Captain of the French team, Didier Deschamps had had very harsh words against Zinedine Zidane after his exclusion against Saudi Arabia during the World Cup, June 18, 1998;
Concluded in apotheosis, the 1998 World Cup could have turned short for Zinedine Zidane. Without the golden goal scored at the end of the extension by Laurent Blanc in the round of 16 against Paraguay, the tournament of the tricolor playmaker could have stopped in the second match against Saudi Arabia. The fault of his exclusion after a bad gesture on Amin.
“Zinedine is unforgivable, had also reacted Didier Deschamps soon after the match against the Saudis. We know that he is an impulsive player but hey, he will condemn us on two or three games, I think he will take them. Knowing the importance that Zidane in our game, it is an important asset that we lose. »»
Aimé Jacquet, who the very morning of the match had asked his players and in particular his number 10 to master their nerves, was just as reasons. “When you make a regrettable gesture, you have to expect to pay it dear”,
he had launched.
The anger of Zinedine Zidane
Zinedine Zidane had very badly experienced this lack of support from his coach and his teammates. He had not hesitated to answer them in the press as pointed out The world. “It’s worse than disappointment”had he explained concerning the comments of his captain, a teammate at Juventus for two seasons. “He can think what he wants”,
Had he also blew about Aimé Jacquet before advancing rather bank explanations.
“I fell involuntarily on the Saudi, so I have not committed a fault”had he said. Twenty years later, ZZ will make a completely different discourse, more in line with reality. “No one is perfect,” smiles the main interested party about this incomprehensible red. I was not. I am not proud of this I was able to do from time to time on a field. This gesture, when I crush the player, I am not proud. But we can’t change, it’s part of my life ”, He had entrusted in the documentary of TF1, “98, secrets of a victory”.
