Comments on: Ten Years Ago, 1998

By: Via

Via — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 05:26:45 +0000

Henry was not there? Anyway, thanks very much – I’ll watch it for sure:)

By: Jean Pierre

Jean Pierre — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 10:20:59 +0000

Anyone knows the line-up of the opposing team?

By: sandrahn

sandrahn — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 12:59:38 +0000

Buffon and Anderson were not there. The only Italian who played was Zola. I loved watching this game.

By: outa control

outa control — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 18:04:33 +0000

i read the list of players from the link o your (laurie)comment but i did not see some of the players listed there i.e anelka, wiltord,viera ect..and on the other team, buffon, anderson etc…

and for petit, “fight the power” am all for solidarity.

thanks always for the info laurie and gang

By: lefutur

lefutur — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 17:29:11 +0000

Did they purposely want to make the opposing team look stupid in those jerseys?

By: Laurie

Laurie — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 19:12:28 +0000

By: glatisant

glatisant — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 18:40:38 +0000

…stupid server.

By: glatisant

glatisant — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 15:11:54 +0000

You know, from a certain perspective, it’s just a game. Overcommercialized and ultimately meaningless? From a certain perspective, sure.

This is the last time I’ll ever get to see Makélélé, Thuram, and Trezeguet in blue. That is the perspective I’m taking.

By: glatisant

glatisant — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 15:09:46 +0000

You know, from a certain perspective, it’s just a game. Overcommercialized and ultimately meaningless? From a certain perspective, sure.

This is the last time I’ll get to see Makélélé, Thuram, and Trezeguet in blue. That is the perspective I’m taking.

By: Laurie

Laurie — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 20:49:44 +0000

Petit was apparently taking a stand against the overcommercialization of these types of events:

http://www.lequipe.fr/Football/breves2008/20080707_130601_france-98-sans-emmanuel-petit_Dev.html

L’absence de Petit n’est pas une surprise. Dans son autobiographie publiée il y a quelques semaines (A fleur de peau, éditions Prolongations), il expliquait avoir décidé de «tirer un trait définitif sur le football professionnel» et de rompre avec «l’hypocrisie d’un milieu où aucune vérité n’est bonne à dire».

And from the man himself:

http://www.myfreesport.fr/sports/football/equipe-de-france/0/france-98-petit-explique-son-absence-48907.html

La raison de son boycott: la tournure marketing prise par l’association France 98. …

“Au début, le but de l’association était simple, redonner de l’amour, aider des gens en détresse morale ou en souffrance physique, a-t-il expliqué. Il y a eu un impact conséquent, magnifique. Pour les sinistrés des inondations du Gard ou par rapport à AZF, par exemple. Et puis, ça s’est ensuite réduit à des matches ou tournois évènementiels sponsorisés par Orange et Canal +, qui a six champions du monde sous contrat. Ca permet à certains joueurs d’entretenir leur image, de gagner de l’argent. On a dévié de la trajectoire initiale. Il y a un mélange des genres, à la base, c’est une association à but non lucratif.”

So he’s upset with Orange and Canal+ using these things as an opportunity to burnish the image of the stars they have under contract, among other things. Or maybe he’s just upset that he’s not one of the six world champions under contract? Or perhaps a little of both?