a>

[Sean Mac Eggman]

never saw the programme but talking about it is bringing back memories,with Bergkamp's goal being the highlight,not Owen's!

[Istanbulievable]

I remember being in year 7 at school.  We had to choose certain activities to do, so me and a mate chose to go to a play in London as we thought that would get us out of school for longer than other activities.  Oh no, we were very wrong.  This play was at night so we didn't miss school.  What night was it?  The same night as Brazil v Holland.  Needless to say, as two football mad kids, we were gutted as our plan had seriously backfired!

[sinnermichael]

Results and goalscorers of all the games here. Some absolute crackers and to be honest some games that I don't remember.

http://www.planetworldcup.com/CUPS/1998/wc98index.html

Vieri in his pomp, Batistuta, Salas (how good was he by the way?).

[Oh Yes BisCAN]

Remember ducking out of an Art A-Level assessment to watch England - Tunisia at the local pub with most other students only to find the lecturer supposed to be assessing me already in there! In agreed to turn a blind eye to my under aged drinking if we agreed to do the assessment at a later date... Quality!

[scatman]

was the 3rd world cup i got to see, watched England Tunisia in class if i remember correctly, our whole school was allowed to watch England games

have to admit it was one of the best World Cup's i've seen


and I love those world cup years/premiership years/football years programs.

[SalisburyRed]

The first international tournament I remember was Euro 96, but this was my first World Cup. Absolutely loved it. I remember going home from school on the day England played Tunisia and watching the match on video when I got home, with my dad trying very hard not to give the result away.

[KERRYKOP]

A great goal only to be out done by greater commentating

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch/v/exlBHTyB1R0" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">http://www.youtube.com/watch/v/exlBHTyB1R0</a>

[George Costanza]

Good World Cup.  I remember Spain vs Nigeria being a classic.

But for me though, my first World Cup--Italia 90' is the standout tournament.  This has two contributing factors:

1. Nostaligia.  I remember being on hols with my brother and watching the tournament in Belgium and then having a kickabout in the garden straight after watching the game. 

2. Salvatore Scillaci.  I fucking loved him.

[J_Kopite]

^ Love that commentating

Was only 6 during this World Cup and 2002 is the first one I remember properly, but I still can recall the Ronaldo fuss and watching the England/Tunisia game in primary school, also my Dad shouting obscenities to high heaven when Petrescu scored in the last minute against England. I was collecting the Panini World Cup stickers as well did anyone here actually get all them?

[Manila Vanilla]

I was living in France then.

My father-in-law got complimentary tickets for France’s quarter-final against Paraguay in Lens. A ticket was offered to me but I wanted a real supporter to have it. Nobody wanted to go –even for free! So I ended up sipping champagne in the France Telecom hospitality tent before watching the first ever game settled by a “Golden Goal” (Laurent Blanc).

The semi was a pizza night in our apartment and the final was spent in Le Touquet. Everyone came out on the street to celebrate, Chirac and Jospin picked up cheap political points by kissing Barthez on the head – and two weeks later everyone had forgotten about it.

So my overwhelming impression was of fans who were only interested for the few minutes after they won it. I mean, we’re still dining out on 1966…..

[Corkboy]

Zidane plastered all over l'Arc de Triomphe...

[24/7]

Was dating a French bird back then........had a great time........the final game was boss and the "afters" was really, really, REALLY nice

(tis true what they say about sex drive and your team winning!)

[MidwestWool]

I actually went to the final. Too bad I was only 8 and didn't have that much of an interest in football.

[Xabi Gerrard]

Lilian Thuram's redemption in the Semi Vs Croatia was without doubt the best moment of that World Cup for me, one of my all time favourite football moments.

His mistake led to Suker taking the lead for Croatia. He could have gone into his shell, could have gone missing after that, Gazza-style.

Instead, he scored. Twice. From right-back. In a World Cup fucking semi.

He played in 141 other games for France and didnt score another goal.

Phrases like "taking responsibilty" and "standing up and being counted" are used far too often in football, usually when John Terry scores in a friendly against the USA, but this was the real deal.

Lilian Thuram, I salute you.

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/ljHm_DgzWgg&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1&amp;" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">http://www.youtube.com/v/ljHm_DgzWgg&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1&amp;</a>

[rowan_d]

Was that Slaven Bilic feigning injury to get Blanc suspended for the biggest match of his life. What a character that Bilic is. He's in a band don'tyano

[KERRYKOP]

Now that's a blast from the past i filled that totally shit Panini sticker book i reckon its in this house somewhere hmmmmm?

[J_Kopite]

Now that's a blast from the past i filled that totally shit Panini sticker book i reckon its in this house somewhere hmmmmm?

Isn't it funny how after all those years and plenty of time since the book disappeared I still remember the ones I need: Kasey Keller, Ronald De Boer and the Mexico shiny badge. Got any swaps?

[KERRYKOP]

Isn't it funny how after all those years and plenty of time since the book disappeared I still remember the ones I need: Kasey Keller, Ronald De Boer and the Mexico shiny badge. Got any swaps?

I'm not joking you but if the book is around it will be in a bag with about a two stone weight worth of swaps

[liverpool1691]

A great goal only to be out done by greater commentating

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch/v/exlBHTyB1R0" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">http://www.youtube.com/watch/v/exlBHTyB1R0</a>

Absolutely amazing. The goal and commentary.
LOL I remember I had a mate who cried when Brazil lost he was about 7 but still hilarious!

[smicer07]

I had money on Argentina. Fucking Bergkamp.

[Art Vandelay]

It was also the world cup of the last great adidas football design.  Before they went all shite.  Best design has to be the Argentina ball of '78, though.

[Ferg]

A great goal only to be out done by greater commentating

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch/v/exlBHTyB1R0" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">http://www.youtube.com/watch/v/exlBHTyB1R0</a>

Dennis Bergkamp scored then?

[Corkboy]

Lilian Thuram's redemption in the Semi Vs Croatia was without doubt the best moment of that World Cup for me, one of my all time favourite football moments.

His mistake led to Suker taking the lead for Croatia. He could have gone into his shell, could have gone missing after that, Gazza-style.

Instead, he scored. Twice. From right-back. In a World Cup fucking semi.

He played in 141 other games for France and didnt score another goal.

Phrases like "taking responsibilty" and "standing up and being counted" are used far too often in football, usually when John Terry scores in a friendly against the USA, but this was the real deal.

Lilian Thuram, I salute you.

I agree with all of that. A class act.

[Phil M]

Dennis Bergkamp scored then?

Partridge-esque

[HoraceGoesSkiing]

Good World Cup.  I remember Spain vs Nigeria being a classic.

But for me though, my first World Cup--Italia 90' is the standout tournament.  This has two contributing factors:

1. Nostaligia.  I remember being on hols with my brother and watching the tournament in Belgium and then having a kickabout in the garden straight after watching the game. 

2. Salvatore Scillaci.  I fucking loved him.

I'll see your toto scillaci... and i'll raise you an Enzo Scifo

[Slick_Beef]

Loved World CUp 98... brilliant. I was 13. Watched loads of matches with me mates which made them well more exciting. We'd play football all morning, watch some games, and then play more footy til it got too dark. (Good old days, jumpers for goalposts etc etc...)

Something that I just remembered is that before the tourney I read an article about Denilson and how he was the best player ever.. he'd just signed for Betis I think, and I was tellin all my mates how ace he was. was he fucking bollocks or what??

[Swift]

^ Love that commentating

Was only 6 during this World Cup and 2002 is the first one I remember properly, but I still can recall the Ronaldo fuss and watching the England/Tunisia game in primary school, also my Dad shouting obscenities to high heaven when Petrescu scored in the last minute against England. I was collecting the Panini World Cup stickers as well did anyone here actually get all them?

I don't know how anyone could have filled that. I never found a single Saudi Arabia sticker. There was another country whose stickers were not  stickers at all but cards that I had to glue in myself. I think it may have been Germany but could be wrong.

[MaschHead]

I was collecting the Panini World Cup stickers as well did anyone here actually get all them?

I have one like that complete from Euro88