Jérôme Rothen praised the fantastic atmosphere at the Stade de France on Monday for the clash between the XV of France and the All Blacks in rugby. But the former professional footballer regretted that we wanted to compare the situation of Fabien Galthié's Blues with that of the French team led by Didier Deschamps.
At a time when Didier Deschamps' Blues are struggling to convince supporters because of the game played, Fabien Galthié's XV of France is seducing the French, especially after its great victory against the All Blacks (30-29). But for Jérôme Rothen, the debate between the two selections, and even the two sports, has no reason to exist.
“One thing I think is that it annoys me that people are comparing the two sports. Because I am obviously a big fan of football but I am also a big fan of rugby. And I know the game well. rugby, I became interested in it quite early in my football career and I have a lot of connections in rugby”, the former footballer judged this Monday in the show Rothen ignites on RMC. “So for me it’s very complementary with football. And vice versa, a lot of rugby players watch football, especially in my time. Today, in fact, it has evolved.”
“For me there is not even a comparison”
Relaunched on this comparison between the two French selections, Jérôme Rothen regretted the media bubble in which footballers find themselves but recalled that the round ball would always remain more popular, because more accessible, than the oval.
“It has evolved because there is more and more of a bubble in football. And we cannot get into this bubble because people who do not necessarily know football and who discover it and who are businessmen telling you that you have to protect them much more than you have to protect rugby players. So proximity to people is difficult to exist in football whereas it exists enormously in rugby. are right to go there.”
“But for me there is not even a comparison to make because football remains the number one sport. This can be seen in terms of licensees and especially because it affects the general public.”
Rothen seduces with the extraordinary atmosphere in the stands
Impossible for rugby to permanently supplant football for consultant RMC Sport. However, according to him, footballers and FFF leaders perhaps have ideas to draw from the other side. If the popularity rating of the French team is not at the top despite its good performance at Euro 2024 or in the Nations League, that of rugby is reaching new heights. Above all, the XV of France gives a good image… during its matches.
“France-New Zealand in rugby is like France-Brazil in football. I was there and I had a great time at the Stade de France,” continued the former midfielder, who notably played for Monaco and PSG. “If you talk to me about the atmosphere of rugby, in a stadium like that, Saturday evening was fantastic. What I criticize about football and that's why we're sending a little alert to the leaders of French football: be wary of what you put forward and the spectacle on the field or in the stands We need to protect football a little more.
And Jérome Rothen continued his praise of rugby: “The atmosphere of a rugby match, even if it's a huge poster, I'm sure that in a France-Brazil football game it wouldn't be the same atmosphere in the stands. I went there with my son, he had a blast. He's ten years old and I saw stars in his eyes, like me.
Rothen’s “chills” during La Marseillaise
Like the haka, highlighted by the staging and the respectful silence in the Dionysian enclosure, Jérôme Rothen took advantage of the incredible atmosphere at the Stade de France. The 13-caped French international even vibrated like never before during La Marseille sung a cappella by the French supporters.
“In football, we fart so much higher than our butts that we don't use ourselves elsewhere. We also have to take what's happening elsewhere. Even if it's a sport inferior to football in terms of media coverage, it's It's also good to have that atmosphere. Frankly, a France-New Zealand like that… La Marseillaise taken up by 80,000 people, I've never seen that,” enthused Jérôme Rothen. “Even in football, in big matches, I've never seen that. It gave me chills. We (in football) always have whistles, this and that. Damn, but everything the world was singing and what's more you also respect the opponent, New Zealand, the haka was respected.”
And the consultant concluded: “It was fabulous! Fabulous! We have to use that and not put them in competition. We have to use that because the two are complementary for me.”
Jean-Guy Lebreton with RMC
