Aimé Jacquet, the big worry

The hours leading up to the July 12 final between France and Brazil played a determining role in the Blues’ unforgettable victory at the Stade de France. This is obviously due to the discomfort suffered by Ronaldo the day before the match. A malaise with serious consequences since the Brazilian striker, after having been uncertain for a long time, had been ghostly against Didier Deschamps’ gang.

Conversely, the Blues experienced oh-so-precious moments in the run-up to this final. In particular, they were able to measure throughout the journey to the Stade de France the incredible popular fervor which rocked the entire country. “There were 4,000 people and Aimé said: “We’re never going to arrive on time.” He was really scared, had told Telegram Philippe Tournon, the former press chief of the French team, at the time of the final of the
World Cup in Qatar. But I told him that if we didn’t arrive on time, they wouldn’t start the final. »

Aimé Jacquet changes his plans

But on the morning of the match, the France team experienced an equally seminal moment. “Other incredible scene, the day of the final, July 12, 1998. For the first time in the history of the French team, training was organized on the morning of a match. Never seen before”, thus revealed this Sunday Jacques Vendroux in his column in
Sunday Newspaperadding: “And maybe that’s why they won.” »

During this session, there was particular discussion of… Ronaldo, the French defenders clearly expressing their fears. A concern shared by Aimé Jacquet. “The evening before the final, Henri Emile had posted the program for the day of the final. He had marked: “Meeting at 11 a.m., Platini field”. We were amazed, training on the morning of the final? A World Cup final at 9 p.m. is a long time, we had to pass the time. I remember there was a lot of talk about Ronaldo, with Djorkaeff and the defenders,”
Philippe Tournon also remembered.