1998 FIFA World Cup Final

1998 FIFA World Cup Final

Event	1998 FIFA World Cup
Brazil France 0 3
Date	12 July 1998
Venue	Stade de France, Saint-Denis
Man of the Match	Zinedine Zidane
Referee	Said Belqola (Morocco)
Attendance	75,000
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The 1998 FIFA World Cup Final was a football match that was played on 12 July 1998 at the Stade de France in St-Denis to determine the winner of the 1998 FIFA World Cup a global football tournament held every four years. The final was contested by Brazil, who were the defending champions having won the FIFA World Cup four years earlier in 1994, and the host nation France, who had reached the final of the tournament for the first time. France won the match 3–0 to claim the World Cup for the first time, with the timing of the match two days before Bastille Day adding to the significance of the victory. Zinedine Zidane, who was named man of the match, scored twice before half-time and Emmanuel Petit added a third goal in the last minute. The match had an attendance in the region of 75,000.

Both sides had suffered mixed fortunes on the route to the final. Brazil made it out of the group stage with 6 points from three matches, with one defeat at the hands of Norway. After a 4–1 win over Chile and a 3–2 success against Denmark, they reached the final with a penalty-shootout victory over the Netherlands. As for France, they sailed through the group stages with three victories and defeated Paraguay in the knockout stages on golden goals. They had a penalty-shootout with Italy in the quarter-finals, and defeated recently-formed Croatia to reach the final.

The match also saw speculation on the condition of the Brazilian striker Ronaldo, who suffered a convulsive fit on the eve of the match. After initially being left out of the team sheet, in spite of his physical state, it was announced just 72 minutes before kick-off that he was going to play. In the match, he sustained an injury in a clash with French goalkeeper Fabien Barthez. Although it was believed that the decision to play Ronaldo had backfired, it was understandable as the player had been a crucial member of the side throughout the tournament, having scored four goals and created three more.

France followed up their victory by qualifying for and winning UEFA Euro 2000 held in the Netherlands and Belgium. Brazil took the Copa America title in 1999, and then won the next FIFA World Cup in Japan and South Korea in 2002. Ronaldo went on to set the record for goals in World Cups.

Route to the final

For more details on this topic, see 1998 FIFA World Cup.

Brazil		Round	France
Main article: 1998 FIFA World Cup: Group A Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Brazil 3 2 0 1 6 3 +3 6 Norway 3 1 2 0 5 4 +1 5 Morocco 3 1 1 1 5 5 0 4 Scotland 3 0 1 2 2 6 −4 1		Group stage	Main article: 1998 FIFA World Cup: Group C Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts France 3 3 0 0 9 1 +8 9 Denmark 3 1 1 1 3 3 0 4 South Africa 3 0 2 1 3 6 −3 2 Saudi Arabia 3 0 1 2 2 7 −5 1
Opponent	Result	Knockout stage	Opponent	Result
Chile	4–1	First knockout round	Paraguay	1–0
Denmark	3–2	Quarter-finals	Italy	0–0 (4–3 pens)
Netherlands	1–1 (4–2 pens)	Semi-finals	Croatia	2–1

Brazil

Brazil were drawn in Group A for the group stages alongside Scotland, Morocco and Norway. They recorded victories over Scotland (2–1) and Morocco (3–0) to progress but lost their final game 2–1 to Norway.

They next faced Group B runners-up Chile in the last-16 and comprehensively won 4–1, Ronaldo and César Sampaio each scoring twice. In the quarter-finals, they played Denmark, who had also won their previous game 4–1 (against Nigeria), but Brazil won a tight game 3–2. Despite being 1–0 down to a Martin Jorgensen goal in the second minute, Brazil turned the game around in their favour with goals from Bebeto (11) and Rivaldo (27). Brian Laudrup equalised for Denmark after 50 minutes but Brazil won the game 10 minutes later courtesy of a second from Rivaldo.

In the semi-finals, Brazil faced the Netherlands in Marseille. The game finished 1–1 at full-time, Ronaldo scoring just after half-time and Patrick Kluivert equalising for the Netherlands in the 87th minute, and the score remained the same through extra-time. The match had to be settled by penalties which Brazil won 4–2 to reach their second successive World Cup final.

France

France were drawn in Group C alongside Denmark, South Africa and Saudi Arabia. They started their campaign with an easy 3–0 win over South Africa followed by a convincing 4–0 win over Saudi Arabia. France secured top spot in their group courtesy of a 2–1 win over Denmark with goals from Youri Djorkaeff and Emmanuel Petit.

In the second round they faced Group D runners-up Paraguay. France won a close encounter 1–0 in extra time thanks to a golden goal scored by Laurent Blanc. In the quarter-finals France faced Italy who had also scraped through to the quarter-finals with a 1–0 win over Norway. A tense match ended 0–0 after extra time and France won 4–3 on penalties after Italy's Luigi Di Biagio struck his penalty onto the crossbar.

In the semi-finals, France faced tournament surprise Croatia. After a goal-less first half, Croatia took the lead in the first minute of the second half through Davor Šuker, his fifth goal of the tournament. France responded immediately with Lilian Thuram scoring his first international goal. Thuram then added a second twenty minutes from time to send France to their first ever World Cup final. The match ended in controversy however when Laurent Blanc was sent off after a skirmish with Croatia's Slaven Bilić. Bilić had sunk down to his knees, seemingly in pain. Replays showed, however, that there was minimal contact between the players. Blanc's expulsion meant he would miss the final.

Match

Summary

The build-up was dominated by the fitness of Brazil's star striker, Ronaldo, amid reports that he had suffered a pre-match fit.

Zinedine Zidane gave France the lead just before the half-hour mark with a header from an in-swinging corner. Only minutes later, Ronaldo was put through on goal by a long ball from Dunga, but he could not get the better of the onrushing Fabien Barthez, who collided with the Brazilian striker. Both needed assistance from the squad medics but quickly recovered. Brazil's superstar playmakers Leonardo and Rivaldo were kept quiet by Didier Deschamps and Christian Karembeu. Zidane doubled France's advantage on the stroke of half-time with an almost identical goal. In the second half, Ronaldo had a chance to halve the deficit. The ball fell for him inside the penalty box, but he could only plant his shot into Barthez's arms. Midfielder Emmanuel Petit wrapped up the scoring in the 90th minute to put the victory beyond all doubt. France had to survive the last 20 minutes with only 10 men with the dismissal of Marcel Desailly.

Details

12 July 1998 21:00	Brazil	0 – 3	France	Stade de France, Saint-Denis Attendance: 75,000 Referee: Said Belqola (Morocco)
		Report	Zidane  27', 45+1' Petit  90+3'

Brazil

France

BRAZIL: GK 1 Claudio Taffarel RB 2 Cafu CB 3 Aldair CB 4 Junior Baiano 33' LB 6 Roberto Carlos DM 5 César Sampaio 73' DM 8 Dunga (c) AM 10 Rivaldo AM 18 Leonardo 46' CF 20 Bebeto CF 9 Ronaldo Substitutes: MF 19 Denílson 46' FW 21 Edmundo 73' Manager: Mário Zagallo

FRANCE: GK 16 Fabien Barthez RB 15 Lilian Thuram CB 8 Marcel Desailly  48', 68' CB 18 Frank Leboeuf LB 3 Bixente Lizarazu DM 7 Didier Deschamps (c) 39' CM 17 Emmanuel Petit CM 19 Christian Karembeu 56' 57' AM 10 Zinedine Zidane AM 6 Youri Djorkaeff 74' CF 9 Stéphane Guivarc'h 66' Substitutes: MF 14 Alain Boghossian 57' FW 21 Christophe Dugarry 66' MF 4 Patrick Vieira 74' Manager: Aimé Jacquet

Man of the match Zinedine Zidane (France) Officials Linesmen: Mark Warren (England) Achmat Salie (South Africa) Fourth official: Rahman Al Zaid (Saudi Arabia)

Match rules 90 minutes 30 minutes of extra-time if necessary Penalty shoot-out if scores still level Three substitutions permitted

Statistics

	Brazil	France
Goals scored	0	3
Total shots	12	13
Shots on target	7	5
Ball possession
Fouls committed	15	13
Offsides	5	3
Yellow cards	1	6
Second yellow card & red card	0	1
Red cards	0	0

• Ref for statistics

Broadcasting

As one of the major world sporting events, the 1998 FIFA World Cup Final was covered in some part by most broadcasters. It came before the expansion of the internet, therefore online coverage was not extensive.

Asia

Southeast Asia

• In the Indonesia the final was broadcast simultaneously by the six major terrestrial networks names RCTI was relayed simulcast all nationalwide free-to-air television broadcaster networks names TVRI, RCTI, SCTV, TPI, ANTeve and Indosiar which used the final was broadcast simultaneously by the six major terrestrial networks names TVRI, RCTI, SCTV, TPI, ANTeve and Indosiar.
• In the Malaysia the final was broadcast simultaneously by the two major terrestrial networks Radio Televisyen Malaysia (the final was broadcast simultaneously by the two major terrestrial channel names RTM TV1 and RTM TV2) and Sistem Televisyen Malaysia Berhad (the final was broadcast simultaneously by the three major terrestrial channel names TV3, MetroVision and NTV7).
• In the Singapore the final was broadcast simultaneously by the two major terrestrial networks Singapore Television Twelve (the final was broadcast simultaneously by the one major terrestrial channel names Singapore Television Twelve Sports Premiere 12 was international multi sports arena events coverage television channel network by Singapore Television Twelve Premiere 12).
• In the Brunei the final was broadcast simultaneously by the one major terrestrial networks Radio Televisyen Brunei (the final was broadcast simultaneously by the one major terrestrial channel names Brunai Televisyen Satu).
• In the Philippines the final was broadcast simultaneously by the one major terrestrial networks GMA Network (the final was broadcast simultaneously by the one major terrestrial channel names DZBB-TV).
• In the Thailand the final was broadcast simultaneously by the six major terrestrial networks National Radio and Television Services of Thailand (the final was broadcast simultaneously by the one major terrestrial channel names National Television Services of Thailand), Thailand Central Television, Thailand Colour Television Channel 3, Royal Thai Army Radio and Television Channel 5, Bangkok National Radio and Television Broadcasting Corporation Channel 7 and Media Corporation of Thailand Television Channel 9.
• In the Myanmar the final was broadcast simultaneously by the one major terrestrial networks Myanmar Radio and Television (the final was broadcast simultaneously by the one major terrestrial channel names Myanmar National Television).
• In the Cambodia the final was broadcast simultaneously by the one major terrestrial networks National Television of Kampuchea (the final was broadcast simultaneously by the one major terrestrial channel names National Television of Kampuchea One).
• In the Laos the final was broadcast simultaneously by the one major terrestrial networks Lao National Television (the final was broadcast simultaneously by the one major terrestrial channel names Lao National Television One).
• In the Vietnam the final was broadcast simultaneously by the three major terrestrial networks Vietnam Television (the final was broadcast simultaneously by the two major terrestrial channel names Vietnam Television One), Ho Chi Minh City Television and Hanoi Radio Television.

East Asia

• In the People's Republic of China the final was broadcast simultaneously by the one major terrestrial networks China Central Television (the final was broadcast simultaneously by the four major terrestrial channel names CCTV-1, CCTV-2, CCTV-5 and CCTV-7).
• In the Hong Kong the final was broadcast simultaneously by the two major terrestrial networks Asia Television Limited (the final was broadcast simultaneously by the two major terrestrial channel names ATV Home and ATV World) and Television Broadcasts Limited (the final was broadcast simultaneously by the two major terrestrial channel names TVB Jade and TVB Pearl).
• In the Macau the final was broadcast simultaneously by the one major terrestrial networks Teledifusão de Macau (the final was broadcast simultaneously by the two major terrestrial channel names First Macau Television and Second Macau Television).
• In the Republic of China and Chinese Taipei the final was broadcast simultaneously by the five major terrestrial networks Taiwan Television (the final was broadcast simultaneously by the one major terrestrial channel names Taiwan Television Channel), China Television (the final was broadcast simultaneously by the one major terrestrial channel names China Television Channel), Chinese Television System (the final was broadcast simultaneously by the one major terrestrial channel names Chinese Television System Channel), Formosa Television (the final was broadcast simultaneously by the one major terrestrial channel names Formosa Television Channel) and Public Television Service (the final was broadcast simultaneously by the one major terrestrial channel names Public Television Service Channel).
• In the Japan the final was broadcast simultaneously by the six major terrestrial networks Nippon Hōsō Kyōkai (the final was broadcast simultaneously by the one major terrestrial channel names Japanese National Television One), Nippon Television, Fuji Television, Tokyo Broadcasting System, TV Asahi and TV Tokyo.
• In the South Korea the final was broadcast simultaneously by the three major terrestrial networks Korean Broadcasting System (the final was broadcast simultaneously by the one major terrestrial channel names Korean National Television One), Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation and Seoul Broadcasting System.
• In the North Korea the final was broadcast simultaneously by the one major terrestrial networks Korean Central Television (the final was broadcast simultaneously by the one major terrestrial channel names Korean Central Television One).

South Asia

• In the India the final was broadcast simultaneously by the one major terrestrial networks Radio and Television of India (the final was broadcast simultaneously by the one major terrestrial channel names Television of India One).
• In the Bangladesh the final was broadcast simultaneously by the one major terrestrial networks Bangladesh Television.
• In the Sri Lanka the final was broadcast simultaneously by the two major terrestrial networks Independent Television Network (the final was broadcast simultaneously by the three major terrestrial channel names ITN One, ITN Two and ITN Three) and Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation (the final was broadcast simultaneously by the four major terrestrial channel names ,Rupavahini, Nethra TV, Channel Eye and NTV).
• In the Pakistan the final was broadcast simultaneously by the one major terrestrial networks Pakistan Television (the final was broadcast simultaneously by the one major terrestrial channel names Pakistan Television One).
• In the Nepal the final was broadcast simultaneously by the one major terrestrial networks Nepal Television.
• In the Maldives the final was broadcast simultaneously by the one major terrestrial networks Maldives Television (the final was broadcast simultaneously by the one major terrestrial channel names Maldives Television One).

Australasia

• In the Australia the final was broadcast simultaneously by the one major terrestrial networks Australian Broadcasting Corporation (the final was broadcast simultaneously by the one major terrestrial channel names Australia National Television).
• In the New Zealand the final was broadcast simultaneously by the one major terrestrial networks Television New Zealand (the final was broadcast simultaneously by the one major terrestrial channel names Television New Zealand One).

Europe

• In the United Kingdom the final was broadcast simultaneously by the two major terrestrial networks BBC Television (the final was broadcast simultaneously by the two major terrestrial channel names BBC One and BBC Two) and Independent Television (the final was broadcast simultaneously by the one major terrestrial channel names Carlton Television/London Weekend Television) who held the same feed but different presenters.
• In the France the final was broadcast simultaneously by the two major terrestrial networks Télévision Française 1 and Télévision Française 2.
• In the Italy the final was broadcast simultaneously by the one major terrestrial networks Radio Televisione Italiana (the final was broadcast simultaneously by the three major terrestrial channel names Televisione Italiana 1, Televisione Italiana 2 and Televisione Italiana 3).
• In the Germany the final was broadcast simultaneously by the two major terrestrial networks Erstes Deutsches Fernsehen and Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen.
• In the Netherlands the final was broadcast simultaneously by the two major terrestrial networks Netherlands Public Broadcasting (the final was broadcast simultaneously by the two major terrestrial channel names Nederland 1 and Nederland 2) and Nederlandse Omroep Stichting.
• In the Spain the final was broadcast simultaneously by the one major terrestrial networks Televisión Española (the final was broadcast simultaneously by the two major terrestrial channel names Televisión Española 1 and Televisión Española 2).
• In the Portugal the final was broadcast simultaneously by the one major terrestrial networks Rádio e Televisão de Portugal (the final was broadcast simultaneously by the two major terrestrial channel names Televisão de Portugal 1 and Televisão de Portugal 2).
• In the Belgium the final was broadcast simultaneously by the one major terrestrial networks Belgische Radio Televisieomroep).
• In the Czech Republic the final was broadcast simultaneously by the one major terrestrial networks Česká Televize (the final was broadcast simultaneously by the two major terrestrial channel names Česká Televize 1 and Česká Televize 2).
• In the Russia the final was broadcast simultaneously by the two major terrestrial networks National Television of Russia and Radio and Television of Russia (the final was broadcast simultaneously by the one major terrestrial channel names Television Russia 1).
• In the Sweden the final was broadcast simultaneously by the one major terrestrial networks Sweden Radio and Television (the final was broadcast simultaneously by the two major terrestrial channel names Sweden Television 1 and Sweden Television 2).
• In the Switzerland the final was broadcast simultaneously by the one major terrestrial networks Switzerland Radio and Television (the final was broadcast simultaneously by the two major terrestrial channel names Switzerland Television One and Switzerland Television Two).
• In the Ireland the final was broadcast simultaneously by the one major terrestrial networks RTÉ Television (the final was broadcast simultaneously by the two major terrestrial channel names Raidió Teilifís Éireann One and Raidió Teilifís Éireann Two).

America

North America

• In the United States the final was broadcast simultaneously by the three major terrestrial networks WNBC-TV, WCBS-TV and WABC-TV held exclusive rights to show the match – Seamus Malin provided play-by-play commentary while Brent Musberger supplied colour commentary.
• In the Canada the final was broadcast simultaneously by the one major terrestrial networks Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (the final was broadcast simultaneously by the one major terrestrial channel names CBLT-TV).

Latin America

• In the Mexico the final was broadcast simultaneously by the two major terrestrial networks TV Azteca and Televisa (the final was broadcast simultaneously by the one major terrestrial channel names Mexican Television One network on flagship station channel names Mexico City Television).
• In the Brazil the final was broadcast simultaneously by the one major terrestrial networks Brazil Radio and Television.
• In the Argentina the final was broadcast simultaneously by the one major terrestrial networks Telefe.
• In the Colombia the final was broadcast simultaneously by the one major terrestrial networks RCN Televisión.
• In the Peru the final was broadcast simultaneously by the two major terrestrial networks Perú Nacional Televisión and América Televisión.
• In the Venezuela the final was broadcast simultaneously by the one major terrestrial networks Venevisión.
• In the Chile the final was broadcast simultaneously by the one major terrestrial networks Televisión Nacional de Chile.
• In the Ecuador the final was broadcast simultaneously by the one major terrestrial networks Ecuador Radio and Television.
• In the Costa Rica the final was broadcast simultaneously by the one major terrestrial networks Costa Rica Nacional Television.
• In the Panama the final was broadcast simultaneously by the one major terrestrial networks Panamá Nacional Television.
• In the Bolivia the final was broadcast simultaneously by the one major terrestrial networks Bolivia Radio and Television.
• In the Paraguay the final was broadcast simultaneously by the one major terrestrial networks Paraguay Nacional Television.

Trivia

According to a 2008 television programme, presented by Griff Rhys Jones, the eternal flame on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier beneath the Arc de Triomphe in Paris “has only been extinguished once, by a drunken Mexican football supporter on the night that France beat Brazil here in Paris,” most likely referring to the this FIFA World Cup Final.

External links

• FIFA website