Video Tribute to Thierry Gilardi

April 14th, 2008 | by: Laurie |

I’m researching a post for World Cup Blog’s main page on the incomparable announcer Thierry Gilardi, who passed away last month while I was in France. (If you’re a France fan, you know his voice, even if you don’t realize it.)

In the process I thought I’d share with you a couple of my favorite clips of his announcing.

First we have the “first selection for the France team, first goal” clip, specifically about Benzema, which came from the game last March against Austria. I loved the almost paternal pride in his voice, as if he were watching his own kids come of age.

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France – Autriche 1-0 Benzema
Uploaded by forzalyonnais69

And of course there’s the clip I’ll always remember him for: The unforgettable, anguished, “Mais pourquoi?” (”But why?”) after the headbutt in the WC 06 final.

And this is also a fun one, the highlights of his commentary on Zidane in the France-Brazil game in WC’06.

And last, I can’t find an embed code for this one, but here is a nice tribute from before the France England game.

He is irreplaceable.

I’d love to see any of your own links or hear your memories.

France World Cup Blog RSS Feed

Jean-Michel

This is my favorite one hands down. The part where he emphasizes the “LA LUMIERE..EST VENU……DE LAURENT BLANC!!!!!!!!!!” has always been memorable. I did not realize that it was him that passed away until you linked the videos Laurie. RIP.
Jean-Michel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_82u_XkFGdU

In my haste to post I forgot the link so here it is.
sandrahn

Fantastic voice on that man!!