Classic games – France v Paraguay ‘98

After cruising through their group games at the 1998 World Cup, conceding only one goal, France played a second round match against a Paraguay team that had drawn its first two games 0-0 and eventually beat Nigeria 3-1.

The main figure in the Paraguay side was Jose Luis Chilavert, the captain, goalkeeper and deadball specialist and even though he played in goal he was the driving force of the team.

France playing without the suspended Zidane dominated the game but couldn’t score and inevitably extra-time came around, only in this World Cup FIFA had brought in the ‘Golden Goal’ rule where the first team to score in e.t. won the game.

With the tension mounting and the host nations hopes hanging on a single kick, veteran defender Laurent Blanc stepped up as unlikely hero thirteen minutes into extratime getting onto a header from David Trezeguet and smashing it past Chilavert.

Heartbreak for Paraguay but what a relief for France and probably FIFA that the hosts progressed to the quarterfinals.
Blanc said afterwards ‘what went through me when I scored was just indescribable….I promised myself that I would score in the World Cup and I did.’