No team will touch France in Qatar. They are amazing!
With 100 days to go to the World Cup, Marcel Desailly talks maverick midfielders, ’98 glory and Mbappe magic
WHEN France were World Cup winners in 1998, Zinedine Zidane scored two goals and Brazil’s Ronaldo had a seizure and nearly missed the game. That, we will never forget. What is often lost amid memory of the final is that Marcel Desailly was sent off. What is lesser known still is what happened next to the French defender.
‘I was taken to a doping room because I was on the list to be tested,’ begins the former Chelsea star, who was shown a second yellow card after 68 minutes in Paris with his side leading 2-0.
‘I said, “No, I cannot be locked away!”. I could not be in a room with no TV, not knowing what is going on, thinking the whole country is going to knock on the door because it is my fault they lost the World Cup! I had the fear, big time. I was angry and I made a bit of a scene.
‘I barged my way out and watched the match, but that stress… Finally, we won 3-0. And yes, I eventually came back to the doping room to do what I had to.’
It was a golden moment for a golden generation, including captain and current national team boss Didier Deschamps and Arsenal favourites Thierry Henry, Emmanuel Petit and Patrick Vieira. They went on to win Euro 2000 and headed to Japan and South Korea to defend their World Cup crown.
In 100 days, in Qatar, France’s current vintage will be bidding to do the same. Twenty years on, however, they will be hoping to fare better than their predecessors, who exited at the group stage after failing to score a goal.
‘In ’98, we were not the best team,’ says Desailly. ‘But after that, we had the anger to prove to the whole world we were the best. From ’99 to ’01, we were No 1. With that there is stress, pressure, and we did not handle it when the World Cup came in 2002. We also had injuries to Zidane and Henry. We had issues with the time zone, with our bodies. A lot of players did not adapt, I was one of them. And then we had Senegal… yeah, they gave us problems, real problems (a shock 1-0 defeat in the opening game). We thought we would handle the pressure and turn it into a positive. What happened, the adrenaline went negative.
‘We had the best striker of the English, French and Italian leagues, but we couldn’t get out of whatever it was we were in — we were stuck. We lost our confidence.’
France’s humiliation began a trend which has seen every subsequent European winner of the World Cup suffer group-phase elimination next time around — Italy (2010), Spain (2014) and Germany (2018). Will that read France, 2022?
‘No,’ fires Desailly, and this one is not up for debate. ‘In 2002, 70 per cent of the team were over 30. We were more aware of what was at stake. This team, they do not realise yet how big their win was in 2018. ‘They do not have the weight of the success on their conscience. They are younger, they have a lot more to come. Think of Kylian Mbappe, he doesn’t realise. He is looking for more. I believe they will not face the same pressure.’ I remind Desailly that France flopped at Euro 2020 — beaten by Switzerland in the last 16 — and Mbappe appeared at odds with his team-mates. ‘I don’t see how Mbappe is a problem, no,’ says the 53-yearold, unimpressed by the suggestion. ‘It did not work in the Euros, mainly because the tactical set-up was new. Switzerland took advantage. But Mbappe is an amazing weapon for France. ‘Now, you have Karim Benzema, too. I expect that France will brush away Brazil, the Argentinians, Netherlands, Belgium. I believe France can win the World Cup.’
There is one player Desailly perhaps does not fancy as much as the others. So, what about Paul Pogba (pictured below)?
‘When you place him as a defensive midfielder, you always have to play someone at his side. He has so much talent but he does not like, in the intensity of 90 minutes, to be committed to defence.
‘Sometimes he is lazy on the intensity to get to the opponent’s feet and get the ball. Like N’Golo Kante would do. But Pogba is more than a defensive midfielder. We just don’t know where he will play. We are still looking for his best position.’
Desailly will be in Qatar to see if the team he rates so highly can make history of their own by becoming the first nation in 60 years to retain their title. He has been working as an ambassador for the tournament, having finished his playing career in the country.
‘The infrastrucsture is there,’ he says, when pressed on their readiness to host.
‘The country will be full of energy. It is good to share and show that passion across all continents. As for the teams, there is less movement and recovery is easier. I believe we will see one of the best World Cups for quality and entertainment.’
A final as iconic as that of 1998 would certainly be most welcome.
• With just 100 days to go, fans travelling to Qatar are reminded to apply for their Hayya Card now, which is needed to enter the country and stadiums and to use free public transport.