World Cup Wanderers: France 1998

Ahead of this summer's competition in Russia, bwfc.co.uk gets in the mood by reviewing all former editions of the biggest tournament in football and the World Cup Wanderers who were in action!

With less than a week to go to the start of the 2018 World Cup, France 1998 is next up in our preview series with Youri Djorkaeff the main focal point as the host nation became World Champions!

YOURI DJORKAEFF
France
Appearances: 7
Goals: 1
Stage reached: Winners

VINCENT CANDELA
France
Appearances: 
1
Goals: 0
Stage reached: Winners

Future Wanderers duo Youri Djorkaeff and Vincent Candela both played their part as host nation France bounced back from failing to qualify in 1990 and 1994 to lift the World Cup for the first time in 1998.

While the latter's involvement would be limited to just one outing, Les Bleus' final group outing against Denmark, Djorkaeff started every game as the French wowed their home crowd.

Opening the tournament against South Africa, Christophe Dugarry scored France's first goal of the competition before a late Pierre Issa strike and Thierry Henry goal clinched a 3-0 win.

The playmaker was benched for their next outing against Saudi Arabia in what proved to be the only game of the tournament that he didn't start. However, he joined the action on the hour-mark as an Henry brace and further efforts from David Trezeguet and Bixente Lizarazu sealed a 4-0 victory.

With their place in the knock-out stages secure, both Djorkaeff and Candela started Les Bleus' clash with Denmark as the former and Michael Laudrup exchanged penalties before Emmanuel Petit's strike made it three wins from three.

Djorkaeff retained his place for the rest of the tournament, pushing forward behind the striker, as France beat Paraguay 1-0 in the second round courtesy of Laurent Blanc's golden goal.

Penalties were required to decide Les Bleus' quarter-final clash with Italy after a 0-0 draw as they won the shootout 4-3 before Lilian Thuram's brace was enough to beat Croatia 2-1 in the semis to set up a final clash with holders Brazil.

Taking control of the final in the first half through Zinedine Zidane's headed brace, Petit made it 3-0 in second half stoppage-time to wrap up a famous 3-0 victory for Djorkaeff and the French as France finally got their hands on the trophy.

LES FERDINAND
England
Appearances: 0
Goals: 0
Stage reached: Round-of-16

With Alan Shearer and Teddy Sheringham England's first-choice strike-partnership prior to Michael Owen's electric introduction at the 1998 World Cup, Les Ferdinand was left as an unused squad member throughout the tournament as his international career came to an end.

Goals from Shearer and Paul Scholes saw Glenn Hoddle's side open the tournament with a 2-0 victory over Tunisia, before Dan Petrescu's late strike condemned England to a 2-1 defeat against Romania after Michael Owen had cancelled out Viorel Moldovan's opener.

Needing to avoid defeat to Colombia to progress to the knock-out stages, first half from goals from Darren Anderton and David Beckham secured a 2-0 win to set up a round-of-16 clash with Argentina.

Gabriel Batistuta and Shearer exchanged early penalties before Michael Owen's career-defining individual effort was cancelled out by Javier Zanetti just before the interval.

However, David Beckham was sent off shortly after the restart and although England held on to take the game into extra-time, they once again faced penalty shoot-out heartache as misses from Paul Ince and David Batty saw them exit the competition.

COLIN HENDRY
Scotland
Appearances: 3
Goals: 0
Stage reached: Group-stages

Scotland's captain for the 1998 World Cup, Colin Hendry was an ever-present for the Tartan Army as they suffered another group-stage exit.

The Scots opened the tournament with a 2-1 defeat to reigning champions Brazil, Cesar Sampaio and John Collins exchanging first half strikes before a Tom Boyd own goal proved to be the difference.

Craig Burley cancelled out Havard Flo's opened as Scotland drew 1-1 with Norway in their next outing before a 3-0 defeat to Morocco sealed their early exit.

PER FRANDSEN
Denmark
Appearances: 2
Goals: 0
Stage reached: Quarter-finals

STIG TOFTING
Denmark
Appearances: 2
Goals: 0
Stage reached: Quarter-finals

Stig Tofting and Per Frandsen were both used sporadically as Denmark reached the quarter-finals in 1998.

With both players limited to substitute appearances, the latter came off the bench in Denmark's opening 1-0 victory over Saudi Arabia before both watched on from the sidelines for their next outing as they drew 1-1 with South Africa.

With their place in the second round already secured, Tofting was brought on as they finished the group-stages with a 2-1 defeat to France.

Frandsen was a late substitute as they beat Nigeria 4-1 before Tofting featured in their quarter-final defeat as they lost 3-2 to reigning champions Brazil.

MARK FISH
South Africa
Appearances: 3
Goals: 0
Stage reached: Group-stages

QUINTON FORTUNE
South Africa
Appearances: 3
Goals: 0
Stage reached: Group-stages

Both Mark Fish and Quinton Fortune were ever-presents as South Africa suffered a group-stage exit at France 1998.

With both players starting all three games, South Africa opened the competition with a 3-0 defeat to host-nation France before coming from behind to draw 1-1 with Denmark.

Facing Saudi Arabia in a final group game that featured three penalties, they came from behind to earn a 2-2 draw but it was not enough to progress in the competition.

JAY-JAY OKOCHA
Nigeria
Appearances: 3
Goals: 0
Stage reached: Round-of-16

Nigeria’s talisman, Jay-Jay Okocha started three of Nigeria’s four outings as they reached the knock-out stages of the tournament.

Completing the full 90 minutes as Nigeria opened the tournament with a 3-2 victory over Spain and 1-0 win over Bulgaria, Okocha was unused as they lost 3-1 to Paraguay in their final group game.

Restored to the starting XI for their second round meeting with Denmark, it was a disappointing day for the Nigerians as they were knocked out after losing 4-1.

FERNANDO HIERRO
Spain
Appearances: 3
Goals: 2
Stage reached: Group-stages

IVAN CAMPO
Spain
Appearances: 1
Goals: 0
Stage reached: Group-stages

Fernando Hierro and Ivan Campo were both of the Spain side that suffered a disappointing group-stage exit from France 1998.

Both players started the Spaniards opening game against Nigeria with Hierro even opening the scoring.

However, despite Raul later making it 2-1 to Spain, two late goals from Nigeria saw the game turned on its head as they lost 3-2.

With Campo left unused for the rest of the tournament, Hierro started as Spain drew 0-0 with Paraguay in their next match.

Now needing to better Paraguay’s result in their final group game against Bulgaria, Hierro again opened the scoring, this time from the penalty spot as Spain eventually ran out 6-1 winners.

However, with Paraguay beating Nigeria 3-1, it was not enough to stay in the competition.

JUERGEN SOMMER
United States
Appearances: 0
Goals: 0
Stage reached: Group-stages

Unused at USA 1994, Juergen Sommer’s fate proved to be the same at France 1998 with both Kasey Keller and Brad Friedel ahead of him in the goalkeeping pecking order.

USA opened the tournament with a 2-0 defeat to Germany, before losing 2-1 to Iran and 1-0 to Yugoslavia as they exited the tournament without a single point.

RICARDO GARDNER
Jamaica
Appearances: 3
Goals: 0
Stage reached: Group-stages

DONOVAN RICKETTS
Jamaica
Appearances: 0
Goals: 0
Stage reached: Group-stages

Ricardo Gardner was an ever-present while Donovan Ricketts was left unused at Jamaica’s maiden World Cup showing in 1998.

With Gardner lasting the full 90 minutes in all three games, Jamaica opened with a 3-1 defeat against Croatia before losing 5-0 to Argentina.

Beating Japan 2-1 in their final group game, Gardner’s performances were enough to earn him a move to Bolton Wanderers soon after the tournament despite his nation’s group-stage exit.

HIDETOSHI NAKATA
Japan
Appearances: 3
Goals: 0
Stage reached: Group-stages

Hidetoshi Nakata was also an ever-present as Japan too suffered a group-stage exit at France 1998.

Exiting the competition without picking up a point, Japan opened with 1-0 defeats to Argentina and Croatia before losing 2-1 to Jamaica in their final match of the tournament.

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