For several years, the alumni of 1998 meet regularly, privately or for charitable operations. On Wednesday, they responded to Zidane's invitation for a day at his five-a-side football complex in Aix-en-Provence, near Marseille, the birthplace of the idol.
Started with a few games of padel between world champions, the day ended with a paid gala dinner and a concert. But the highlight was the football tournament open to teams set up by companies, mainly local, having reserved a table for dinner.
To each team, the draw awarded a 1998 world champion among those present: Didier Deschamps, Christian Karembeu, Christophe Dugarry, Bernard Diomède, Alain Boghossian, Bixente Lizarazu, Lionel Charbonnier, Fabien Barthez and, of course, Zidane.
On the field, the N.10 looks left, always, but of course without forcing. And when he accelerates, he chains sombrero, cushioned chest and volley for a nice goal of the right.
"You can see that he has an exceptional touch of the ball. It's the best," said the lucky Anthony, scorer on an assist from the master.
"Fabulous emotion"
A little further, Karembeu does not say anything else. "Duga and Liza are still quite good and DD is there. But Zidane is another planet. It was the strongest 25 years ago and it still is."
The former playmaker of the France world champion team in 1998, Zinédine Zidane, signs autographs during the celebrations of the 25th anniversary of his title on July 12, 2023 in Aix-en-Provence (south of the France) © Christophe SIMON / AFP
The former midfielder of the Blues and Real Madrid also tells how important these moments are, for the former students of Aimé Jacquet as for the general public.
The victory in the final against Brazil (3-0) "united the France and days like this can mark the occasion. We also know that it continues to inspire other generations and Didier was the relay of the star in 2018," he explains.
"We continue to meet people who tell us +ah, on July 12, 98, I was there!+ It remains a fabulous emotion," confirms the current coach of the France team, crowned as coach in 2018 after having been as captain 25 years ago.
And for Boghossian, who acknowledges that "golf is now easier than football" for him, "the years go by and we still want to share and vibrate a little".
"It was good"
Around the field and in a raw heat, the 98 sign autographs and jerseys, like some other big names in French football, sometimes less recognized by the youngest, like Jean Tigana or Henri Emile, a member of the staff during the victorious World Cup.
The former playmaker of the team of France world champion in 1998, Zinédine Zidane, speaks during the celebrations of the 25th anniversary of his world title on July 12, 2023 in Aix-en-Provence (south of the France) © Christophe SIMON / AFP
The speaker, for his part, confuses Charbonnier and Boghossian and blames the passage of time and the hair that falls: "You all have the same cut now guys!".
The atmosphere is festive and even masks small enmities. "We are a family," says Diomede. "We never left each other," adds Barthez. Deschamps and Dugarry, however, rarely cross paths. But, we promise in the entourage of the champions "they played padel together this morning".
The master of the house, he relishes. "We would like to see each other more often but it's sometimes complicated. To be like that, to be with friends, it's fun and it makes us all feel good," Zidane said.
"98, it changed my life, adds the former playmaker of the Blues. And people remember '98, today they came to see the guys from '98."
A little earlier, Zidane had summed up in a few simple words the weight of these 25 years. "We're not going to talk about '98 all the time. But hey, we did it and it was good."
© 2023 AFP