World Cup stories: France say bonjour to World Cup glory

There are now 59 days until the World Cup kicks off and France will be looking to bag their third World Cup gong as one of the favourites to lift the trophy this summer.

They were last world champions in 2018 , but as we continue to look back on previous tournaments, we revisit the summer they triumphed for the very first time - and did it on home soil.

1998 was part of a glorious decade and a year that saw Britpop and the Spice Girls reign supreme in the pop charts, Bill Clinton allegedly not having any 'sexual relations' outside his marriage, and moble phones first become an actual thing in people's lives. 

On the football front, the summer was all about France 98, when the hosts reigned supreme, and England found both heroes and villains among their biggest young stars.
 

• Read next I 60 Days -  The way-too-early Golden Boot race Power Rankings

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France win first World Cup crown

How it happened in 1998

 

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Bonjour World 

For the second time in the tournament's history, the World Cup headed to France for the 1998 competition, having previously hosted the finals way back in 1938 - the third-ever World Cup - beating off competition from Morocco to win FIFA's vote.

Of the 32 teams involved, there were debuts for Jamaica, Japan, South Africa and Croatia, teams that has impressed so much at Euro 96. Romania and Bulgaria returned following their impressive output in the States, but the tournament remains the last time these two nations got to the finals.

England led the home nations' charge with a team managed by Glenn Hoddle that was an almost perfect blend of youth and experience, even if their preparations were overshadowed by Paul Gascoigne's omission and breakdown at not being in France. 

However, spurred on by Three Lions' 98, Vindaloo and even the Spice Girls themselves, Hoddle's men were confident. 

Scotland also made it to the finals after missing USA 1994 as they looked to progress beyond the group stage for the very first time and kicked off the tournament against reigning champions Brazil. 

Getty

The moments that mattered 

The group stage saw Robbie Earle etch his name into World Cup folklore by scoring Jamaica's first-ever World Cup goal, but the opening phase went pretty much as planned for most of the big names, bar Spain, who saw Nigeria and Paraguay progress above them. 

England didn't have it all their own way either after suffering a defeat to Romania in their second group game, but qualified for the knockouts thanks to a win over Colombia to set up another drama-fuelled meeting with Argentina in the last 16. 

It was a game that had everything. Gabriel Batistuta and Alan Shearer traded spot kicks before Michael Owen announced his name on the world stage with a solo run that's gone down as one of the great World Cup goals.

Zanetti then drew Argentina level before David Beckham's moment of madness, as he kicked out at Diego Simeone straight in front of the referee and was shown his marching orders. 

 

Hoddle's men soldiered on and should have won it with Sol Campbell's disallowed goal, but in the end, it went to penalties, and Paul Ince and David Batty were the fall guys this time around as England crashed out, with Beckham taking the full wrath of the English public. '10 Brave Lions, One Stupid Boy' read one headline, and that was just the start. 

Croatia proved to be the surprise team of the tournament, going all the way to the semi-finals, seeing off Germany 3-0 on the way before Lillian Thuram inspired France to a win in the final four. 

Brazil and the Netherlands contested the other semi, with Dennis Bergkamp already having scored one of the greatest goals in tournament history to send Argentina out. But it was the South Americans and Ronaldo who made the final after a penalty shootout win.

 

The stars of the finals 

Michael Owen's life was never the same after his wonder goal for England. The Three Lions striker was just 18 at the time and primed to be his country's next big name. 

It was a tournament for forwards with Ronaldo showing why he was considered the best player in the world, with five goals and the Golden Ball for the competition's best player. 

He didn't, however, win the Golden Boot, which went to another standout hitman in Davor Suker, who showed the quality he had on the biggest stage. 

Other notable names from France '98 were Paraguay's free-kick taking goalie José Luis Chilavert, Jay-Jay Ockocha and his bright orange hair for Nigeria and the man who'd make all the difference in the final, Zinedine Zidane. 

The finalGetty Images

On paper, a one-sided affair that finally saw France lift the famous trophy, but against a Brazil team rocked by events before the match had even begun, involving their star man, Ronaldo. 

The striker had originally not been put on the teamsheet in a stunning turn of events after he apparently suffered a seizure before the game. However, 45 minutes later, the forward was back in the line-up and took to the field with many speculating what effect the chaos had had on the tournament's best player and his teammates. 

As it turns out, whether through the pre-match disruption or not, Brazil weren't at the races. Zidane's two goals and Emmnual Petit's clincher saw France claim their very first World Cup crown and spark scenes of jubilation up and down the Champs-Élysées. 

To this day, however, it remains a mystery of what really happened in the build-up to Ronaldo. 

FIFA

The legacy 

It will be remembered for the hosts and their moment in the World Cup sun, with a team led by the country's best-ever player. 

A tournament that saw the true global reach of the competition, thanks to nations such as Jamaica, South Africa and Iran in an eclectic mix of qualifiers. 

For Croatia, it was a coming-out party for a nation that to this day punches above its weight and produces world-class teams. 

But it also served as a reminder of how players can be treated following mistakes made when playing for the country, as David Beckham found out in the months after his sending off in St Etienne. 

FIFA

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