Les Yeux Dans Les Bleus

Parcours de l'équipe de France pendant la coupe du monde 1998

Was that the French football team?

You're going to end up
in trouble!

There's this TV station with us,
so watch out.

Maybe it's the camera but...
they didn't tell you what to expect.

Eh, Jean-Marcel?
He runs sitting down.

This is how he runs.
But that's fine.

Do you want this?
I don't know what to do with it.

THE MEN IN BLUE
THE ROAD TO THE FINAL

This is heart and lung work,
it's not for the muscles.

WEDNESDAY 10th JUNE
FIRST DAY OF THE WORLD CUP

I want you all to concentrate.
You have to be focused.

What's going to happen
is so important.

For a while now I've been thinking

that you don't seem
fully committed yet.

That's what's worrying me.

Each match you get to play
is a bonus.

It's a bonus
because what we're going to do

is go a long way.

We're going to go a long way
and we have to be ready Friday.

And we have to be ready
for the match after, and so on.

I also want there to be
a collective responsibility

in the challenge that lies ahead.
So you'll have to be

all together as a team.

Because we'll face some setbacks

and a lot of emotions.

But what a wonderful experience
to have!

And as you get stronger

I'd like you all to be aware
of what this experience means.

For you it's going to be,

I hope, an unforgettable chapter
in your footballing careers.

OK? Is that understood?

We're experimenting, OK?

Right, loosen up
and get into place.

Now... one on one!

Recuperation time is important.

So give yourself time,
take nice long strides.

Go on, don't worry about him!

Yes! Go for it!

He's got a great sense of humour,
he has!

I was watching you
during the warm up...

You gave it everything!

Why can't you be like that?

I can't be doing with you
when you're like this.

I might as well be asleep.

No, but think about that.

You've got the right ingredients.

Think about it!

If the brain's willing,
the legs will obey.

He's not allowed in my area.

You mustn't

go into the other one's area.
Like you did earlier.

Quiet!

I'll be pitiless.
You're free to do what you want,

so it's not much to ask
to let me be pitiless.

Is that agreed?

We've got to give, give.

So a lad
who takes his reponsibilities

and does stuff and... OK.

But a lad who's lost,
who's doing nothing,

doesn't help the team.

Be useful to the team
and efficient, OK?

And I don't want you
messing that up for me.

Get your objectives straight.

"What can I do?

"Who's with me?

"What are his strong points?

"What do I have to do?"

Do you understand now?
That's what football's all about.

Don't be fancy,

play the game you know,
be in the best place possible.

Respect the game.

Respect everybody else's
style of playing.

Robert isn't Zizou.

Youri isn't Zizou.

This lad isn't Zizou,
Nanar isn't Zizou.

He does what he does.

David's a forward,
he likes going down the wing.

Duga can play anywhere.
He's a forward.

"I take the responsibility
and go for goal.

"I move, find some space,
I've got my team-mates behind me."

Robert, whether you're on the right
or the left... no problem!

You bring the game to them,
you know how to play. Wham!

Beef up your game,
beef up your game!

If you don't... watch out!

You'll get into trouble
for being too nice.

Zizou, you've got to make things
happen, you're the play maker.

You accelerate...

you slow down...

Be spontaneous and get the forwards
in the best position possible.

OK? You've been getting a bit cocky
just lately.

I know there were 50,000
for the match in Morocco.

"Zi-zou! Zi-zou!"

Of course,
it's bound to go to your head.

Youri. Where's he best?
In the last 30 metres.

I've told him.

In the last 30 metres,
the ball comes free,

you know he can do something.

He's useful to the team
on either wing.

We couldn't give a toss
which wing he's on.

And Steph? The best goal scorer

for two years.

How many have you scored now?

- Forty... three.
- Forty-three.

But he's not sure of himself.

Like our friend over there,

who's stopped scoring
for the same reason.

We have something in us
that likes bold players,

players who persevere
and who are intelligent.

Have you ever heard me
criticise them?

Never. I have total respect
for forwards.

I have total respect for them
because I couldn't be one.

I didn't have what it takes
to go forward and attack.

I know what it's like,
standing with your back to the goal,

with a forward, maybe two,
bearing down on you.

We're not watching
the other matches.

Excuse me, I'm sorry but...

Why is Dugarry
allowed to watch the other matches?

It won't do him any harm to see
what a football match looks like.

Every day, they have a go at me.

Every day.
And twice yesterday!

That's what you get,
being a World Cup star.

This stuff's for the kids.

Let them have this lot.
I'll see them after.

- Who's that for?
- The local kids.

Is it the same tracksuits
as the last match?

Yeah, the same ones.

You know what our ultimate goal is
in the French team?

It's to get selected
at least once.

And if it's only once, OK.
At least you got your free kit!

- That's not very nice.
- Why?

- It's not true.
- Yes, it is.

That's the goal: The free kit!

You know what they'll all think?

"Did he come here to dance
or to play football?"

The Caribbean!

THURSDAY 11th JUNE

Gentlemen, we are arriving
in Marseille. It's 11 o'clock.

The temperature is 22 degrees.
Please leave your seatbelts fastened

until the lights go out.

I hope you enjoyed your flight

and we hope
you'll make it to the final.

Have a good match tomorrow.

For our first match
in the World Cup it's...

it's fantastic.

What a hunk!

Nice looking guy, eh?

Well, he's not a great talker but...
he's got nice eyes.

- As long as he doesn't talk!
- Yeah, then he's fine.

As long as he doesn't talk.

Keep your head straight... Thanks.

What are you doing?

I'm freeing some pressure
on his chest area.

Breathe deeply... Breathe.

Breathe.

Stop breathing.

FRIDAY 12th JUNE
FRANCE v SOUTH AFRICA

We are... lucky

- I'll admit that right now -
to be playing in Marseille.

We're very lucky.
I don't know if...

it was something
that Michel Platini wanted,

but it's a good place
to play our first match.

They're football mad.

They like to see footballers
who give it 100 per cent,

who aren't afraid
of getting their kit dirty,

who give it their all.

And when they feel that

I can guarantee you
that there's a great atmosphere

and amazing support.

It's time now to meet the public.

It's time to meet
the French public.

And the French public
expect to see a great spectacle.

They're expecting a lot from you.
It's about winninng.

And winning is about team spirit,
it's about solidarity

and generosity.

And we've got to work for that,
it won't come on its own.

We make it happen...

we bring it about.
That's why we need

to be very intense.

We have to put pressure
on the other team.

That means forcing them
to be worried,

forcing them to be nervous,
to be over-excited,

to make mistakes.

Never forget that this is football,
and it belongs to the players.

It belongs only to you,
the game belongs to you.

To you.

So concentrate well and be ready
for kick-off at 9 o'clock.

At nine o'clock tonight
we're going to make history.

As for everything else... OK?

Get organised.

No problems? Is everything OK?
Let's go!

Don't start!

He's worried about singing
the Marseillaise. We mustn't look.

We can laugh before or after.
But not during that.

I'll do it with my eyes closed.

He has to mess about.

He needs that before a match,
so he can unwind.

So he's always joking around.

So that could be a problem
when it comes to the Marseillaise.

Could be a problem.

Eh, Zizou?

You like taking free kicks
from the left, don't you?

- From the left you can...
- Yeah, from time to time.

And Manu can do the same
from the other side.

Or we can let Liza take them.
Sort it out between yourselves.

A left-footer on the right
and vice versa,

and it could go in
off a defender's deflection.

A goal, eh, Titi?

Getting a good cross in is fine,
but scoring is even better.

So get your physical presence
there in front of the goal.

If you come straight in
from the wing,

you'll get three or four chances,
I'm telling you.

And Youri and Zizou
put in great balls like that.

OK, lads, we're going
to go straight at them.

We're going to be nice and tight.

Right, the first fifteen minutes
are going to be tough.

Woe betide you
if you get caught out!

Make sure you get in the way
of the ball, OK?

Thierry, Stephane, Youri, Zizou,
whoever's closest,

get in the way of the ball.
Stop them playing.

OK, lads, time to get warmed up.

Give it all you've got!

All together, as a team.

My pals had faith in me,

that's important.

The people of Marseille, too,
when I ran on the pitch...

"Get stuck in, Christophe.
You're the best!"

Even if they don't think that,
it still has an effect.

- It's nice to be...
- They do think it.

I don't know. People down here
usually mean what they say, so...

I hesitated,
I saw Thierry Henry going forward,

I hesitated and hesitated,

than I saw a defender
so I held back

and messed up.

But after, it was really hard.

- How did you feel right then?
- I was losing it.

Morally, I wasn't good.
No, I was in a right state.

- Because of that?
- Yes.

Because the crowd started
whistling and booing.

So I was really down.

If I hadn't scored
it would have been tough going on.

- That bad?
- It was getting too tough.

Only a goal

could restore my confidence.
I had the brakes on.

I needed something to set me free,
or I couldn't have done anything.

Joy... and anger.

The anger was me thinking,
"There, I've fucked you all!"

In the stadium you can see
all those fucking journalists.

I thought, "I've fucked you all!"

You feel this anger...
You just want to...

That state is like a trance,
you could do anything.

Come on, lads, keep focused!

Shit, listen! I waited for you,
then I did a dummy,

but if you're coming up,
you've got to get there quicker.

That was great, lads! Shit!

It's not finished yet, you know.
It's only the start!

That's it, lads, that's the spirit!

We sang, we shouted,
we wept, we froze

And finally,
after all those tears, you scored

And we won the match!

And we won the match!

It's your life and your desire,
it's our life and desire, too

We'll be with you all the way
right to the end

And we won the match!

SUNDAY 14th JUNE
CLAIREFONTAINE

Ready... go!

- You've recovered quickly.
- Yeah, I'm fine.

It doesn't hurt any more.
But I've lost three kilos.

- And the next match?
- I hope so.

- We'll have to see.
- See how it goes.

Sit up straight.
Knee flexed, foot open...

Straighten your knee
and turn your foot.

Up, up, up, up...
Turn your foot, turn your foot...

Now down again, down, down...
Bend your knee, bend your knee...

You're completely mad!

- Does it hurt?
- No, it doesn't hurt but...

He's an idiot, Thuram.

Don't say that.
People will believe it.

Do you think that's funny?
You think it's funny?

You're not helping the cause,
laughing at their jokes.

You have to put them right.
Africa Unity!

- Come over here...
- Stop it!

He's round the bend!

We win our matches
during the anthems.

If we see that the lads
aren't up to it...

Do you sing?

I was wondering if we could change
the national anthem.

You should concentrate
on the football. Stop thinking!

With him doing all that thinking,
I have to play even better.

This is him singing...
"Aooouum!"

With his hand on the right
like this.

He does it
in the real French style...

Hey! If I play tomorrow
I'll do it again.

I did it on purpose.

In the bus

he said, "I was so moved."
And he put his hand here...

"Shit, it was the wrong hand!"

- It was on the TV.
- Was it?

I don't know. That's what I heard.

It seems like
you're always messing about.

If you want to concentrate
you have to be quiet too sometimes.

So you think we're always
messing about? Well, it's true!

No, no...

So what's the trick?

The trick is to know
when to let yourself go

and when to concentrate.

From what you've seen
over the first few days,

is the team strong?

- I mean mentally.
- Our team?

I know all the lads.
How long have we been together?

Forever. I mean...

You're a bit lost
because you don't know them.

But the fact that we've got players

who play for all
the great foreign teams,

that means something.

If you're not mentally strong,

you won't make it abroad
or even in the top French teams.

When you go and play abroad
or in the top French teams

you have to win your place
and you need character for that.

THURSDAY 18th JUNE
FRANCE v SAUDI ARABIA

Qualification tonight!

OK? So, on the one hand,
don't underestimate this team.

But I think you're big enough
to realise that.

But you also have to realise

that you have to be calm
when faced with a tough defence.

Don't lose your cool.

Show some patience.
You're not to go and get

a red card or any card... stupidly,
like you did!

Or like other players have been getting
in other matches.

If you do that you penalise us.

What do we do
to keep this confidence and calm?

We make them play our game.

What you have to do,
and you know this already:

Right from the kick-off,
don't give them a chance.

If you give them
the slightest chance to do something

you're dickheads!

But if you put on pressure
right from the start,

if you're aggressive...

problem solved!

Problem solved!

Later on, you'll have to build
something up.

But at the start... pressure.

All of you...

conquerors!

Our team needs vitality,
we need to go after the other team,

and we all need certainty...

That's why our formation
has evolved a little bit.

In the following way...

Here you are.

Fabien in goal.

Lilian, Lolo, Marcel, Liza...

Didier, Alain will replace Manu,

Zizou, Thierry on the right, Duga,

and Bernard will replace Youri.

So what does
this formation mean, lads?

It means we've got to go
and look for them.

That's the key:
Go and look for them.

I don't want to see anyone.
Go and get them, lads.

So we're going to get them
and make them play. Why?

It's very simple.
It's because their technique

only works at a certain speed.

If we put pressure on them,
athletically and physically,

and if we start to show
a bit of quality,

physically and athletically,

I think they'll start to panic.

I was watching us
yesterday, lads. Shit!

There's not enough aggression.

We need muscle.
It's not going to be fun.

So

you'll have to play with guts
tonight.

Perfect preparation,
perfect concentration...

and real determination
in everything you do.

Got it? Understood?

Off you go!

It felt like
the whole thing just went.

He'd be better

on his front.

Here, I'll hold your leg.
So turn over...

Just relax your leg.

There?

Here, press down on this.

Wind it really tight.

It'll be OK for ten minutes.
It'll stop the haemorrhage.

We've stopped the haemorrhage.

We're going to fix you up.
Don't worry.

Don't worry.

Well, kiddo? What did you do?

Is it torn?

- Did you feel it rip?
- Did it tear?

As I went for the ball in the air...

Shit, that's all we needed!

Stand back and see what's going on,
then head them off.

How do goals happen? That's how.

We could have scored more.

Another thing about the defence,
Lolo and Marcel.

If there's one guy attacking,
just one of you take him out.

One guy, you take him out.
Then you can move up.

Don't let them get
the upper hand, lads!

If it's just one attacker
there's no problem.

And follow up! Thierry, you let
your pal go off on his own.

You let him go.
No! Get behind him!

Come on, lads!

Get behind him!

Beef it up, lads!

It's all about winning!

There's too much missing.

Henry gets the ball, passes,
the forwards only have to move.

If you don't move you're out!
There are four of you.

Bloody hell!

You've got to liven up.
You're too sluggish.

There's not enough aggression,
not enough conviction.

I'm telling you!

You're playing up the wings, lads.

We get a free kick
and they come back at us.

And only ten of them!

Ten of them.

Yes, it's Zidane.
Now that's a problem.

What did he do?

Let's have a close look.

He walked on him. Red card.

A red card for Zinedine Zidane.

There's the red card.

Now watch. There's Zidane.

It's as if he's wiping his studs

on the Saudi player.

FRIDAY 19th JUNE

Get up there, get after it!

The one who fouled Dede

- should have been sent off.
- From behind? Yeah.

- But he wasn't.
- No.

Some of the refs so far...

If it hadn't been you
it'd have been Liza. For sure.

He'd have got a red card.

- You're suspended...
- For two matches.

Two?

Bastard!

I thought Didier looked OK
with the bouffant hair-do!

Get stuffed!

Can you tell me what you call
Didier's hairstyle?

And what's his?
The Basque special?

You're at the post, OK.
But watch what we're all doing.

Always.

We're not in a suite here.
Only Deschamps gets a suite.

The rest of us get the usual room,
ten square metres.

He gets fifty square metres,
separate toilets, a suite.

We go up
because we decide to go back up.

And if there's an offside...

- That's it!
- Yeah, but if there isn't...

Yes, there he is, Zidane!

It's a good start, that's for sure.
It's a good start.

A good start both on the pitch

and as a team,
for the feeling that we've got.

As you've seen,
we've got our own little song.

It'll be with us all the way.

It's important
to have something like that.

But that's the most
tricky thing about football:

Why do some teams win everything
for three or four years

and then just collapse?

It's because of the chemistry,
and that's very hard to find.

It's the relationships
between the players.

The team can really work well

for a period of a year
or two months or whatever,

and then a grain of sand gets in
and messes everything up.

You have to watch it all the time.
It's a delicate balance.

An incredible balance.

But now we're really
on the right track.

If we can keep it up
I'm sure it'll help us a lot.

THURSDAY 25th JUNE
CLAIREFONTAINE

We were just kids when we started,

now we've become old men.

That's good.
That's the way it is.

Good evening, gentlemen.

The keys are in the doors, lads.

We have to see what happens.
We hope to go the distance.

- How many phones do you have?
- Two.

He's laughing. All my mobiles
are ringing. I can't answer them.

Yeah, we're going to Paris.
It's great.

OK, then. Yeah, take care...

Haven't you finished yet?
It's torture!

- Yeah, OK...
- Desailly and all his mobiles!

- See you. Thanks.
- Is that Philippe? Say hello.

Too late.

Yeah, how are you?

Yeah, I'm fine.

What are you up to?

No, it was fine after.

I wanted to lie down for a bit
because I was in a bit of pain.

My head was spinning.

If the blood didn't reach
the brain for a split second

I'd be out of it.

I'd go mad.

Take some envelopes for your mail
if you need them.

I can't decide.

Do I make the right choice...
or the right one?

Both are good.

Either nothing but salad
or nothing but pasta.

Pasta... and rice.

Tomorrow it'll be rice and pasta.

What you've accomplished so far
is fantastic, let me tell you.

You've showed fantastic spirit

and done something
really fantastic.

But it's deserved
because you've...

made individual
and collective commitments

which can only lead
to even better things.

Let's keep going.

What I want...

and I hope you, too,
have the same hopes,

is to go as far as possible,
to the end of the road.

We're now at a delicate phase,
a very tense one,

a very exciting one...

The matches ahead of us now...
there's no second chance.

So I'm asking you to understand
exactly what's expected of you.

SUNDAY 28th JUNE
FRANCE v PARAGUAY (2nd ROUND)

- Quite an atmosphere tonight?
- I think so.

It's the knock-out phase now.
It's all or nothing so...

- Are you going?
- I couldn't get a ticket.

Running with the players is
the only way to get close to them.

I got some autographs,
that's not bad.

With the security around them
I'm pretty happy with my efforts.

Now to do the pony tail.

The pressure in this job
is enormous.

There are loads
of good points, too.

But the downside is
that there are a lot of sacrifices.

Like what?

I think that...
the biggest sacrifice...

is making sure that the event
stays on a human dimension.

If it goes past that
it becomes dangerous...

because we lose all control.

It always surprises me to see

how big football has got
around the world.

Even if it's a passion for me
and it's my profession.

I've been involved
since I was a kid.

But I can never understand
why people fight about football,

why there's so much hatred
surrounding it.

After all, it's just a game.

- You put a lot of effort into that.
- Always.

Like any pre-match preparation.

Watch the door behind you.

I can't hear a thing...
I can't hear a thing!

What's it like being on the bench?

Stressful.

Terrible.
And it'll be worse today.

Because on Wednesday we were...

we were through
to the next round.

So this is worse.
It'll be terrible.

OK, lads,
you've got to stay focused.

We're here now.
Some of you are in a bit of pain.

It's tough, it's hard.

But make the most of it.
We're at home here.

You get fouled, play it up.
It's part of the game.

And it calms them down.

Let's show a bit of tolerance,
anyone can miss.

We pick ourselves up
and we carry on.

And no mistakes in defence.

If you have to clear it,
hoof it into the stands, OK?

No mistakes.

OK, lads.

Let's all stay focused together.

Come on, let's go!

- What's that?
- A wedding ring.

The ref asked him to wrap it up
but he doesn't want to.

Keep it for me.

HALF-TIME

Recuperate a little bit, relax.

- Shit!
- We've got to hit them hard.

This is tough, we have to attack.

Stay compact.

Not one at a time,
all of you together.

OK, lads, let's go, let's go!

He was coming straight in,
saw the keeper coming out,

he took the shot
with the inside of his foot

and it just missed.

I want to see the match.

Come on, then.

- Can you walk?
- No, I can't.

- Sit on the floor.
- OK, I'll be fine.

Shoot, Youri! Shit!

This is driving me mad.

So it's sudden death?

Yes. The first to score wins it.

SUDDEN DEATH

They're still there.

Look.

Take it, David.

It's over.

Where are you going now?

It's awful.
I've been through it before.

In the Olympics.

I never knew it'd be like that.

Don't film me. I'm dead.

A match like that
puts four years on me.

I'm too old
to play matches like that.

Are you OK? Was it tough?

Too tough.
It's really hard.

Tough on the heart?
Or the nerves?

I've had it... I'm dead.

Who scored?

- I didn't see. Who scored?
- I don't know, I didn't see.

- Who scored? Was it you?
- Lolo. It was Lolo.

I told you I'd score for you.

What did Daddy say?

You said you'd score a goal for me.

I crossed to David,
he put it back to Lolo who scored.

Aren't you tired
after a match like that?

No, you can't sleep.

You're too wound up.

- You're wound up?
- Yeah.

I'd said it would go
to penalty kicks.

I wanted to take one.

- He wanted to take the last one.
- The last penalty.

So now I'm annoyed because Lolo
spoilt everything by scoring

two minutes from the end.

But it doesn't matter.
There's always next time.

We'll do that against Pagliuca...

And Buffone and Chiesa.

Can you sleep
after a match like that?

I'll fall asleep
around 2 or 3 in the morning.

Same as usual.
Like after every match.

No earlier, no later.

You need time
for the tension to ease off?

I think it's the same for all of us.

After a match
the tension eases off but...

With all the tension
that's built up during the day,

as soon as you close your eyes
everything comes back to you.

- You relive it?
- Yes, that's it.

You relive...
certain bits of the match.

- What match is that? Denmark?
- Denmark against Nigeria.

And today's match
was no ordinary match.

It was no ordinary goal.

That goal... The golden goal!

I criticised it two days ago,

saying it did nothing for the game.

And now look.
We won because of it.

Sometimes you should just
keep your mouth shut.

And next... it's Italy.

We're well informed about them.

Didier says

he might not go back to Italy.

Yeah?

Maybe if we win
they'll give him the boot!

TUESDAY 30th JUNE
CLAIREFONTAINE

Get a move on, you idle lot!

Did you bring a compass along?

Yeah, we need one.

Nice and relaxed, lads.
Nice and easy.

A stamina run.

This is for...

the 89th minute.

When we stuff the Italians.

We'll have what it takes.

88th or 89th minute.

A tough three minutes,
but we'll hold out.

- You're hungry for it, are you?
- You have to be.

What do you think?
We have to go after it.

It won't be offered to us on a plate.

We have to go for it.

- Will you play again?
- Of course! Are you mad?

I scored our first goal,
I'll score our last.

What's changed?

The fact that I can play again
with the team.

- That's all?
- Yes.

I couldn't just go home
without playing again.

Now I can go and have some fun
and maybe win.

It's fabulous. It's...

That's all.

I intend to contribute something,
I've got this force in me.

I'll just have to show them
on Friday. That's all.

I'll have to show them on Friday
just how strong I am.

I'm not bragging.

Everyone's always going on about
Zidane this, Zidane that...

Zidane, nothing!

"Zidane's going to show us
what he can do."

Me and the others
are going to give it all we've got

to keep the competition alive.
That's all.

But I'm not saying
I'm going to score two goals

or make three decisive passes
or be the man of the match.

I'm not used to doing this.

I'll warm my hand up.

This is going to last.

It won't just disappear
like that.

That's why we keep on
saying that, shit...

we've already done something good,

we can go on to do something great
and even something fantastic!

But for now we've already
done something good.

Now we have to carry on
and do something very good.

And after that...
We've got three matches left.

Three.

Three matches and then...

Could you sign these posters for me?

Is it all right in white ink?

Everyone forged his signature.
No one wanted to come.

- They're all scared?
- They all forged it.

Only you...

You didn't sign?

You know what I'll do?
I'll tear your posters up.

You'd better go and sign them now.

Otherwise I'll tear them up.

Don't be so nasty, Zinedine.
You're not being very nice.

Why did you say you'd signed them?
That's what you said.

Lolo came up here
so why bother going downstairs?

I'll go immediately.

These Arabs, honestly!

FRIDAY 3rd JULY
FRANCE v ITALY (QUARTER FINAL)

OK, lads.

So here we are,

in the World Cup 1/4 finals.

That's quite an extraordinary feat.

But it's thoroughly deserved.

Even if we had a fairly hard time
in the match against Paraguay

because of our sloppiness,

our approach to things
and our collective effort

have given us the chance
to achieve something great.

Now we're up against an adversary
that we know very well,

that most of you know very well.

They're past masters at provocation,

at upsetting your balance
and getting you all wound up.

You have to know
how to play against them,

and that's by being well organised.

That means
accepting your responsibilities.

Accepting your responsibilities

means accepting the true dimension
of this event.

One small remark,

but it's the most important for us.

Two of their forwards...

We need to mark vieri
right from the start.

Listen to me, Lolo

and Marcel. Mark him closely.

Mark him.

Never let him get free for a second.

Never, never, never!

As for Del Piero,
Dede will take care of him.

OK, have you got that?

It's absolutely essential
that we smother those two.

Lastly, what I'd really like,
and this is important,

is to see more shots at goal.

We do it in training,
but we're not shooting enough.

I'm amazed at how little
you're shooting at goal.

You're always trying to get
into the ideal, perfect position.

It doesn't exist.

You should be getting your team-mate
into any shooting position,

but most of the time you're not.

You're always trying
to make decisive passes.

We'll end up having
a decisive-pass competition!

Yes, we've had five decisive passes.
Great, that's really important.

But I still prefer a goal.

We have to get past this.
There's nothing more important.

If you want to dominate this match

you're going to have to be
very strong mentally.

Generosity of spirit,

spontaneity, effort...
a wholehearted effort,

and the same spirit you had in Lens.

That's what won you that match.

Well, it'll be the same tonight.

We're going to beat these guys
with our mental strength.

OK, have you got that?

This is awful!

Go on, go on!

Is this the last one?

If he scores and they miss
we've won.

If he scores we have to wait to see
what the last Italian does.

If he misses and Lolo scores
we've won it.

If he misses we've won.

Look at him, he's worried.

He'll boot it over the top.

Let's dance.

- Well played, lads.
- You deserve it.

You deserve it
a thousand times over.

We're going all the way!
All the way!

Yes! Next stop, the semi final!

Where are they? Where are they?

Where are the Italians?

TUESDAY 7th JULY
CLAIREFONTAINE

How are you doing? Everything OK?

And your side?

Alain, are you OK?

Shit, look at that!

It's me.

It's from Jean-Michel.

It's me in 1984,
in Geoffroy-Guichard.

I was 12, I'm 27 now.
So that was 15 years ago.

I was sulking because
he'd taken me off for a penalty.

He brought on a lad
who was about 5ft 7in.

I was only about 5ft.

So he took me off.

See, even if you're short...

My leg's gone dead.

It's important to check
if they need anything doing

before they go to sleep.

Everything's too hectic
in the morning.

That's it, have a good laugh!

Right, lads. Let's get everything
prepared for this lovely day,

a fabulous day, I hope.

For the last two matches

the media have been saying

that we're not scoring goals,
that we're weak in attack,

that we lack the finishing touch.

It's true that our finishing
is a bit off.

We're like any team,

so we also get periods
when we score lots of goals.

Then, I don't know why,

at other times you do
everything right but it won't go in.

Let me reassure you...

The only thing I'm worried about
is that one of you might crack.

For those of you who have

a vision of international football,

you know that Yugoslavia
fell apart but...

they're still the same team,
they're good footballers.

Good footballers.

They have excellent technique.

They'll cause you lots of problems,

they might ruin the match for you,
they'll do all they can.

But don't react.

You have to be

ready for the battle,

and not be afraid
of provoking them back.

We're big enough

to do that.
When you're focusing on the game,

getting your mind ready,

I want you to be fully charged
with aggression.

It's for the final.

It's for the World Cup final.

Think about that.
Don't be paralysed by the event.

No, there's no call
for be paralysed by it.

On the contrary,

I think that we're
very calm and serene.

But once we're in the match,
give it everything you've got.

WEDNESDAY 8th JULY
FRANCE v CROATIA (SEMI FINAL)

Come on, lads.
It's all up to us now.

Don't forget...

Don't forget,
there's nothing to be afraid of.

We're afraid of nothing,
absolutely nothing.

Come on, lads, all together.

Come on, come on!

See you later.

We don't miss a thing,
not a thing!

No chances, no chances at all.

We're throwing away all our chances.

It's not difficult.

So you either do something now
to get to the final,

or you just give up.

And wait till they toss the coin.

Nobody's moving,
nobody's doing anything.

You're like cardboard cutouts!

What or who are you afraid of?

You're going to lose, lads,
you're going to lose!

The fucking bastard!

Fucking shit!

Calm down.

What's done is done.

Anything can happen in football.

Even Bebert could score a goal!

We're in the final!

We're in the final!

The only thing that pisses me off
is I now have to say,

why don't you score more often?

I'm worried about what'll happen
when I get to Parma.

And when you go back home
for a holiday.

Don't even mention that.

- What are you doing?
- It's to recuperate.

It's for the circulation.

You recuperate quicker like this.

The World Cup final, eh?

Yeah, I know.

It's the greatest thing
that could happen.

Playing in the World Cup...
the World Cup final!

And being watched
by your whole family. Fantastic!

Yes, it is.

At least, it's fantastic
if we get the result.

If not...

it's not so fantastic.

- You want to win, I suppose.
- Of course. Everyone does.

The spectators, too.

They don't see it like we do but...

You can't just be satisfied
with what we've got.

You can't... you just can't.

If you were,
you wouldn't be in this job.

SUNDAY 12th JULY
FRANCE v BRAZIL (FINAL)

Ronaldo's dribble,

he always goes over it like this
and then takes it right.

Never the other way round.

So he dummies to the left...

He did it to me at Milan,
I didn't see the ball.

Whether he goes right or left,
you don't see the ball.

Where's the ball? It's magic.

He stays there like that,

you look down and the ball's gone.

The first thing is...
don't get right on him.

Don't get too close.

- You know what he does?
- He uses you.

He waits.
And as he's big he can turn.

So what you do
is stop him turning.

- When he turns he's dangerous.
- Yeah.

Tackle him
if someone's behind you

or be ready to take off
in the opposite direction.

When he turns away from Marcel
you have to get the ball.

Bebeto's the one

I can never read.

This is supposedly the dream final.

We haven't been dreaming,
we've been working.

We've worked hard.

All through the competition

we've been right in the thick of it.

We've carried ourselves

with great dignity.

So it would be a pity
if it all ended badly.

We mustn't have any complexes
about playing this team.

Our mental strength has helped us
turn the tables every time.

We've suffered at times

but we've had
this invincible mental fortitude.

They have their qualities...

You know them well,
some of you play Ronaldo often.

We mustn't let ourselves
get overawed

by these skillful players.

Against set pieces
they're not that focused.

Be crafty, move around,
upset their rhythm.

They don't mark very strictly,
especially at set pieces.

You know all that by heart.

It calls for immense concentration.

This is your match. You deserve it.

Some of us have been together
for four years,

some of us a bit less.

This is the culmination

of a huge amount of work.

The moment has come
to do something great,

and to do it together.

The 22 of you here right now,

those who didn't make the team

and those who managed
to make their presence felt.

You should all spare a thought
for your team-mates,

for having this chance.

Don't through it away.

Usually I'm up here.

I'm little so I sleep on the pillow

and keep my eye
on Patrick down there.

Three hours till the match
and I'm still cool.

How about you, Lionel?

I say one thing
and Lilian says the opposite.

There should be just one voice.

I told him
to let Roberto Carlos go.

But you told him to go after him.

- It depends...
- Only in the last 30 metres.

Get your breath back, relax.

That's how you have to play.

Two-nil at half-time!

We're not letting it get away,
not now.

Not now.

We've got through the hardest bit
but there's 45 minutes left.

We've got to keep playing,
not just sit back.

Keep at them.

Don't just hang about
on the sidelines.

No resting yet.

Don't just stand there, defence.

We keep going.

Near post, near post...
Danger every time.

Back in the game right away,
just like at the start.

Another 45 minutes of battle.
Go to it, lads!

We don't let it get away now.

Off we go!

- My bottle of water.
- A bottle of water for him.

Don't lose your concentration.
One more to go.

Roger, you're breaking my shoulder.

This is what I call a match.

Stand up.
Champions stand on their feet.

Two goals!

World champions, world champions!

Manu, I haven't hugged you yet.
You were the best!

Subtitling by
Howard Bonsor & Philippe Neuman
for [e-mail]

We've just won the World Cup.
Anything can happen in football.

Photo, photo.

Hitherto unseen clips
from the early stages to the final.

These clips end a few minutes
before the final.

"We're in the changing room.
Emotions are running high.

"I realise how strong they are,
how they've never been afraid,

"not against Denmark or Croatia,
especially not against Italy.

"They're ready to face Brazil,
encouraging each other.

"They sound like warriors
but the atmosphere is warm.

"I feel how close they are
to one another.

"Just before they go
they hug each other once more.

"Zizou, this one's for you."
Steph.

Tignes, 11th May 1998
Aime Jacquet's first briefing

Before anything else
I'd like to remind you

that we'll be together
for a long time, I hope.

Even if our strategy
has been modified

by the fact
that we selected 28 players,

and now, as you all know,
we have to...

select only 22 out of them.

At every stage
we'll explain what's going on.

We'll explain everything.

Everything will be explained

and dissected, piece by piece.

It's now two years
that we've been working hard

on this event.

We've had a year

in which we've concentrated
on communication

and on trying out
different combinations.

I know this has given all of you
lots to think about

and maybe even changed
how you approach the game.

It wasn't meant
to hold anyone back,

it was so that the French team,

which had just been eliminated
from Euro 96,

could have a new start.

There are wonderful things to come.

You know that.

That's why we've decided

on this training.

Your own clubs
don't exist any more.

They don't exist any more.

No more Auxerre, no more Marseille,
no more West Ham,

no more Metz, no more Monaco...
They're all gone!

There's just the French team.
Get that into your heads.

Casablanca, 25th May 1998
Youri aims for the Cup...

With my left foot.
It'll be a miracle!

Watch out.

Now concentrate.

I want you to do this
without a mistake.

I've already told you...
concentration!

Even if you don't do it
with a lot of strength...

Even if it's not
with a lot of strength,

I'm putting the pressure on you.

Pressure.

You have to get them in,
I don't care how.

How many balls?

3 and 3 is 6. And 2 makes 8.
I'll get six of them in.

Six of them? 100 francs!

100 francs.

100 francs. You have to get
all the rest in.

Wait, sonny!

Ah, bugger!

Who are you calling a bugger?

Once more?

What if I...

No, no, no!
Finish this off first.

You do it my way.

- 100 francs again.
- Double or quits.

It was you who said 6 out of 8,
it wasn't me!

But the wind's with you.

- There you go!
- Don't lose your concentration.

That's quits.
You got six of them in.

Casablanca, 26th May 1998
The coach puts his team straight...

...or two in the middle,
or even one.

Didier in the centre,

Manu on the left,
Robert on the right.

Which means that Zizou
can go where he wants,

and the two forwards
do what they want. Get it?

On the left wing,
Liza will have to move up,

and Manu can drop back
when he has to... on the left.

- Liza moves up?
- Yes. Moves up, drops back...

Didier, you've got the centre,

but not much on the right
because there's Robert.

Didier's here, Manu's on the right.
And when they're a bit stretched,

Lilian can move up a little bit,

like a right-wing central defender.

All the time

our deployment
has to balance itself out.

I'll give you an example.

Liza goes forward.

They make a break
on the counter.

Manu, straight away, Didier...
Robert comes down the right wing.

Easy!

This means that Zizou always stays
there in the middle,

and Youri's up front with Steph.

All the time.

Youri moves up
on the right wing,

so you move, nice and easy,

into the middle.

On the wing, Manu and Liza
make a bit of room.

And everything's under control.

Casablanca, 27th May 1998
Duga tends to his sprain...

- Bend down on it a bit.
- Where?

Go on!
You can't feel anything, can you?

David did it for an hour.
And it was even colder.

The hot water's in the bath.
There's only one bucket.

Bend down on it a bit.

Go on, bend down on it.
Bend both legs the same.

I can't. It hurts.

- Where does it hurt?
- It's too cold!

Haven't you ever done
any jet-skiing?

Only on Nintendo.

My foot's going to explode!

It's doing you good.

Having a good time?

- It's not too cold?
- It's not even at zero degrees.

That's not cold.

When I put my foot in
it gave off steam!

I couldn't even walk
when it happened.

Aren't you going to put it
in the cold water now?

You're not a physio!

He's not a physio
but he's done this before.

Bollocks!

Go on, piss off!

See, you don't feel anything now.

It's too warm for you now.

There, that's great!

That's what they sing at Chelsea.

It's typical of the stuff
English fans sing.

They sing it every time
and then act the fool.

They sing it when we win...
once a year!

Are you going to stop filming?
Bloody spy!

You are the one
for me, for me... formidable

Your are my love,
Daisy, Daisy... desirable

I'd love one day
to be able to tell you

To write it down

In the words of Shakespeare

Your eyes, your nose, your lips
are adorable

You don't understand, that's OK

Come into my arms, darling...

And we won't worry
about anything else...

I wonder why I love you so much

When you always make fun of me...

You'll end up in Las vegas!

Clairefontaine, 10th June 1998
First day of the World Cup

Are you two points behind or one?

Two? Two points behind.

- What's the problem?
- Get out of here!

Fuck off!

Look at them fighting.
"Leave it, it's mine!"

No, I've finished that now.

The trouble is, you always cheat!
You never pay up when you lose!

Ready?

Keep going.
Don't slacken the pace.

Quick, quick, quick, quick!

Very good.

And again!

Faster, faster, faster...

12.03.

Try and take your pulse.
It'll be very fast.

- 35.
- 35, multiplied by 6.

- 6 times 5...
- 195.

35... 6 times 3...

I couldn't get it to go up.

You're big and talented
so it doesn't go up.

Do you understand that?

So you've reached your limit
at about 170, 180.

But you never go past that.

Do you understand that?

Get your breath back.
Do you want a drink?

You don't want to be sick,
do you?

I know everything.
You know why I said that, don't you?

You don't want to be sick?

Go on, tell me. Tell me.

Say: Yes, I want to.

You know why I said that?
You were at your limit.

If I have a drink I'll puke.

Not right away, then,
but have a drink.

Near Lyon, 24th June 1998
A few hours before France v Denmark

A cock can give you a nasty peck
with its beak.

Not only that, it's ugly too.
You're ugly, aren't you?

Don't come close to me!

It just ignores me.

Stop, thief! Chicken thief.

Come on, let's go and feed the deer.

- Are there some deer?
- They're much prettier.

And they'll eat out of your hand.

He looks like a nasty one.

I had one. It got eaten.

- By your dogs?
- Yeah.

Christ, he stinks!

He looks like Thierry Henry.
He's got his mouth.

Lyon, 24th June 1998
Bebert meets the President...

Are you filming?
I'll say hello to him.

Film me while I go up
and say hello to him.

I've never got to say hello to him
or shake his hand.

Go on, say hello to him.

I daren't.

How are you?

Well done, gentlemen.

A great match. Congratulations!
How are you?

I'd tried ten times
to shake his hand but never did.

A great match.

I've lost all my faith
in football.

Did you see the match?

Manu Petit scored for France.
Even I could score now!

I didn't think that was possible,
but I know it is now.

Even you could score, vincent.

I didn't think it was possible.

France 1 - Paraguay 0

Back from Lens,
the bus passes the Stade de France

Clairefontaine, 7th July 1998
Brazil reach the final...

He's done it again!

My wife won't like this.

- Didn't she want Brazil?
- No, Holland.

It's Brazil. We've won.

Saint-Denis, 8th July 1998

Half-time, France v Croatia
France aren't in the final yet...

Is there a tracksuit bottom
anywhere?

Jean-Marcel,
can you get me a thingy?

Lads.

We played well for 20 minutes.

Then we started going backwards.

Either you all go up together
or you all drop back together.

It's up to you.

Otherwise, you'll just run
around in circles.

So either you all go up together
or you all drop back together.

Or we get even deeper in trouble.

We have to agree on this.

We're nowhere near causing them
any problems. We're not dangerous.

They're laughing at us.

They pass the ball, move up,
and you just walk backwards.

It's a problem.
You can't play football any more.

It's impossible.

Either you all go up together
or you all drop back together.

Make your choice.

So what's it to be?

You're fifty metres from their goal.
You can't do a thing!

For 20 minutes it was OK.
We were in the game.

But now we're running back
in disarray.

Nobody's getting stuck in.

You get the ball
and move up at a snail's pace.

You've got no chance like that,
no chance!

You're throwing away
all your chances.

It's not difficult.

So either you do something now
to get to the final,

or you just give up.

And wait till they toss the coin.

Nobody's moving,
nobody's doing anything.

You're like cardboard cutouts!

What or who are you afraid of?

You're going to lose, lads,
you're going to lose!

But we got the ball...

Then go up with it!

What if we lose it?

Then make a decision, drop back,
but work as a team.

We'll re-position ourselves, then.
The three up front can drop back.

Drop back, then,
but drop back all together.

And wait.

We drop back, wait our chance
and then move back up.

The trouble is,
we're not moving enough.

What is it you're frightened of?

Get the ball, provoke them, play!

This is where you have to show
some guts, lads.

This is where you have to show
what you've got.

Get stuck in!

We could have been
in a worse position than we are.

At least we had those 20 minutes...

But we've got
to start doing something.

We're not in this match,
we can't win it like this.

They're having it all their way,
they're doing what they want.

They move up, nice and easy,
put on the pressure and...

We have to get back together,
regroup ourselves,

and then we move back up,
but all together.

If Zizou or Thierry makes a break,
we're there behind him.

Otherwise we're dead.

Half of us are attacking, half
defending, they're in the middle.

We're committing suicide!

For 20 minutes
we were doing well...

We played well for 20 minutes,
then we took a bit of a breather.

Then we stayed up there
but we weren't playing.

We go at it right from the start,
but all together, OK?

Or we've had it.

There's no understanding,
no feeling between you, nothing.

You're going under.

Move yourselves, do something.
This is for the final.

It won't be handed to you
on a plate.

You have to go and get it,
like you did against Italy.

Eight times out of ten
Lilian stays on his wing.

There's no one there.

So either he gets the ball forward
and you come up a bit,

or he sets me up in the middle.

Three times out of five
vlaovic is there,

and three of you are on him...

Four of them on him, not three!

So either pick up your pace
or get the ball forward.

But don't just stay there
on your own.

Because if we lose the ball
they've got a man more than us.

We've got 45 minutes
to turn this game around.

What are we doing then,
regrouping or going after it?

We're going after it from the start,
but all together.

And if we feel it's not right
then we drop back.

We all drop back as one
and then we move up again.

We're going to go out there
and hit them hard!

Just saying it isn't enough,
we have to go out and do it.

It's slipping away.

Don't worry about a few fouls.
Just don't give up.

They always take short free kicks.

Watch out for it
coming over the wall.

Go and get stuck in, lads.

Don't go losing the ball,
play with more precision.

Off you go!

France 2 - Croatia 1

"We're in the final!"
Lolo got a red card...

What exactly happened?
We couldn't see a thing.

We had a bit of a tussle.

He made the most of it,
throwing himself on the ground.

And I was sent off.

But what exactly happened?
We couldn't see it.

He was grabbing hold of me
so I brushed him off.

I see. He fell over and made
a song and dance about it.

But the main thing is, we won.

- But you'll miss out on the final.
- Yes.

I brought it on myself.
It's my own fault.

Three days to spend together.

I'll go for a little bike ride.

What do you think, Bebert?
A little bike ride tomorrow?

Go and have a look at the horses.

You only get miracles in football.

And two of them are right here.

The annoying thing
is that it's not over yet.

If there were a few less
stuffed shirts in the stands...

Dede, joking as usual...

You and these posters,
what a pain!

I'm telling you.

Who have you promised them to?

And what else
have you promised them?

Do a lot of people ask for them?

The tax inspector, for one.
The gardener...

Who else?
The hairdresser, the butcher...

Then you can eat well
and it doesn't cost much.

It's all right, I've got it.

Stade de France, 12th July 1998
Last few minutes before the final

DO IT FOR HIM.

Everyone here, everyone ready
for the big event?

You have to play tight.

Nice and tight,
forwards, midfield and defence.

Keep your eyes open.

Stick together
and you'll be OK.

And when you get the ball
don't be afraid to move with it.

Go at them,
take the game to them.

Break their rhythm,
take long shots...

You're too fussy in your passing.

Too fussy by half.

You have to take the shot.

And no mercy in your attacking.

Go in hard and tough.

Take up the challenge.

Good and hard, all the time.

It's now or never, lads.

Clear it right into the stands
if you have to.

If we make no mistakes
we'll win.

Be tough, mentally and everywhere.

And no arguing.
Just let the ref do his job.

Right from the start
show them where they are.

This is a home match for us.

Don't let this one get away,
today more than ever.

When you've got the upper hand
make the most of it,

when they're on top,
drop back and consolidate.

And plenty of movement, OK?
No dead men out there.

Move yourselves,
shake yourselves up.

And talk to each other,

let your team-mate know
when he's got a man on.

On their free kicks, be careful.

And on ours, take your time.

Whoever committed the foul
get in front of the ball.

They take them quickly.

We've been fighting for a month
to get here.

Forwards, drop back halfway
when you're needed.

Midfield, move up quickly.

Be aggressive
but calm at the same time.

They're good at the fancy stuff,
but we're more physical.

We'll win the match
by being tougher.

Whatever happens, never let up.

It can all change at any moment.

Come on, let's win this match!

Come on, lads.

As long as we're solid in defence
we're going to win this match.

We're not going to make
a single mistake. Not one!

Above all, stick together.
Give it all you've got.

Together, all the time together.

Come on, Zizou, this is yours!

Stade de France, 12th July 1998
World champions...